Darius II
Also released as Sagaia (Sega Master System)
Darius II — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Darius II on?
- Darius II was released on Arcade, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega Master System/Mark III, Game Boy, Super CD-ROM², TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine.
- When did Darius II release?
- Darius II was first released on September 1, 1989.
About Darius II
Darius II is a 1989 arcade video game developed by Taito. It is the direct sequel to the 1987 Darius. It was later released as Sagaia in Japan in 1991 for the Game Boy as well as non-Japanese ports. A remake was released for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM as Super Darius II in 1993. A Mega Drive conversion was released in Japan in 1990; it was later released for the Genesis in the United States and Brazil in 1991, where it was renamed Sagaia. Changes include a boss rush mode (via a code) and various modifications to levels and mechanics, such as the boss Steel Spine being moved to another level and the boss Killer Higia being replaced with a similar creation called Nehonojia. This conversion does not support two players, so the ability to choose between Proco Jr. and Tiat Young was added; Proco plays like normal, while Tiat starts every life off with one power level to every weapon. A Master System conversion, developed by Natsume, was released in Europe and Brazil in 1992, also titled Sagaia. It is somewhat based on the Mega Drive port, and while Tiat Young and her abilities are still present (though even more limited), many zones (and thus bosses) have been completely removed. The Super CD-ROM version features an entirely new set of bosses, major changes to levels, and a fully arranged soundtrack including new songs.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Arcade, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega Master System/Mark III, Game Boy, Super CD-ROM², TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine
- Developer
- Taito
- Publisher
- Taito
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Science fiction
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Built by | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master SystemDetails ↓ | 1992 | $21 | $86 | — | 2 reviews | Natsume | Low (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1991 | $53 | $159 | $300 | 87% | — | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Master System version ($21).
Also released on: Arcade · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Sega Saturn · Sega Master System/Mark III · Game Boy · Super CD-ROM² · TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Prices are per version and are not interchangeable, and neither are the reviews: conversions in this era were often built by a different studio than the original, so a score earned on one machine says nothing about how another plays.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Europe / PAL | 1992 | 7078 |
| Brazil | 1992 | — |
- Region
- EU+BR
- Released
- 1992
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Master System version
A Master System conversion of the Taito shooter that Mean Machines Sega liked far less than the arcade game.
Sagaia is the Master System conversion of Taito's arcade Darius II, developed by Natsume. Sega released it in Europe in 1992, and Tec Toy released it in Brazil in 1992.
Mean Machines Sega said it keeps nearly everything from the arcade machine apart from simultaneous two-player play, but it was not impressed by the graphics.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Master Force Issue 3 | October 1993 | Rating: 46% |
| Sega Master Force Issue 5 | November 1993 | 46% |
“A fairly good blaster ruined by awful graphics and some shoddy programming.”
“Steer clear of Sagaia — unless you're a sucker for punishment with more money than sense.”
“However, the graphics are a real mess with some of the worst flicker yet seen on a console.”
“Despite flicker, the graphic look good, but control’s jerky and it’s all rather dull.”
How the Sega Master System version differs
The Master System port is somewhat based on the Mega Drive conversion: Tiat Young returns with even more limited abilities, and many zones and their bosses were removed.
Also on other platforms
Arcade · Genesis · Game Boy · Super CD-ROM² · Sega Saturn · TurboGrafx-16
| Sega Master System | Natsume |
| Arcade | Taito |
- Sega Saturn. A 1996 Saturn port of the arcade version has two-player mode and stretchable wide screen modes.
- Super CD-ROM². The Super CD-ROM² version, Super Darius II, has all-new bosses and a fully arranged soundtrack.
Before you buy
The European cart sits above the typical price for European-only carts. The look-alike risk is low. A US buyer can use it, since the US console plays European carts. Tec Toy's Brazilian release exists too, but there is no price comparison for it.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese release (Darius II) | $19 | $43 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a month
- Complete: about once a month
- Sealed: about once a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $9.22 in Apr 2010, $52 five years ago, and $53 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2011 | $6.69 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $15.56 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $14.95 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $21 | $75 |
| Jan 2015 | $30 | $40 |
| Jan 2016 | $30 | $80 |
| Jan 2017 | $44 | $90 |
| Jan 2018 | $34 | $89 |
| Jan 2019 | $40 | $85 |
| Jan 2020 | $40 | $103 |
| Jan 2021 | $51 | $159 |
| Jan 2022 | $40 | $212 |
| Jan 2023 | $56 | $221 |
| Jan 2024 | $48 | $220 |
| Jan 2025 | $61 | $195 |
| Jan 2026 | $53 | $150 |
| Oct 2026 | $53 | $159 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 1991 | TS-0039-40 | 020588010345 |
| Japan | 20 December 1990 | T-11083 | 4988611900185 |
- Region
- JP+NA
- Released
- 1991
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A worthwhile Genesis shooter, a pricier US cart than most, and a good reason to look at the Japanese release first.
This is the Genesis version of Taito's shooter, sold in North America as Sagaia and in Japan as Darius II, where it came out on 20 December 1990. The North American release followed in 1991. Taito developed and published it, and the page also covers other versions of the game, which this write-up leaves aside.
The Mega Drive conversion adds a boss rush mode, unlocked with a code, and moves or replaces some of the bosses. Gamefan listed Sagaia among its Genesis shooter picks in 1993, and in 1996 GamePro's readers named it one of their favorite 16-bit shooters.
What the press said at the time
| Mega Action Issue 2 | July 1993 | 87% |
“Darius has nice graphics and sound and is pretty playable as well. As we said before though, Hellfire is still the best blast around.”
“Nice graphics, nice sound, nice challenge - but nothing new whatsoever. An above average sideways-scroller that’s worth a look.”
“All right, so it's not got three TV screens linked together like it's arcade brother but you can't have everything. If you reckon you're a hit of an arcade whizz then why not try and complete all 26 levels of this ultimate underwater adventure.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
It does not support two players, so a choice between Proco Jr. and Tiat Young was added.
Also on other platforms
Master System · Arcade · Game Boy · Super CD-ROM² · Sega Saturn · TurboGrafx-16
| Sega Master System | Natsume |
| Arcade | Taito |
- Sega Saturn. The 1996 Saturn port of the arcade version has a two-player mode and stretchable wide screen modes.
- TurboGrafx-16. The Super CD-ROM2 remake, Super Darius II, has all-new bosses, major level changes and a fully arranged soundtrack.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits well above the middle, so it is one of the pricier ones. The Japanese cart (Darius II) usually costs far less than the US cart, but its cartridge has a different shape and fits a Western console only with an adapter or after removing two plastic tabs in the slot.
Darius II screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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