Darius II

n/a

Darius II

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn

Publisher:

Taito

Developer:

Natsume

I.T.L

Original system(s): Arcade boards

Developer(s) of original games: Taito

Sound driver:

SCSP/CD-DA (16 tracks)

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1990-12-20	¥8,900	T-11083
US	1991-04More...^[1]	$?	T-11016
BR	1992-07More...^[2]	R$?	?


UK	1992-06	£32.99More...^[3]	7078
FR	1992-06	?F	7078
DE	1992-06	DM ?	7078
ES	1992-06	?Ptas	7078
BR	1992-07More...^[2]	R$?	?


JP	1996-06-07	¥5,800	T-1104G
UK	1996	£39.99More...^[4]	MK81085-50
FR	1996	?F	MK81085-50
DE	1996	DM ?	MK81085-50
ES	1996	?Ptas	MK81085-50

Sega

ELSPA

USK

Darius II (ダライアスII) is a side-scrolling space shoot 'em up developed by Taito as a direct sequel to the 1986 game Darius. It was originally released in 1989.

The game was ported to several Sega systems, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System, whose Western releases were renamed Sagaia for unknown reasons. A port to the Sega Saturn using the original name was released exclusively in Japan and Europe.

Story

Proco and Tiat, seeing the planet Darius in ruin, create a new planet called Orga. Their descendents, Proco Jr. and Tiat Young, receive a mayday signal from another civilization born from Darius's ruins, prompting them to take the Silverhawk, a ship, back to save this other civilization from evil forces.

Gameplay

Like the first game, the player controls a space ship shooting at various enemies that resemble fish in a non-linear level order.

and shoot; holding them down rapidfires (though there is a break every few bullets). drops bombs (you have unlimited bombs). Powerups are collected in the usual shoot em up fashion and there are powerups for both the gun and the bomb dropper. A score bonus is awarded for defeating groups of enemies.

Stages in the Mega Drive version differ quite a bit from the arcade version: backgrounds are different (e.g. arcade stage B takes place on a rocky planet surface and in a cave, while the Mega Drive version of stage B is mechanized), enemy placement and behavior has been changed and the bosses have also been modified. The Master System version features a reduced amount of stages.

The Saturn version, conversely, simulates the arcade version's wide screen mode utilizing a zoom feature. However, due to running in a lower resolution mode, it can be very difficult to see enemies and bullets.

History

Legacy

Darius II was followed by Darius Gaiden in 1994 (originally planned to be released as Darius III). Curiously Gaiden was released for the Saturn before II.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Executive Producer: Takao Ueno
Producer: Tomohiro Nishikado, Shouji Takahashi
Director of Software: Yuichiro Kawamuki
Programmers: Takashi Kuroda, Yoshiaki Ishii, Ayumi Onosaka, Takahisa Horimoto
Production Designer: Wakadaishou
Character Designers: Makoto Saitoh, Gota Goto, Keisuke Miyanaga, Nishiyaman
Team Zuntata
- Music Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura
Programmed by: Mira Turbo, Dogen Shibuya
Game Checker: Kiyoshi Bandou
Technical Adviser: Hideaki Tomioka, Haruo Suzuki, Kouji Yamazaki
Special Thanks to: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Akira Fujita, Akira Ohtsuki, Tatsuo Nakamura
Game Designed by: Yuji Koga
Directed by: Yuichiro Kawamuki

© Taito Corporation 1991

Licensed by: Sega Enterprises Ltd.

Master System version

Executive Producer: Tomohiro Nishikado
Producer: Kimio Hirota
Director: Iku Mizutani
Programers: Moriyuki Kanaya, Yuji Akita
Graphics Designers: Isao Inoue, Yasunari Hayami
Music Director: Iku Mizutani
Music Composer: Hisayoshi Ogura
Character Designers: Yasunari Hayami, Isao Inoue
Original Game Designer: Fukio Mitsuji
Special Thanks: Yuji Koga, Kohji Yamazaki

Saturn version

The Credits

Directed And Produced by: Hidehiro Fujiwara
Game Designed by: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Takatsuna Senba
Programmed by: Akira Ohtsuki, Tatsuo Nakamura, Masashi Tsuzura, Shinji Soyano
Art Designed by: Masami Kikuchi, Takatsuna Senba, Hisakazu Kato
Cabinet Design: Yoshinori Aiura
Hardware Designed by: Toshiyuki Sanada
Team Zuntata
- All Music Composed And Arranged by: Hisayoshi Ogura
- Sound Editor: Yasuhisa Watanabe, Norihiro Furukawa
- Sound Soft Ware: Naoto Yagishita
Special thanks to: Onijust, Akira Fujita, Takamasa Hori, Masaki Yagi, Masahiko Takaki, Ogr Young, Zippy Aoki, Kouji Tsunekiyo, Hikaru Taniguchi, And Staff Of Kumagaya

Taito

Source: In-game credits. Original credits only.Media:DariusII_Saturn_JP_SSEnding.pdf^[5]

サターン版「ＤＡＲＩＵＳII」スタッフ

プログラム: 金子道明, 南雲泰人, 阿部央, 関拓志, 赤座清敬
グラフィック: 高須雄二, 小松崎成俊, 山田耕司, 栗原義昭, 藤原淳

Source: Staff.txt (in CD-ROM)

Track list

Saturn version

1. [data track] ({{{time}}})

