Darius 30th Anniversary Edition announced for PS4

[Durandal]

I'm blown away by the apathetic response to this release. It's the first ever physical arcade-perfect home release for a legendary arcade game, complete with OSTs for the entire series and super plays for most of the series (pre-Burst). And it's actually on a disc!

coupled with a high price, even higher shipping costs, the fact that Darius I is only just average as a SHMUP with MAME versions working just fine and the same port being available on PSN for a much more affordable price, soundtracks and superplays being available online or on iTunes anyways, and the disappointing lack of inclusion of the other Darius games the series is more known for, this is only something you'd buy if you were the kind of ultra-hardcore Darius fan who wears Darius hoodies all the time without ever washing them and modding Ogura's face onto Ao Oni, even moreso if you don't live in Japan

[FunktionJCB]

I'm blown away by the apathetic response to this release. It's the first ever physical arcade-perfect home release for a legendary arcade game, complete with OSTs for the entire series and super plays for most of the series (pre-Burst). And it's actually on a disc!

You should add, an expensive, Japan-only (and retailer-exclusive) release for the very same platform you can already find that same arcade-perfect release easily available, for next to nothing.

If this was a release for a platform the game wasn't already available, say, the PC, it would feel like something new.
Instead, they took a version of the game already released (so, no porting or developing effort at all), and already available soundtracks, and released them as a pack.
It's a nice release, but it simply isn't anything new.

You would think the 30th anniversary of the series would warrant something with a little more effort.
Or something directed to fans of the series worldwide, but I guess that is asking too much.

As for the Dariusburst DLCs, no complaints there, whatever they may release as DLC, I'm buying, the game is a gem.
But those DLCs were announced before this big, countdown-worthy announcement.

[AxelMill]

[...] super plays for most of the series.

It must be so fun to watch videos of games you can't play because thirteen thousand yen were not enough to include an (already existing and perfectly functional; don't you dare say each Arcade Archives game has a different and specifically tailored) emulator with three more 2-to-20MB ROMs.

You know what the worst part is? Because of this -thing- we know we won't get another Darius game on PS4 until at least March 2017.

[qmish]

Meanwhile DBCS is getting more outrageous levels of genre fan-service DLC.

Dunno, i was surprised that dbcs dlcs are better than i thought - ships really play differently with those mechanics, i only disliked rayforce ship. Still wish they'll do completely new enemies, bosses and levels too, though.

[FunktionJCB]

Dunno, i was surprised that dbcs dlcs are better than i thought - ships really play differently with those mechanics, i only disliked rayforce ship. Still wish they'll do completely new enemies, bosses and levels too, though.

Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours has already become a personal favourite, and I've been really enjoying the DLCs.
The new ships change the gameplay significantly enough for it to feel "fresh", and the use of original and arranged tracks from the original games is just awesome. I can't tell you how many times I've played the Night Striker DLC just to hear the soundtrack.

That being said, new levels and enemies would be most welcome.
I wish upcoming DLCs weren't based on third-party properties, but instead they worked to bring more content based on past Darius titles, with a couple of new levels and enemies added.
Now that would be a great way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series.

[Rupert H]

this is only something you'd buy if you were the kind of ultra-hardcore Darius fan who wears Darius hoodies all the time without ever washing them

Have you been stalking me on Facebook?

I do actually wash it though.

So you're one of those people that talks smack about Darius one.

I take some of your points, but obviously this is a premium package built for fans. Of course you could watch super plays on YouTube and download digital tracks from iTunes (even though this package has exclusive content), but after the disc-free Garegga PS4 backlash it's clear to see that there are still people that value ownership of physical media. If you're just interested in playing the game, hit it up on MAME or pay a few pounds for the Arcade Archives version. Personally I'm more than happy to celebrate the series' 30th anniversary in lavish style.

[Kollision]

If this was a release for a platform the game wasn't already available, say, the PC, it would feel like something new.
Instead, they took a version of the game already released (so, no porting or developing effort at all), and already available soundtracks, and released them as a pack.
It's a nice release, but it simply isn't anything new.

You know, when I think about all the digital releases that ARE NOW //FOREVER// GONE from their services and can't be downloaded/activated anymore, I can't help but think that having a retail Darius in any form is heartwarming. No matter how niche, how expensive or how stupidly stashed with a bunch of fan service CDs.

[AxelMill]

So you're one of those people that talks smack about Darius one.

