View source for G-Darius

{{short description|1997 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = G-Darius
| image = G-Darius arcade flyer.jpg
| caption = Arcade flyer
| developer = [[Taito]]
| publisher = Taito
| released = '''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|June 1997}}
'''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|JP|April 9, 1998<ref name="mobygames_4301_playstation">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/4301/g-darius/releases/#playstation |title=G Darius Releases |publisher=MobyGames |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>|NA|September 16, 1998<ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=September 16, 1998 |title=G. Darius Shoots Toward Stores |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/17/g-darius-shoots-toward-stores |access-date=December 15, 2023 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>|EU|September 18, 1998<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1998 |title=Games Norn to be Wild |pages=58 |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/850066763/?terms=new&match=1 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |quote=''G-Darius''/Sony PlayStation}}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Scrolling shooter]]
| series = ''[[Darius (series)|Darius]]''
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| arcade system = Taito FX-1B
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''G-Darius'''''|Gダライアス|Jī-Daraiasu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a horizontally [[scrolling shooter]] [[arcade video game]] released by [[Taito]] in 1997. It is the fourth arcade installment of the ''[[Darius (series)|Darius]]'' series and the first with [[three-dimensional]] [[3D computer graphics|polygonal graphics]]. A port to the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] was published as '''''G Darius'''''.

==Gameplay==
Much like previous installments in the ''Darius'' series, ''G-Darius'' is a horizontally [[scrolling shooter]]. While the game uses three-dimensional polygonal graphics, the gameplay is [[two-dimensional]]. The player controls a spaceship named the Silver Hawk and must battle enemies and avoid obstacles throughout the game's stages (referred to as "zones" in the game). The ship is armed with forward-firing missiles, small aerial bombs, and a protective force field. These can be upgraded by [[power-up]]s, in the form of large orbs, that are dropped by specially-colored enemies when they are destroyed. When the player reaches the end of a zone, a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] appears, which must be defeated to proceed. Once the boss of a zone is destroyed, the player is given a choice of which zone to play next via a [[Fork (intersection)|branching path]].<ref name="gspot_rev" /><ref name=ign_rev /> There are 15 zones in total, numbered using the Greek letters alpha to omicron, but the player only needs to complete five in a row to reach one of five alternative endings. Each level also has two alternative routes that the player can choose about halfway through. Some of these are duplicated in later stages but result in the bosses appearance and attack sequences being slightly different.

Among the player's arsenal is the 'capture ball', which the player can launch to capture enemies. Once captured, the enemy will follow and aid the player's ship.<ref name="sat_preview">{{cite magazine |url=http://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SSM_UK_19.pdf&page=94 |title=G Darius (Preview) |magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]] |publisher=[[Ascential|EMAP]] |issue=19 |date=May 1997 |page=94}}</ref> Each enemy contains a unique enhancement; some will act as extra turrets and others will act as shields. Additionally, the player can detonate their captured enemy as a bomb.<ref name=EGM104>{{cite magazine |title=G-Darius |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=104 |date=March 1998 |page=66}}</ref> The captured enemy will continue to follow the player until either they are destroyed after taking enough damage, the player's ship is destroyed or the player 'absorbs' them to utilize a special ability.<ref name="gspot_rev" /><ref name="ign_rev" /><ref name="sat_preview" />

[[Image:Gdarius beamduel.jpg|thumb|left|"Beam-dueling". The blue beam on the right is the player's.]]

New to the series is ''beam-dueling''. The player can absorb a captured enemy to fire a powerful laser beam over a short period, which will instantly destroy nearly every enemy it comes into contact with. This is primarily used during [[boss fight]]s. Every major boss in the game has an equivalent laser beam. If the player and the boss fire their lasers simultaneously, a 'duel' between the two will initiate. The player must overwhelm the boss' laser by repeatedly tapping the fire button as quickly as possible. If successful, the boss' beam will eventually dissipate and the player's beam will multiply in size (as well as in power) and severely damage, if not kill, the boss.<ref name="gspot_rev" /><ref name="sat_preview" /> Some bosses have multiple beams and if the player counters all of them, their own beam can multiply up to four times. Some enemies and large bullets are invulnerable to the beam, allowing bosses to shield themselves. Familiarity with a boss's attack patterns is thus vital for the successful use of the beam dueling mechanic.

An upgraded version of the game, ''G-Darius Ver. 2'', added a beginner mode in which the player's power-up level goes down only one rank upon death, and the game ends after completing only 3 zones.<ref>{{cite magazine |author1=Ken Ogasawara |author2=Major Mike |title=The 1997 Amusement Machine Show: The Year of the Cobra|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=112 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=January 1998|page=50}}</ref>

==Plot==
''G-Darius'' is a prequel story that revolves around a conflict between the humanoids of Amelia and cyborg/[[chimera (genetics)|chimera]] biovessels known as the "Thiima" (meant to mean simply "deliverer of death"). The Thiima had been aroused by the Amnelian army's use of the weapon A.N. (All-Nothing) to annihilate the world Blazer, whom Amelia had been at war with over jurisdiction over the moon Mahsah. Determined to protect their existence, and long ago programmed to protect the universe from just such threats as A.N., the Thiima swarmed Amelia. Although the armed forces were badly ravaged, Amnelian scientists and engineers were able to make use of both A.N. and reverse-engineered Thiiman technology/life systems to create the Silver Hawk fighters. Ultimately, two pilots Sameluck Raida and Lutia Feen are chosen to perform a decisive attack on the main Thiima base: Kazumn, a satellite of the planet Darius.

