Shooting robot fish in a barrel
There are plenty of games I can wax nostalgic about from the PSOne era. One of those is certainly G-Darius. Originally an arcade game released in 1997, my first experience with the series was on the original PlayStation. I remember checking it out on an early demo disc and being super impressed with its tight controls and ridiculous robotic fish enemies. Fast forward to 2021 and G-Darius has returned in HD form for both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. It has been 20 years, but the series still holds its own in the shooter space.
MSRP: $29.99
Platforms: PlayStation (reviewed), Switch
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
This collection includes two versions of the game. The original 1997 arcade version and a new HD version that smooths out the visuals creating the sense that they never left. Sure, the polygons are still extremely angular, but the outlandish designs and steady frame rate make up the difference. It is no surprise this is a good port. It was done by the team at M2, and the translation holds up.
The two versions of the game offer up an opportunity to play the original look and feel or opt for more streamlined visuals with the HD upgrade. I personally enjoy swapping back and forth. I also loved the side bars offering up pertinent information about the game’s mechanics. One thing about G-Darius is that it has a ton of underlying systems that take some getting used to. Things like capturing enemies and upgrading weapons are never explained to the player, so the learning curve could take a while for those unfamiliar with the games.
G-Darius was always known for its massive bosses and epic soundtrack and both of those have aged extremely well. This series was one of the best transitions from 2D to 3D I ever experienced. The music is simply breathtaking at times. The score moves seamlessly with the game play. Players can also discover branching paths in stages and there is just a lot here to unpack. It feels good to be getting a renaissance of PSOne era games, even if they are just remasters of the classics.
Shooters had a very long hiatus before the indie scene came along. Games like G-Darius used to be tentpole titles for consoles. It is great to see them return in any fashion and I could truly enjoy a new one weekly if it was possible. It is time for Einhander and Radiant Silvergun to make returns. Keep them coming and I will keep playing them. G-Darius is a must purchase for fans of shoot ‘em ups so don’t hesitate in snatching this one right away.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