2. Olga Breeze (04:09)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

3. Olga Breeze (03:34)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

4. Muse Valley (03:42)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

5. Jamming (03:29)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

6. Cynthia (03:49)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

7. Planet Blue (03:37)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

8. To Nari (03:32)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

9. Say PaPa (05:32)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

10. All Clear (01:05)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

11. War Oh! (03:51)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

12. Boss2 (03:52)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

13. Round Clear (00:55)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

14. Say Papa (Intro) (00:23)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

15. Name Set (00:48)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

16. Ending (00:45)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

17. Say PaPa (Ending) (02:17)
Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura

► Running time: 45:20

Magazine articles

Main article: Darius II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Darius II/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Score	Source
Beep! MegaDrive (JP)	80	More...^[6]
Beep! MegaDrive (readers) (JP)	75	More...^[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)	79	More...^[8]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)	79	More...^[9]
Games-X (UK)	77	№6
Génération 4 (FR)	69	More...^[10]
Hippon Super (JP)	30	№1991-01, p41
Joystick (FR)	89	№13, p118
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)	65	№5, p91
Mega Action (UK)	87	№1, p65
MegaTech (UK)	83	More...^[11]
Mean Machines (UK)	83	More...^[12]
Power Play (DE)	72	№1991-03, p140^[13]
Sega Power (UK)	80	More...^[14]
Sega Pro (UK)	87	More...^[15]
Sega Pro (UK)	83	№18, p64
Supergame (BR)	90	More...^[2]

	77
Based on 17 reviews

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Score	Source
Consoles + (FR)	82	More...^[16]
Hobby Consolas (ES)	81	More...^[17]
Joypad (FR)	91	More...^[18]
Joystick (FR)	90	More...^[19]
Mean Machines (UK)	67	More...^[20]
Micromanía (ES)	72	№2/50
Player One (FR)	80	More...^[21]
Sega Power (UK)	78	№34, p28/29
Sega Pro (UK)	23	More...^[22]
Sega Force (SE)	50	More...^[23]
Sega Force (UK)	51	More...^[24]
Supergame (BR)	88	More...^[2]
Video Games (DE)	73	More...^[25]

	71
Based on 13 reviews

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual Manual (3L)

Master System, AU

Manual

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Score	Source
Fun Generation (DE)	30
Weekly Famitsu (JP)	60	№391, p29
Joypad (FR)	60	More...^[26]
MAN!AC (DE)	68	More...^[27]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)	36	More...^[4]
Mega Force (FR)	55	More...^[28]
Player One (FR)	75	№69, p124
Sega Power (UK)	28	№86, p60
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)	53	More...^[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (readers) (JP)	68	More...Media:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf^[30]

	53
Based on 10 reviews

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32	f1e22f43
MD5	c9ab9dd499c7d56772fccbd2ec2ae465
SHA-1	0aa2632da5ec3c1db21b273bcb8630d84b7bb805

1MB

1990-11

Cartridge (US)

✔

CRC32	25dfe62a
MD5	4ab80160ba6811a48e0482c402941062
SHA-1	93593e4014e13db90fedc1903a402c6f7d885a2f

1MB

1990-09

Cartridge (JP)

?

CRC32	66388128
MD5	D8A4C95203BBE294760085189F9544FA
SHA-1	2A3E859139F8CA83494BB800DC848FE4D02DB82A

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

✔

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

489,679,344

CD-ROM(EU)

MK81085-50 V1.000

✔

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

489,648,768

1996-04-18

CD-ROM(JP)

T-1104G V1.003

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Super Darius II.

Darius II

[:File:EGM_US_021.pdf_p22-1] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 22

[:File:Supergame_BR_12.pdf_p34-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 34

[:File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf_p55-3] Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 55

[:File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf_p72-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-11-01), page 72

[:File:DariusII_Saturn_JP_SSEnding.pdf_p.7B.7B.7Bpage.7D.7D.7D-5] File:DariusII_Saturn_JP_SSEnding.pdf

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-01.pdf_p35-6] Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 35

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-7] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[:File:CVG_UK_112.pdf_p72-8] Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 72

[:File:CVG_IT_04.pdf_p88-9] Computer + Video Giochi, "Aprile 1991" (IT; xxxx-xx-xx), page 88

[:File:Generation4_FR_030.pdf_p94-10] Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 94

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p77-11] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_08.pdf_p76-12] Mean Machines, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-05-01), page 76

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_036.pdf_p140-13] File:PowerPlay DE 036.pdf, page 140

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p53-14] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53

[:File:SegaPro_UK_02.pdf_p21-15] Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 21

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_011.pdf_p118-16] Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 118

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_009.pdf_p68-17] Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 68

[:File:Joypad_FR_006.pdf_p84-18] Joypad, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 84

[:File:Joystick_FR_025.pdf_p136-19] Joystick, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 136

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_24.pdf_p62-20] Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 62

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_019.pdf_p66-21] Player One, "Avril 1992" (FR; 1992-04-10), page 66

[:File:SegaPro_UK_09.pdf_p42-22] Sega Pro, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 42

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1992_01.pdf_p18-23] Sega Force, "1/92" (SE; 1992-xx-xx), page 18

[:File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf_p54-24] Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 54

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-07.pdf_p49-25] Video Games, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-24), page 49

[:File:Joypad_FR_055.pdf_p72-26] Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 72

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1996-08.pdf_p48-27] MAN!AC, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-17), page 48

[:File:MegaForce_FR_54.pdf_p93-28] Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 93

[:File:SSM_JP_19960614_1996-09.pdf_p232-29] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-09 (1996-06-14)" (JP; 1996-05-24), page 232

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p15-30] Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 15

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Darius II

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

History

Legacy

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Saturn version

Track list

Saturn version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Saturn version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References