==Ports==
''G-Darius'' was ported to the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] as ''G Darius''<ref name="gspot_rev" /> and released in 1998 for Japan on April 9 by [[Taito]], in Europe on September 11, and in the United States on September 17<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/17/g-darius-shoots-toward-stores |title=G. Darius [sic] Shoots Toward Stores |author=IGN staff |date=September 16, 1998 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref> by [[THQ]].<ref name="gspot_rev" /> The PlayStation port is based on the "ver. 2" arcade release.<ref name=EGM104/> The original arcade version of ''G-Darius'' was later re-released on the [[PlayStation 2]] port of ''[[Taito Legends 2]]'', a compilation consisting of several arcade games by Taito.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/04/taito-legends-2-review-2 |title=Taito Legends 2 Review (PS2) |last=Miller |first=Greg |date=June 4, 2007 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref> The [[Windows 95]] version, based on the PlayStation port, was published by CyberFront Corporation, MediaKite, and Sourcenext in 2000–01.

A port for Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 was released in 2021 worldwide digitally. It contains the standard resolution version, as well as a new HD version of the game. In the US and Europe, it was also released as a physical edition. In Japan, the physical release is part of the compilation ''[[Darius Cozmic Collection#Sequel|Darius Cozmic Revelation]]''. This compilation was released internationally by Strictly Limited Games. ''G-Darius HD'' [[Steam (service)|Steam]] version was released on March 30, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://taito.co.jp/mob/topics/14973 |title=「ダライアス」シリーズ2作品がSteamで登場！！｜タイトーのゲーム情報 |date=October 1, 2021 |website=Taito (in Japanese) |access-date=October 1, 2021}}</ref> An update to the Switch and PS4 ports on the same date added ''G-Darius Ver. 2, G-Darius Ver. 2 HD'' and ''G-Darius for Consumer'' (the Japanese PlayStation port).

==Reception==
{{Expand section|date=April 2012}}
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 79%<ref name="gr">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197415-g-darius/index.html |title=G Darius for PlayStation |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429061221/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197415-g-darius/index.html |archive-date=April 29, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| Edge = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk059/page/n81/mode/2up |title=G Darius (PS) [Import] |author=Edge staff |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] |issue=59 |date=June 1998 |page=97 |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| EGM = 8.75/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=G Darius |author=EGM staff |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=111 |date=October 1998}}</ref>
| Fam = 29/40<ref name="fam">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=4457&redirect=no |title=Gダライアス [PS] |language=Japanese |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| GI = 8.25/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=sep98&doc=darius |title=G. Darius [sic] |last1=McNamara |first1=Andy |last2=Storm |first2=Jon |last3=Reiner |first3=Andrew |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=[[GameStop|FuncoLand]] |issue=65 |date=September 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001042507/http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=sep98&doc=darius |archive-date=October 1, 1999 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| GameFan = 91%<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_6_Issue_06/page/n21/mode/2up |title=G-Darius [Import] |last1=Chau |first1=Anthony "Dangohead" |last2=Ngo |first2=George "Eggo" |last3=Higgins |first3=Geoff "El Nino" |magazine=[[GameFan]] |publisher=Metropolis Media |volume=6 |issue=6 |date=June 1998 |page=21 |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_October_1998/page/n169/mode/2up |title=G. Darius [sic] |author=Major Mike |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG Entertainment]] |issue=121 |date=October 1998 |page=170 |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.3/10<ref name="gspot_rev">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/g-darius-review/1900-2547691/ |title=G Darius Review [Import] |last=Bartholow |first=Peter |date=May 1, 1998 |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| IGN = 8/10<ref name="ign_rev">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/18/g-darius |title=G. Darius |last=Nelson |first=Randy |date=September 17, 1998 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="ngen">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_46/page/n131/mode/2up |title=G Darius |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |issue=46 |date=October 1998 |page=128 |access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref>
| OPM = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=G Darius |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=2 |issue=1 |date=October 1998}}</ref>
}}

The PlayStation port received favorable reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[GameRankings]].<ref name="gr" /> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' said that the game was "fun for those fogies who can stomach it, but the average gamer will be bored to death".<ref name="ngen" /> In Japan, ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave it a score of 29 out of 40.<ref name="fam" /> Also in Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed the arcade version in their August 15, 1997, issue as being the fourth most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software) |language=Japanese |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |issue=547 |date=August 15, 1997 |page=21}}</ref> Five issues later (November 1), however, the magazine demoted it to being the tenth most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software) |language=Japanese |magazine=Game Machine |publisher=Amusement Press, Inc. |issue=552 |date=November 1, 1997 |page=25}}</ref>

In a 2014 retrospective, ''[[Eurogamer|Euro-gamer]]'' called the game "one of the greatest shooting games ever released".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-29-darius-retrospective |title=Darius retrospective |last=Higham |first=Rupert |date=March 30, 2014 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{clear right}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{KLOV game|id=7869}}
* {{moby game|id=/g-darius}}

{{Darius series}}

[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Darius (series)]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:Video game prequels]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Hisayoshi Ogura]]
[[Category:Video games with 2.5D graphics]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Taito arcade games]]
[[Category:THQ games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]
[[Category:CyberFront games]]
[[Category:MediaKite games]]