Overview
Three screens. Aquatic mechanical bosses. Branching paths. Darius delivered spectacle that single-screen shooters couldn’t match. Taito’s innovative cabinet created a panoramic battlefield where massive fish-shaped warships attacked across an impossibly wide playfield. The zone selection system ensured no two playthroughs followed the same route.
Fast facts
- Developer: Taito.
- Cabinet: Triple-monitor setup.
- Theme: Mechanical sea creatures.
- Innovation: Branching zone structure.
Cabinet configuration
| Feature | Specification |
|---|
| Screens | Three monitors |
| Display | Seamless panorama |
| Audio | Body Sonic seat speakers |
| Experience | Immersive surround |
Boss design
| Boss | Inspiration |
|---|
| King Fossil | Coelacanth |
| Electric Fan | Electric eel |
| Fatty Glutton | Anglerfish |
| Great Thing | Sperm whale |
Zone structure
| Feature | Implementation |
|---|
| Starting zone | Zone A |
| Branching | Two choices per zone |
| Total zones | 26 (A-Z) |
| Possible paths | Multiple routes to ending |
Power-up system
| Colour | Effect |
|---|
| Red | Main shot upgrade |
| Green | Bomb upgrade |
| Blue | Arm (shield) upgrade |
Zuntata soundtrack
| Aspect | Quality |
|---|
| Composer | Hisayoshi Ogura (OGR) |
| Style | Progressive, atmospheric |
| Legacy | Influential game music |
Series continuation
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|
| Darius II | 1989 | Arcade |
| Darius Twin | 1991 | SNES |
| Darius Gaiden | 1994 | Arcade |
See also