How difficult is Darius Gaiden?

[VenomMacbeth]

For you, I mean?  I can only sometimes make it past the second level without dying, and this is on the easy difficulty.  Even with the rapid fire cheat, I can't really seem to make it much farther than that, and I play it over and over.  I've never heard this game talked about as being among the most difficult shooters out there, but damn.  Anyway, how do you fare with it?

[SuperDeadite]

With the super rapid fire cheat, its not really too tough.  Just keep at it, some routes and bosses are much harder then others though.

[esteban]

The Darius series had never been as dear to my heart as countless others (Gradius, R-Type, Soldier, etc.)

However, I always attributed this to the fact that I never spent as much time with the games.

Don't approach Darius as a series where you "destroy all enemies" but more like (1) keep moving forward (don't worry about ships that get past you) and (2) don't keep falling into the same "traps" (for example, if you know a tricky part with floor/ceiling cannons is coming up, admit that you suck and just let your ship implode. You'll never worry about that trap again!)

[cho_aniki]

Not to worry, I find it quite difficult as well. I think I have only made it to the third level. Which version are you playing by the way? I have the Sega Saturn version.

[pulstar]

Personally, I find all Darius games to be a little harder than the average shooter on the first try. Patience and memorisation is the key.

[VenomMacbeth]

Not to worry, I find it quite difficult as well. I think I have only made it to the third level. Which version are you playing by the way? I have the Sega Saturn version.

I too have the saturn version. It's of my favorites of the system's library.

[o.pwuaioc]

Personally, I find all Darius games to be a little harder than the average shooter on the first try. Patience and memorisation is the key.

Harder than average? Yeah, probably. Harder than the average awesome hard one? Not quite, imo. I find it easier than Gradius, for example.

[PunkCryborg]

Anyone know much about the route and difficulty in Darius? Is the lowest route easiest like in Galaga 88?

[VenomMacbeth]

Anyone know much about the route and difficulty in Darius? Is the lowest route easiest like in Galaga 88?

I've often wondered the same thing.  I've noticed this in all the Darius games I've played, actually.

[pulstar]

Harder than average? Yeah, probably. Harder than the average awesome hard one? Not quite, imo. I find it easier than Gradius, for example.

See, I find Gradius easier than most Darius games...probably because I've put more (a lot more) time into Gradius than any Darius game.

[esteban]

Harder than average? Yeah, probably. Harder than the average awesome hard one? Not quite, imo. I find it easier than Gradius, for example.

See, I find Gradius easier than most Darius games...probably because I've put more (a lot more) time into Gradius than any Darius game.

Same here. I think it really has a lot to do with (1) familiarity and (2) strategies that allow easy progression.

I am a billion times more familiar with the Gradius series and the "Gradius" strategies work with all the old-skool Gradius games.

With Darius, I find that I make more progress  (fewer deaths and much less frustration) when my mantra is "get to the boss" instead of "destroy 99% of enemies in stage"...

I suspect that when I become more familiar/comfortable with Darius, I'll be able to kill more enemies (which will make me feel much more satisfied). I am hardwired to KILL EVERYTHING and I have a hard time playing otherwise. I know, I need to adapt...but I get really annoyed when I things "escape" unscathed.

[VenomMacbeth]

Esteban, with Darius it really pays to try to kill everything, or at least all the enemies that drop power-ups.  It's one of those series where if you don't grab every single power up, or if you die & lose your upgrades, then you're screwed & the game will actually kill you before the boss does.  Especially Darius Gaiden.  I can't even beat King Fossil fast enough to not have to worry about the swarm of gold flake things that try to kill you if you take too long, and that's after grabbing pretty much every power up.

[esteban]

Esteban, with Darius it really pays to try to kill everything, or at least all the enemies that drop power-ups.  It's one of those series where if you don't grab every single power up, or if you die & lose your upgrades, then you're screwed & the game will actually kill you before the boss does.  Especially Darius Gaiden.  I can't even beat King Fossil fast enough to not have to worry about the swarm of gold flake things that try to kill you if you take too long, and that's after grabbing pretty much every power up.

Ha! Maybe that's what I am doing wrong!