Darius Cozmic Collection Reviews
A couple of omissions grate and it's hardly cheap, but this is a sumptuous collection for the grandest of shmups.
There's a lot to take in when reviewing a package like Darius Cozmic Collection and we wish that it had been released in a single version which includes all of the bonus games, but it is safe to say that this release floats somewhere between the barebone lack-of-care ports like the Psikyo ZeroDiv releases and the passionate ocean of love that are M2's ShotTrigger ports.
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade includes 3 of the most underrated and incredible arcade shooters ever created. Although G-Darius is disappointingly absent, what you get is one super-fun collection that features some truly innovative HUD options.
Darius Cozmic Collection is a piece of history for shmup fans. The collection includes a full catalog of the series that allows you to experience some titles that weren’t easily accessible before this release.
While I was a pretty big arcade shooter fan in the arcades the Darius series is one I don't remember playing very much...
Darius Cozmic Collection Console is a niche title that will thrill the people it needs to thrill. Meanwhile, the casual crowd will rightly scoff at its price. There’s nothing wrong with this collection apart from that it’s a bit by-the-book, though as a collection of Darius games released on console, you could take the absence of Super Darius and 2009’s PSP exclusive Dariusburst to task. Still, if you aren’t averse to spending a considerable bit of dough to acquire some of the best shoot ’em ups ever made, consider picking it up.
There's an absurd amount of classic Shmup love here, even if these collections are a little too light on extras.
Darius Cozmic Collection does offer a lot of enjoyment for fans of shmups, regardless of which version is played.
Fish-obsessed 2D shooter series Darius gets two separate compilations, one of which features one of the rarest video games ever made.
Fans of Darius or bullet hell games will likely appreciate everything Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade has to offer. It's crazy, flashy, and most importantly fun. It's a shame some of the games, like Darius, are not as accessible but the inclusion of Darius Gaiden helps bridge that game. Add in multiple paths, different experiences and it's easy to get a lot of value out of Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade without even bothering with high scores or online rankings.
M2 has done justice to Taito's extraordinary shooting series with Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade.
An extremely well put together love letter to a classic series of shoot 'em ups. Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade reminds us how brutal games used to be whilst allowing newcomers in gently. A tad expensive but polished to a sheen.
I remember reading about Darius first in early 90s game magazines, and thought I'd have to make do with the console versions. Playing the arcade versions actually made me even more excited to try the console games in the other collection that came out. There's some frustration to be found in this collection, but overall it's another quality batch of shooters for Switch owners.
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade is fun, rewarding and a massive nostalgia trip. The soundtrack is amazing as are your game options when playing this group of great shoot 'em ups. I would have perhaps liked other titles instead of copies of the same game but hey, you can't have everything.
The Darius Cozmic Collections are both mostly enjoyable titles that collect a good number of incredibly hard but normally fun shoot-em-ups.
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade is a rock solid collection of Taito classic shooters in one package that can be listed more premium than casual fans may be willing to pay.
All in all, this is a high-quality collection of games, but the experience is brought down by some missing content and a high price tag.
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade brings together 3 of the most popular Arcades from the Darius franchise and various versions of two of them. Like the other console-based compilation, the good finish of the product from M2 is clouded by the lack of a Museum or Gallery, and the less content of this compilation compared to the other, although it compensates for it with a lower price. . But if you are a fan of the Taito franchise, this is an opportunity that you should not miss to complete the Darius Cozmic Collection.
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This bring us to both collections’ biggest issue. Darius as a series must be programmed with some kind of rare metal because they always seem to command a very high price for entry. I noted this back in the day when I reviewed Dariusburst Chronicle Saviours for the Vita. This issue will be the main reason people will avoid a purchase, especially with current circumstances in the world. The other notable issue is that these collections are not complete collections of the Darius series. This is nothing new with retro collections in general, but the oddest omission is that of the first Darius game on the Console Collection. The reason it’s a bit fishy is that this game was released on the Mega Drive Mini which was also developed by M2 and yet is strangely missing from this collection. There are also a variety of other titles and ports missing that enthusiasts of the series may be disappointed not to have. Both the Arcade Collection and Console Collection are brilliant. M2 has once again outdone themselves and proved they’re the best at retro gaming on modern systems. It’s a shame the price is so darn high though, especially since I really couldn’t see owning only one of these collections. If you do take the plunge you have a brilliant collection of one of the best schmup series from ye old days.
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade is a good compilation and the titles included are of a high quality, but as comprehensive as it is, it's still a little limited for the price. Enthusiasts, however, will be delighted by it.