History VideoGame / Darius

** ''Dariusburst CS Core'', much like ''ACEX+'', excludes AC Mode, but compensates for the lack of it by adding six new stages for CS Mode, three of them being the exclusive events originally available in ''ACEX+'', as well as a scenario that recreates the events of the original ''Dariusburst''. ''CS Core'' also includes Ghost Scores from ''ACEX+'' and the option to save replays. Lastly, both the Taito and Sega DLC packs are included.

* ''Dariusburst CS Core'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. 2022) \\

* SeldomSeenSpecies: Many of the bosses are based off obscure sea creatures. Absolute Defender- [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Monocentris_japonica.jpg pinecone fish]], Tripod Sardine- [[http://starofthelost.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/deepsea-tripod_fish_j02-illustration_closeup.jpg tripod fish]], Folding Fan- [[http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Images/11416/DSCF0121edited_big.jpg fanfish]], The Embryon- [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Sea_angel.jpg sea angel]], (insert noun here) Fossil- Coelacanth, Accordion Hazard- ''[[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/c/c3/20101107022939!Anomalocaris_BW.jpg Anomalocaris]]'', Brightly Stare- [[http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/210/cache/fish-transparent-head-2_21052_600x450.jpg Barrel Eye Fish]], etc.

The first of two console-exclusive original ''Darius'' games. Less punishing than other titles (that is, [[DifficultySpike until the last stage]]), but has fewer branching paths and continuing after running out of lives here is completely impossible.

** ''Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+'', unlike past versions of ''DBAC'', grants 4 lives per credit instead of 3. This makes a 4-player game possible without having to use another credit. However, a side effect is that "one-credit rule" missions are easier to complete than in other versions.

** ''G-Darius HD'' (also for PC, 2022): A straight release of the game, featuring the usual assortment of online leaderboards and gadgets expected from M2's modern shoot em up rereleases. Features both a port of the arcade version and a ''HD'' version with upscaled textures and a new 3D model for the Silver Hawk. A second patch was released on March 31, 2022 for the PC version and the Japanese console versions, containing the arcade exclusive ''Ver.2'' in both HD and original format, as well as the original Playstation port. It also includes a training mode, replays, new gadgets and a "Super Easy" mode created by M2. The Steam port, which was released on March 30, 2022, includes subwoofer support and ''G-Darius Exhibition'', a new ultra widescreen mode made from the ground-up where you fight Fire Fossil, Queen Fossil and Great Thing.

* BookEnds: One of the final bosses in ''Darius Gaiden'' - the boss of Zone V' (with an apostrophe), specifically - is the Storm Causer, which is a PaletteSwap of the Golden Ogre, the mandatory first boss.

** ''Dariusburst Another Chronicle'' has an Infinite Ships mode, which provides all players with infinite lives, but costs additonal credits to play (the idea being to split the cost with up to three extra players) and invalidates any scores achieved with it.

* SchmuckBait: ''Darius II'' features bombs planted throughout many of the stages that, if you hit them while they're open, they will inflict a screen-wide attack for you that does massive damage to all on-screen enemies. Problem is, many of them are in hard-to-reach locations, and some are, in fact, planted to bait you into taking dead-end paths leaving you no choice but to suffer a life lost, and will never open up just to rub it in your face that you fell for the trick.

* SharedUniverse: With the game ''VideoGame/{{Growl}}'', bizarrely enough. The animal poaching organization is called the Belser Animal Protection Organization in the Japanese version, after the Belser Army from this series. At first in may seem like just a simple ShoutOut, but then [[spoiler:the head of the poachers turns out to be a [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere giant alien millipede.]]]] However, the international versions changed their name to the Rendow Animal Protection Agency, which pretty much removes what little explanation there is for [[spoiler:a giant space millipede]] being in a game about fighting evil poachers.

** ''G-Darius HD'' (also for PC, 2022): A straight release of the game, featuring the usual assortment of online leaderboards and gadgets expected from M2's modern shoot em up rereleases. Features both a port of the arcade version and a ''HD'' version with upscaled textures and a new 3D model for the Silver Hawk. A second patch was released on March 31, 2022, containing the arcade exclusive ''Ver.2'' in both HD and original format, as well as the original Playstation port. It also includes a training mode, replays, new gadgets and a "Super Easy" mode created by M2. The Steam port, which was released on March 30, 2022, includes subwoofer support and ''G-Darius Exhibition'', a new ultra widescreen mode made from the ground-up where you fight Fire Fossil, Queen Fossil and Great Thing.

** ''G-Darius HD'' (also for PC, TBA): A straight release of the game, featuring the usual assortment of online leaderboards and gadgets expected from M2's modern shoot em up rereleases. Features both a port of the arcade version and a ''HD'' version with upscaled textures and a new 3D model for the Silver Hawk. A second patch was released on March 31, 2022, containing the arcade exclusive ''Ver.2'' in both HD and original format, as well as the original Playstation port. It also includes a training mode, replays, new gadgets and a "Super Easy" mode created by M2. The Steam port, also released on the same day as the second patch, includes subwoofer support and ''G-Darius Exhibition'', a new 16:9 widescreen mode made from the ground-up.

