Shooter heaven
Taito is arguably the king of the arcade game scene, and has been responsible for any number of classics over the years, including the original shoot 'em up, Space Invaders, Operation Wolf, Bubble Bobble and Chase HQ. G-Darius takes its place in this impressive roster and is a fine example of the side scrolling shooter that stands alongside other classics like Gradius, R-Type and Gunstar Heroes. G-Darius is the fourth in the series and retains many of the staple features of the genre, including the futuristic setting, 2D graphics, powerups and cool weapons. However, three dimensional polygonal graphics are also added into the mix to lend the game some extra visual flair, while there are also some other notable and novel features. For example, the 'capture ball' upgrade allows for enemies to be captured and then used against their comrades, acting as shields, gun turrets or even bombs, while 'beam duelling' occurs during boss fights if both the player and boss activate their lasers simultaneously. Frantic button pushing is required if the player is to emerge victorious. G-Darius sports some impressive visuals, with unusual and stylish bio-mechanical designs for the enemies, while the music and sound are appropriately futuristic and add to the excitement. The branching paths which open up whenever a boss is defeated increase the game's replay value and overall, this is a first rate shooter.
