PS1 Underrated Gem: G Darius
52This is a series of gameplay vids I'm doing highlighting overlooked games for the various consoles I own. This is played on a PS2 with Texture smoothing on.
Since I'm in Shmup mode today, and I just posted a vid of the most known PS1 Shmup Einhander, it's time to show you another great PS1 Shmup, that didn't get a fraction of the attention that Einhander did.
G Darius is a part of the long running Darius series. The series trademark is fighting giant mechanical fish bosses, and man does this game have some epic boss fights to it. G Darius also adds the ability to capture enemy ships, and use them as special powerups of sorts. It also maintains another trademark of the series, and that's multiple branching paths that you get to chose from after you beat a level.
I've actually been playing the arcade version on Taito Legends 2 on the PS2, and if you have that collection, you probably won't need to get the PS1 port. I have noticed some slowdown in the PS1 port, but, like the Snes port of Gradius III, sometimes slowdown saves your ass in these games. The PS1 port does have a separate mode called the Beginner mode which is just an easier, more customizable version of the arcade mode. It also has a Vs Boss mode that allows you to fight any of the bosses from the game.
Overall, this is easily one of the best shmups on the PS1, and if you're a fan of the genre, you should look into it.
The only real hitch to getting the PS1 port is that fact that Taito Legends 2 on the PS2, PC, and Xbox has an arcade perfect port of the game on it, and comes with Darius Gaiden, and a number of other great Tatio Games as well. However, if you're looking to collect exclusively on the PS1, then you need to put this game in your collection.
The PS1 port of G Darius is exclusive to the PS1, and has a few extras, but G Darius is also available in the Arcades, and on the PS2, PC, and Xbox via Taito Legends 2.