Arcade: 6/10
Genesis: 9/10
Master System: 5/10
PC Engine CD: 4/10

Darius 2 is a really fantastic shmup with a great weapon system and a structure that really captures the feeling of traveling into the vastness of space. But it only has one version that's 'good' - which of course, has cut content cause it's a cartridge game, - and every other version does something fucked up with its difficulty and/or gamefeel.

Anyway I re-did this review because I finally played the arcade version. That was a mistake! You're slow as shit, the auto-fire is terrible and your hitbox is enormous. Turning on higher rapid fire in emulators helps, but doesn't fix it enough. Some mini-bosses are nigh impossible to beat before they fly off-screen because of that. I know the Cozmic Collection fixes this, but idk man I'm not paying 40 bucks for 3 roms - not until it goes on sale anyway.

The Genesis version is still the way to go - besides being so much more balanced difficulty-wise, the higher auto-fire rewards your ability to learn boss patterns cause you can go point-blank and do insane damage when they leave themselves open. Genesis version also has instruments that better complement the glassy space aesthetic. On the other hand, it's a really scaled-down port that's missing some aesthetic elements, and a couple enemy types & level themes. And no Tuna Sashimi! Sad!

Comments about the PC Engine CD version are in the Super Darius II review. tldr; it makes changes that are neat in hindsight but not actually good, and it just doesn't feel good to play. Only a curiosity.

Master System port is really fucking good by 8-bit shooter standards but really jittery and rough by any other standard. It's even more shrunken down than the Genesis version. Also only a curiosity.

Please look forward to 2022 when I have the free-time I need to re-make this as a fangame, with the genesis gameplay and arcade art