G-Darius HD Reviews
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.
In the end, G-Darius HD is a challenging shooter from a time when arcades were still relevant. It still looks good and sounds cool, but it's not great as a standalone.
G-Darius HD is a fun trip down memory lane and reminds us that arcade games knew how to eat up your quarters. It will certainly frustrate common gamers out there, but for nostalgia-seeking suckers like myself, it was fun frustration.
This is the finest version of one of the best horizontal shooters ever made, frame rate issues notwithstanding. It retains the best elements of the original — outstanding art, mesmerizing music, and exceptional gameplay — and pairs it will new quality-of-life features and bonus options.
With the usual quality of life features added into the mix, such as screen options, save state support and more, G-Darius HD is easy to recommend to series fans with the skills to do it justice. Its dated visuals and rock-hard difficulty level, however, means it’s not likely to impress newcomers. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it’s hard to not feel like more could have been done with G-Darius HD to make it a more accessible and attractive package overall.
The team at M2 had an incredible eye for detail when creating G-Darius HD. Not only does it respect the already solid source material, it encourages shmup fans to pour over every last detail. G-Darius HD isn’t just a re-release; it is a love letter.
G-Darius HD still holds up as a great shoot ‘em up even over twenty years later. The game can be a little intimidating due to it not explaining its systems clearly but difficulty options and unlimited continues should help alleviate that somewhat. This is still very much the same game as it was back in 1997 however and whether that’s worth paying $29.99 for is up to each individual. If you’re a fan of shoot ‘em ups though and you never played this game then I recommend you get it at some point.
G-Darius is a top-of-the-line shoot 'em up and this HD iteration is a fairly nifty updated version of the classic albeit with minimal additions. That being said, when a game is this good, bells and whistles don't really add up to much.
It’s always a bit tough to evaluate re-releases of classic arcade-style shooters coming to the system...
G-Darius HD is a great example of a retro arcade game and has plenty to keep players with it until the end. The modern tweaks and save states do wonders to keep casual players invested, while hardcore fans can ignore them. However, one suspects that casual players won’t be too interested in a game of this style anyway so there is that to consider. Overall, this is a highly addictive game.
If you enjoy the genre, G.Darius HD is an experience not to be missed. One of the best and most innovative releases in the series, featuring a quality transition to 3D. This HD version, thanks to its aesthetic improvements and soundtrack typical of the saga, will grab anyone for many long hours. Whether it's to complete the game, get the best scores or complete the catalog of enemies, you can count on a pleasantly extensive experience!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Too bad Taito doesn't want to make the price of this title more accessible, because G-Darius HD still works perfectly as an engaging, challenging and fun shoot'em up.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While G-Darius HD is mostly just an arcade title with some upgraded visuals, that’s not really a bad thing. This is still one of the best made shmups to ever grace any platform. This port does add things you would expect like leaderboards, video options and a quick save feature. I think for the $29.99 asking price they could’ve added a bit more to this, but I wouldn’t really call it lacking in features either. If you are a big Darius fan, you should probably jump on this soon. You’ll be really pleased with how well handled one of your favorite titles was. If you just have a passing interest in these games, you may want to wait on a sale to dive in.
With G-DARIUS HD we can enjoy the original Arcade from 1997 and a completely revamped version in high definition. One of the best Darius by right that now reaches us in the best possible way and closes the return of the franchise through different versions and compilations that we have been receiving in recent years. For lovers of the Taito franchise and shoot 'em up in general, this is the perfect opportunity to take on the Thiima army with our iconic Silver Hawk.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I’ve played a lot of Darius games, especially since I joined Thumb Culture and I have to say this has been my favourite one yet. The gameplay is frantic and fun and I think the capture ball and its various mechanics make the game so much better. Throw in a great soundtrack I would happily listen to whilst driving at high speed, and we have a great game. Even though some things can blend into the background a bit, the HD treatment is appreciated. I award G-Darius the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
G-Darius HD is a classic shmup, and it arrives on Nintendo Switch in excellent form. While the updates are minimal, it feels true to perhaps the best game in the Darius series. If you’re looking for more than that, you won’t find it here, but fans who know what they’re buying will find a game that holds up, even after all these years.
Even though it's a release of a single title, G-Darius HD can be more attractive than the rest of Taito's space-marine franchise compilations. This game received a treatment that would have been welcome in the other classic entries in the saga and it's really good to see this classic once again in the spotlight.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
G-Darius HD is one of the finest entries in the series. A fine example of a 2D game moving in the 3D realm in all the right ways. Maintaining the core design of the series whilst adding the excitement of the arcade. Love your schmups? This is an essential purchase. New to the Darius series? This is a good place to start and one of the more affordable games in the series on the eShop. M2 recreated the arcade atmosphere with fine precision making me feel all the thrills and pleasures of that era from my youth which seems so far away these days. Whenever I need a lift in the spirits G-Darius HD will easily be a game I’ll reach for.
G-Darius HD was one of the best looking shoot ’em ups when it released back in 1997, and I can honestly say that it is still one of the best looking in the genre in 2021. This is a title that has aged wonderfully, and it is one that you definitely need to brush off your arcade skills and jump back into on your Nintendo Switch.
I can’t call G-Darius HD anything other than a run-of-the-mill arcade shoot ‘em up. While the capture ball and beam duelling are fun wrinkles to the gameplay, they aren’t enough to make the game stand out against a myriad of other titles in the same genre. The achievements and graphics updates are nice but I struggle to look past its short run time and genesis as an arcade cabinet that’s designed to eat your money. Sadly, this just isn’t an ideal console title. Fans of the genre will be overjoyed to have G-Darius HD available in their games library, but I don’t think it will capture many hearts outside of those players who forever yearn for the glory of the arcade High Scores table.