LadiesGamers G-Darius HD

G-Darius HD review

Game: G-Darius HD
Genre: Arcade, Action
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on PS4)
Developer|Publisher: M2, Taito | ININ Games
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price:  US $29.99 | UK £24.99 | EU € 29,99
Release Date: September 28th, 2021

Review code provided with many thanks to PR Hound

A Classic Remastered

G-Darius HD is a high-resolution port of the original arcade game from 1997. The Darius series has seen plenty of love on the Nintendo Switch and long may this trend continue. I never got to experience G-Darius in the arcades personally but I have always been a fan of any developer that ports an arcade classic over to consoles or PC. Particularly if this developer is M2 who has a strong track record of remastering games.

If you love your old school arcade games then this is a remaster you don’t want to miss. Plus there’s the benefit of buying this once and not inserting coins over and over again like ye old arcade days.

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
In space, no one can hear you fish

Familiar Darius With a New Feature

For those new to the Darius series, this is a side-scrolling schmup (or space shooter) where you fly through levels taking out multiple enemies and gigantic bosses. Provided you survive the hail of bullets and hazards coming your way you can collect upgrades for your weapons and shields to unleash further damage on the enemies and bosses. Of course, if you die you lose all of this and have to gradually earn it back. Thus was the style in the old arcade era.

New folk may find this a bit tough, but, if you’re nostalgic for this era like I am you wouldn’t have it any other way. One of the coolest weapons is a hyper beam that you can charge up and unleash devastating damage to anything silly enough to get in its way. If you’re able to carry it to the boss fight it makes for a very satisfying conclusion to what is usually a long and arduous fight. 

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
Dodge this

What sets this game apart from the rest of the series is the ability to shoot out a capture orb to literally grab an enemy and have them act as an ally on your side. This can be used on most standard enemies but you can also use it on larger enemies once you have significantly worn their health down and shot the orb out at the right moment. It’s great to experiment with different enemies captured and find the ones that work best for your gameplay design. Some enemies act more as defences against enemy fire while others just add to your firepower. 

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
Capture the enemies to aid you

3D Gills

The graphics are beautiful 3D sprites that still hold up very well today. You have the familiar enemy fish feeling to the enemies only with the 3D engine that has been brought to life in incredible detail. The boss fights in particular are enormous spectacles introduced by the iconic ‘Warning’ logo before they begin.

The game has a sort of PSone era graphical feel to it but with the extra benefits of arcade hardware. The sound effects pop with plenty of explosions and space aquatic-like noises. Then there is that brilliant soundtrack that just takes you back to the arcade atmosphere of the 90s. 

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
Boss fights remain an epic experience

The Masters of Remasters Return

G-Darius HD has been ported to consoles once again by the master developers at M2. M2 continues to be on top form by making this the best version of G-Darius HD on the market. You can play the game with its new HD visuals or with the original authentic style from the arcade. There are also oodles of settings to fiddle with like arcade settings and button mapping. You can also create save states absolutely anywhere.

The only tiny niggle I sensed when playing this was occasionally the game would slow down when there was a lot of action happening on the screen. Other than that this is yet another port that shows once again M2 are masters of the remaster.

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
I just wanted to come to visit the ancient stones

Coin-Op

Since this is an arcade game it isn’t very long. A play through will likely take you less than an hour to finish. However, there is plenty of incentive to replay. There are multiple paths to discover between and sometimes within levels so you can create your own path through the campaign. You can chase a high score and post it on the online leaderboards and probably feel sad how much better other people are at the game.

For me, the main incentive was trying to get through as far as possible on a single credit. Once again some may feel the price of entry for the package is a little high. But if you are willing to take the plunge this is a product well worth the price of entry.

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
Choose your path through the game

Conclusion – A Fishy but Fine Remaster

G-Darius HD is one of the finest entries in the series. A fine example of a 2D game moving in the 3D realm in all the right ways. Maintaining the core design of the series whilst adding the excitement of the arcade. Love your schmups? This is an essential purchase. New to the Darius series? This is a good place to start and one of the more affordable games in the series on the eShop. M2 recreated the arcade atmosphere with fine precision making me feel all the thrills and pleasures of that era from my youth which seems so far away these days. Whenever I need a lift in the spirits G-Darius HD will easily be a game I’ll reach for. 

Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up

Two thumbs up

LadiesGamers G-Darius HD
Love this load screen when you boot up the game

 

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