The 1997 released Taito G-Darius PCB is awesome...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

After giving the ol' 1997 Taito G-Darius PCB a go-around...it is a fine yoko shmup title in it's own right. Sure the PSX version of the same name might have some bonus filler content such as:

All new FMV CGI opening intro

Boss Rush Mode

Ability to save high scores via Memory Card functionality

Some additional background detail was added for the PSX version

The usual CD-Rom loading time issues...

The latter released PS2 Taito Legends 2 release of G-Darius speeds all the FMV scenes and even the gameplay...if you like playing G-Darius sped up.

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The PCB version of G-Darius has these benefits:

Instant loading times -- no need to wait for loading of stages...

The opening intro uses the same in-game engine for smooth 60 frames-per-second playback as well as the ending scenes...

Very little slowdown but only if there are too much polygons + bullet action shown on-screen...

The background effects for the end-stage boss fight scenes are rendered in silky smooth 60 frames-per-second arcade spec framerate...

Of course, no high score saving upon powering down for the night...a minor issue if there was one. ^_~

Plus the cool option to have the sound effects & BGM tunes presented in either mono or stereo sound output...stereo output is just plain awesome! ^_~

Taito also produced a limited variant G-Darius PCB for their G-Darius scoring contest event -- featured timed stages and boss rushes. Score the most points in the time limit given. I've seen this rare special contest ver. G-Darius PCB fetch over $250.00+ USD on eBay a few years back...(could be just a possible Eprom upgrade to differentiate from the regular G-Darius PCB iteration).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[nimitz]

For PC Engine Fan X!,

Wich version is faster? the ps2 version or the PCB?

I thought the PCB and the ps2 verison on taito legends (60hz) were the same speed overall. The playstation version is slower than both.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For PC Engine Fan X!,

Wich version is faster? the ps2 version or the PCB?

I thought the PCB and the ps2 verison on taito legends (60hz) were the same speed overall. The playstation version is slower than both.

For nimitz,

The PCB version of G-Darius is the one to play/own hands down...it is already running at arcade spec framerate.

You're right about the PSX version being slower than either the PCB or PS2 port...

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[nimitz]

For PC Engine Fan X!,

Thanks,

But can you confirm that the PS2 version is indeed faster than the PCB? and how much faster?

[D]

What about G-Darius ver. 2?
http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=thumb ... odb&id=420
bug fix upgrade or sequal?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've got the G-Darius PCB version stated below when the operator's menu comes up:

G-Darius version 2.01 J
1997/07/09 23:50:17

I'd have to assume that all the 15 different listed end stage bosses on the G-Darius Ver. 2 arcade flyer are present but there isn't a game "select mode" present as shown on that particular flyer.

High scores are saved directly to the Taito FX-1 PCB itself for posterity without the need for a backup battery and there is a "High Score Reset" option to clear such scores if one wants to...

Makes me wonder just how many revisions of the G-Darius PCB exist beside version 1.0 & 2.0 (unless ver. 2 is really the latest firmware "version 2.01 J" revision itself but the "Game Mode" selection screen functionality removed)...sounds intriguing, that version 2.0 PCB.

I'll have to do a side-by-side comparision of the PS2 port and the PCB to see which is faster...shall report back with the results soon. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Shou]

Version 2 adds a beginner mode and a few minor things. It's all detailed in the manual which I can dig up when I get home. The arcade PCB definitely feels like a different game compared to the PS port.

[dpful]

Most significant is lack of rapid fire on pcb, so laser fights are a lot different. You've got to go crazy on the buttons to survive.

[Zeether]

I think C is autofire

[FIL]

I love the boss rush mode on the PSX version but after playing it in MAME and TL2 it just feels painfully slow now, maybe ignorance really is bliss.

[Shou]

Most significant is lack of rapid fire on pcb, so laser fights are a lot different. You've got to go crazy on the buttons to survive.

Autofire on C was added in Ver. 2 I believe.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Autofire capability was not added to the latest version 2.01-J of G-Darius PCB and would need the assistance of an external auto-fire PCB board or hack to be utilized. So it's make do with the standard two button "A + B" configuration for now...

What's the usual going yate for such a regular G-Darius PCB and uprgraded G-Darius ver. 2 PCB at the arcade PCB shops in Japan and on YAJ?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Rastan78]

Was just looking at the Japanese G Darius wiki. It says if you play the PS disc on a slim PS2 it runs faster and is very close in feel to the PCB. Hmmmm interesting.

One of the differences between the original and ver 2 besides the autofire button and major game balance changes was the original defaulted to 200 yen per play instead of 100. This was a big negative since players remember the Darius series on big cabs. They thought why pay 200 yen for Darius on a single screen? So the game didn't earn as well as it should have. Ver 2 was given a 100 yen per play default but was very unpopular regardless.

There's a big boss kill time bonus in Ver 2 so all the strategy of leaving bosses around all day to build up laser and milk more points goes out the window.