** ''G-Darius HD'' (also for PC, TBA): A straight release of the game, featuring the usual assortment of online leaderboards and gadgets expected from M2's modern shoot em up rereleases. Features both a port of the arcade version and a ''HD'' version with upscaled textures and a new 3D model for the Silver Hawk. A second patch was released on March 31, 2022, containing the arcade exclusive ''Ver.2'' in both HD and original format, as well as the original Playstation port. It also includes a training mode, replays, new gadgets and a "Super Easy" mode created by M2.

** Japanese ''Regular''/Worldwide ''Arcade Version'' (also for PC, TBA): Includes ''Darius'' and its major rebalancing patch (titled "Old", "New" and "Extra"), ''Darius II'' and its overseas rearrangement ''Sagaia'' and ''Sagaia Version 2'', and ''Darius Gaiden''.

** ''G-Darius HD'' (also for PC, TBA): A straight release of the game, featuring the usual assortment of online leaderboards and gadgets expected from M2's modern shoot em up rereleases. Features both a port of the arcade version and a ''HD'' version with upscaled textures and a new 3D model for the Silver Hawk. The arcade-exclusive ''G-Darius Version 2'' was added in a later patch.

* LonelyPianoPiece: The final mission in ''Chronicle Saviours'' has this for its background music, titled "Dream Road".

* GaidenGame: The game ''Syvalion'' is meant to be a spinoff of the series, with you helping the people of Planet Darius halfway through the game. Zandick II and Galst Vic from ''Darius Force'' are upgraded versions of enemies from the game and the metal dragon makes a cameo in ''Dariusburst''

* OddballInTheSeries: ''Darius Force'' stands out from the rest of the series with its comparatively darker, brooding art direction, multiple unusual gameplay mechanics (including restarts at checkpoints, weapon power being halved if both missiles and lasers/bombs are fired at the same time, and having to switch between laser and bombs instead of being able to fire both), an odd grid-based version of the branching path system that lets the player play anywhere from 5 to 7 stages, and it having the biggest proportion of bosses that aren't fish or marine life. Design sketches included in the Special edition of the ''Darius Cozmic Collection'' show that [[WhatCouldHaveBeen even wilder deviations from the series formula were considered]], including making it a vertical shooter.

* GaidenGame: The game ''Syvalion'' is meant to be a spinoff of the series, with you helping the people of Planet Darius halfway through the game. The metal dragon makes a cameo in ''Dariusburst''

** Japanese ''Regular''/Worldwide ''Arcade Version'': Includes ''Darius'' and its major rebalancing patch (titled "Old", "New" and "Extra"), ''Darius II'' and its overseas rearrangement ''Sagaia'' and ''Sagaia Version 2'', and ''Darius Gaiden''.

** ''G-Darius HD'': A straight release of the game, featuring the usual assortment of online leaderboards and gadgets expected from M2's modern shoot em up rereleases. Features both a port of the arcade version and a ''HD'' version with upscaled textures and a new 3D model for the Silver Hawk. The arcade-exclusive ''G-Darius Version 2'' was added in a later patch.

* SchmuckBait: ''Darius II'' features bombs planted throughout many of the stages that, if you hit them while they're open, they will inflict a screen-wide attack for you that does massive damage to all on-screen enemies. Problem is, many of them are in hard-to-reach locations, and some are, in fact, planted to bait you into taking dead-end paths, and will never open up just to rub it in your face that you fell for the trick.

* CopycatCover: Not so much copying as outright borrowed(if not stolen) -- The Saturn cover for ''Daruis Gaiden'' is actually taken from ''Battlespace'', a ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}} GaidenGame (ironic, we know) about space combat.

** In Darius Twin, your primary shot goes through several iterations as you upgrade it. The second to last 'set' of shots involves firing crescents that can pierce through enemies. The final upgrade fires large spheres, which cannot pierce. It's ironically advised not to upgrade your weapon fully.

** ''Darius Gaiden'' varies by upgrade type. You get a flat penalty to your shot, making your shot drop down to level 0 of the tier below what you have (so if you have Wave, you'll be demoted to Laser level 0), and "major upgrades" will ''not'' protect against this; you can be kicked from red and green waves (the highest shot upgrade) back to the basic missile if you die so many times in quick succession. Shield is reset back to level 0 of your last upgrade, much like in other games. Bomb is not affected.

** ''Darius Gaiden'' varies by upgrade type. You get a flat penalty to your shot, making you lose three levels, and "major upgrades" will ''not'' protect against this; you can be kicked from red and green waves (the highest shot upgrade) back to the basic missile if you die so many times in quick succession. Shield is reset back to level 0 of your last upgrade, much like in other games. Bomb is not affected.

* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield - ''G-Darius''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NArEuTOyKo "Genesis" stage]].

** ''Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+'' backports the Murakumo ship, which was previuosly a CS Mode exclusive in ''Chronicle Saviours'', into ''Another Chronicle EX'', introduces several new music tracks, and new event missions. It does not include the CS Mode from ''Chronicle Saviours'' however.