It has been an abundant year thus far for the rollout of many revamp titles from the eighties and nineties glory days. What else does the world have to do during these unprecedented times? Arguably, we should be grateful for any and all entertainment as we await the end of lockdown in eager anticipation, but some games live up to the hype more than others. And just because a classic has been remastered does not necessarily mean it has stood the test of time. We have another long-lost shoot-em-up ready for a second go that has a decent amount to offer, but the cost may leave it lonely.
Over 30 years since its original release, TAITO has brought the Darius franchise back with DARIUS COZMIC COLLECTION ARCADE AND CONSOLE for PS4. This fast-paced 2D shooter is brutally challenging from the starting gate and offers an abundance of fantastic music, lovable old-school graphics, and monster bosses, but your interest may wane before you get your money’s worth.
If you are not familiar with these types of 2D shooters or have never set foot in an arcade, then you will feel your heart rate increase as you are thrust into sea/space combat without any hand-holding with the controls. I was a little confused in the beginning with what the ‘start’ button translated to on the PS4 dual-shock, so when angry meteoroids start careening toward my pixelated jet, I went into frantic button-mash mode until I figured out how to fight back. It is a pretty simple obstacle to overcome, but prepare yourself for some feelings of incompetency.
If you like vintage shoot-em-ups and fish (yes, fish…you will encounter a lot of them on this adventure), then you will easily find both collections casually entertaining. But before you make a hard commitment to purchase either one of these compilations, let’s look at a few particulars.
DARIUS COZMIC COLLECTION ARCADE
Although this title boasts seven games, you really only get three, just different versions. If you are not super into the tech specs of video games, you may feel a little ripped off. This has incited a pushback on the price amongst the vast majority and I completely understand that. While the trifecta exudes a boatload of nostalgia, $45 to take home the same game you used to play at the coin-op is hard to justify. I will say, however, that the co-op functions are way easier to navigate from the comfort of your couch, as opposed to bashing into each other’s shoulders trying to tag-team the machine. This, in my opinion, is the selling point for this compilation.
DARIUS COZMIC COLLECTION CONSOLE
More games come in this collection, although the same situation applies—six games, but multiple versions. The variations are more distinctive and they all play a little differently. This is largely based on the platform the version was modeled after (i.e. Genesis, PC Engine…etc.). Gameplay runs a little smoother in the console version and the controls are easier to pick up. While this compilation is far more loaded than Arcade, unless you are an absolute die-hard 2D fanatic, $60 is absurdly overpriced.
I leave you with mixed feelings on both these compilations. While it is a fun blast from the past to fire up on a twenty-first century HD TV, it lacks the revisioning and polish to be a top resurrection—especially for the price.
Rating: 7/10.
Check Out the Darius Cozmic Collection Console Trailer:
For more information, please visit: https://darius.jp/en/revelation/
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Kendra grew up in the era where playing Donkey Kong in the dentist's office was a thing. Her creative mind enjoys the imaginative genius that goes into the intricate worlds and enticing narratives that have become the new wave of gaming. Forever a devotee of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, Kendra has stepped into the next generation of gaming with favorites like God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Spider-Man. She is always looking for the next gaming challenge and utilizes her fancy English degree to articulate her detailed reviews for hungry gamers like you.
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