No.
Gaiden and G introduced me to shmups.
Burst got me into shmups.
DBCS is one of my favorite games of all time.
Which is why I'm so butthurt over this -thing-.
We've (or rather, Japan) already had something incredible for Darius's 30th, which was the release of a new game. How many 30th Anniversaries had such a thing? Not Metroid (FF doesn't count, and I usually defend it, actually), not Castlevania, not Gradius.
I'd rather have nothing than this joke (strictly speaking about the games included, or lack thereof).

[boagman]

It does strike me as nothing short of just a petty cash grab.

[FunktionJCB]

You know, when I think about all the digital releases that ARE NOW //FOREVER// GONE from their services and can't be downloaded/activated anymore, I can't help but think that having a retail Darius in any form is heartwarming. No matter how niche, how expensive or how stupidly stashed with a bunch of fan service CDs.

You know, I used to think that, and avoided digital releases like the plague, and bought pretty much physical copies only, but now it just seems pointless.
People still value physical releases, but lets be honest: there's a big chance even with a physical release the game won't be playable in 10 years or less.
Simply put it, the current gaming platforms and media aren't built to last.

I'll give you an example: I built a nice shmup library on the Xbox 360 (both physical releases, and digital downloads), including some not cheap Japanese imports.
My Xbox 360 no longer works, so I'm out of luck. Who cares if I have a disc of the game, if I don't have a working console to use it?
My NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Gear, Dreamcast, and more, still work, yet a console just a generation away no longer works. My brother had 3 360's, and 1 PS3, die on him.
And I can assure you we both treat our devices with care (me in particular).

Companies don't care about backwards compatibility, and recent consoles will surely last a lot less than the hardware we had on the 80's and 90's.
So, that physical PS4 release most probably won't be playable on the PS5 (or whatever Sony decides to call their next console), and your PS4 may not be around in a not so distant future.

It's one of the reasons why I didn't buy a current generation console, and have no intention to. I was tired of losing access to games I bought, and expected to be able to enjoy for a longer period than I did.
On my PC, I can still fire up games I played in the early 80's, and with more or less hassle, I can still play them.

It's one of the reasons why I wish more "old school" titles would get a PC release.

[Dangerous_D]

I miss playing Darius, have the two on ps2 on taito legends 2, I do miss playing the original on the arcade system

[ProcoTaito]

I don't remember if anyone posted about this yet, but there is a re-release of the PLUM 1/60 Legend Silverhawk Burst model coming out.
I believe Play-Asia has them up for pre-order, and it's around $35 I believe. (Cut off date 12/11)

[Despatche]

It amazes me that people outside of Japan can feel like they can bitch about a release that they aren't even supposed to buy. You guys know it's not terribly difficult to find a Gaiden or a G in Japan, right?

Why is this even a separate topic? It's just an LE for the Arcade Archives release of Darius. Please merge.

[Astro City II]

Have they said they have no plans for making it available outside of Japan?

The thing I find odd about Taito is they're willing to port 3-4 very similar versions of Pac-Man, Dig Dug and the like every couple of years to various consoles but why does their STG output end up on only one system?

Where's the benefit when you have teams already versed with porting stuff to other formats? It's no wonder the genre is dying out. Let's see this stuff on Xbox and PC so more people can appreciate it.

[Shepardus]

I think you've got it mixed up, the genre isn't dying because the games aren't being ported to Xbox and PC, it's the other way around. Porting may be cheap but it's still an investment they're unlikely to make back. PC gaming's still niche in Japan and Xbox gaming even more so. Outside of Japan they're more common but even so I doubt they're missing out on many sales by leaving out those platforms.

[szycag]

The thing I find odd about Taito is they're willing to port 3-4 very similar versions of Pac-Man, Dig Dug and the like every couple of years-

That's Namco you dodo!

[Astro City II]

Whoops yeah sorry. What a complete mess I made of that

It's sad seeing these companies make little more than mobile phone games now. I guess the console market in Japan really is quite stagnant.

[Doctor Butler]

I suppose it wasn't clear how 'limited' this was? Play-Asia has been selling Pre-Orders of the Battle Garegga pack there for months without selling out, so I figured I had more than a day to pre-order.

I'd presume Darius is more popular and well-know than Garegga, so I'm not surprised.

[Dangerous_D]

back in 2006-2007 I had Darius on my Nextel i860 and 870 it was the first level you played through 5 times to complete the game

[GSK]

Taito announced they're adding the old version ROM to the disc release.