Darius II

From Sega Retro

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Darius II Title.png

Darius II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn, Sega Master System
Publisher: Taito
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Release Date RRP Code

Darius II (ダライアスII) is a side-scrolling space shoot 'em up developed by Taito. It is the sequel to the 1986 game Darius. Western Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System releases were renamed Sagaia. Like the first game, the player controls a space ship shooting at various enemies that resemble fish in a non-linear level order. A port to the Sega Saturn using the original name was released exclusively in Japan and Europe. Unlike the other versions, this simulates the Arcade version's wide screen mode utilizing a zoom feature. However, due to running in low resolution mode, it can be very difficult to see enemies and bullets.

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.

Stages 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 Sega Mega Drive version of stage B is mechanized), enemy placement and behavior has been changed, bosses have also been modified. The Sega Master System version features a reduced amount of stages.

Gameplay

A and C shoot; holding them down rapidfires (though there is a break every few bullets). B 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 awared for defeating groups of enemies.

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
Taito Corporation 1992
All Rights Reserved

Physical Scans

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
79 №112, p72
79
77 №6
89 №13, p118
65 №5, p91
87 №1, p65
83 №1, p77[1]
83 №8, p76/77/78
72
80 №23, p53
87 №2, p19
83 №18, p64
Sega Mega Drive
 80
Based on
12 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[2]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[3]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
67
[4]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
80
[5]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) NTSC-J
83
[6]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
83
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J
79
[8]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
75
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[10]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
70
[11]
Games-X (UK) PAL
77
[12]
Génération 4 (FR) NTSC-J
69
[13]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
30
[14]
Joystick (FR)
89
[15]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J
65
[16]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
77
[17]
Mega Action (UK) NTSC
87
[18]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
73
[19]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
83
[20]
Mean Machines (UK) NTSC-J
83
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
83
[22]
Power Play (DE)
72
[23]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
75
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
87
[25]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
83
[26]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
75
[27]
Supergame (BR)
90
[28]
Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-U
69
[29]
Sega Mega Drive
 74
Based on
28 reviews

Darius II

Mega Drive, US
DariusII MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Darius II MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Darius II MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
DariusII md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, BR
Sagaia md br cover.jpg
Cover
Sagaia MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
82 №11, p118/119
81
91 №6, p84/85
90 №25, p136
67 №24, p62/63
72 №2/50
80 №19, p66/67
50
78 №34, p28/29
23 №9, p42/43
51 №7, p52/53[30]
Sega Master System
 70
Based on
11 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) PAL
82
[31]
Game Power (IT)
90
[32]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
81
[33]
Joypad (FR) PAL
91
[34]
Joystick (FR)
90
[35]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
65
[36]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
72
[37]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
67
[38]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
67
[39]
Player One (FR)
80
[40]
Play Time (DE)
52
[41]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
78
[42]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
23
[43]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
43
[44]
Sega Force (SE)
50
[45]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
51
[46]
Supergame (BR)
88
[28]
Supersonic (FR)
92
[47]
Video Games (DE)
73
[48]
Sega Master System
 70
Based on
19 reviews

Darius II

Master System, EU
Darius II SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Sagaia SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
SagaiaSMSEUManual3L.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

Master System, BR
DariusII SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Sagaia SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Saturn Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
30
60 №55, p72
68
36 №50, p72[49]
75 №69, p124
Sega Saturn
 54
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR) PAL
40
[50]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[51]
Fun Generation (DE) NTSC-J
30
[52]
GameFan (US)
70
[53]
Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-J
75
[54]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
60
[55]
Joypad (FR) PAL
70
[56]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
68
[57]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
55
[58]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
36
[49]
Player One (FR)
75
[59]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
63
[60]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
63
[61]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
28
[62]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
53
[63]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
68
[64]
Sega Saturn
 57
Based on
16 reviews

Darius II

Saturn, EU
DariusII Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
Darius II Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
DariusII sat jp backcover.jpgDariusII sat jp frontcover.jpg
Cover
  1. ↑ File:Megatech UK 01.pdf, page 77
  2. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 54
  3. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 198
  4. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 125
  5. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 35
  6. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 102
  7. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 128
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 88
  9. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 22
  10. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 304
  11. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 35
  12. ↑ Games-X, "31st May-6th June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-31), page 36
  13. ↑ Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 94
  14. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-04), page 41
  15. ↑ Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 118
  16. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  17. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
  18. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  19. ↑ Mega Play, "March/April 1991" (US; 1991-04-xx), page 44
  20. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77
  21. ↑ Mean Machines, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-05-01), page 76
  22. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  23. ↑ Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 140
  24. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  25. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 21
  26. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  27. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 34
  29. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151
  30. ↑ File:SegaForce07UK.pdf, page 54
  31. ↑ Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 118
  32. ↑ Game Power, "Settembre 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 48
  33. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 68
  34. ↑ Joypad, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-02-1x), page 84
  35. ↑ Joystick, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 136
  36. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1992-01-15), page 95
  37. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 79
  38. ↑ Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 62
  39. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  40. ↑ Player One, "Avril 1992" (FR; 1992-04-10), page 66
  41. ↑ Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 95
  42. ↑ Sega Power, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-06), page 28
  43. ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 42
  44. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  45. ↑ Sega Force, "1/92" (SE; 1992-xx-xx), page 18
  46. ↑ Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-xx), page 54
  47. ↑ Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 22
  48. ↑ Video Games, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-24), page 51
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  50. ↑ CD Consoles, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 162
  51. ↑ Famitsu, "1996-06-14" (JP; 1996-05-31), page 1
  52. ↑ Fun Generation, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-10), page 80
  53. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 8: August 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 15
  54. ↑ Intelligent Gamer, "August 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 90
  55. ↑ Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 72
  56. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 79
  57. ↑ MAN!AC, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-17), page 48
  58. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 93
  59. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 124
  60. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 12" (JP; 1996-05-24), page 163
  61. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 16" (JP; 1996-07-19), page 84
  62. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 60
  63. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-09 (1996-06-14)" (JP; 1996-05-24), page 232
  64. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 15
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