Darius World is the international arcade release of Taito’s pioneering 1986 horizontal shoot ’em up, Darius. Famous for its original seamless three-screen wide cabinet design, the game puts players in the cockpit of the Silver Hawk space fighter to defend the planet Darius against the Belser alien empire. It introduced non-linear progression to the genre, allowing players to choose their own branching path through the alphabetised zones, and established the series’ iconic hallmark of massive, aquatic-themed robotic bosses.
How to Play
Insert a coin and press Start. Use the directional keys to pilot the Silver Hawk. Press the primary fire button to shoot your forward missiles and the secondary button to drop air-to-surface bombs. Your goal is to survive the scrolling stages, defeat the zone boss, and select your next route.
Tips
- Destroy an entire wave of differently coloured enemy ships to spawn power-up orbs. Red upgrades your main gun, green upgrades your bombs, and blue strengthens your shield.
- Upgrades are crucial for late-game survival, so prioritize catching blue orbs early to build and maintain a strong defensive shield.
- Pay attention to the branching map at the end of each stage; the upper routes generally offer an easier difficulty curve compared to the lower ones.
Leave a Comment / Review: