Play Darius Twin Online

Versions

Localizations

Game Info

Darius Twin Cover Art

2.9 / 5

9 votes

Platform
SNES
Genres
Shoot 'Em Up
Player Perspective
Third person
Developer Companies
Taito
Publishers
Square Enix · Taito
Release date
29 March 1991

Summary

When Darius Twin rolled onto the SNES in the early ’90s, it immediately stood out as the first Darius title born for a home console rather than an arcade cabinet, and it finally embraced the standard 4:3 screen ratio. The game re‑uses many of the bright, fish‑like sprites and oceanic backdrops fans remember from Darius I and II, but most of the bosses carry new names even though they’re essentially re‑skinned versions of old enemies.

The power‑up system is where the charm truly shines: you snag pink, green, blue, orange and yellow icons that boost your main gun, side blasters, shield, extra lives and unleash a screen‑clearing bomb. Oddly, when you explode your ship the weapons you collected stick around, and each player has an independent pool of lives with no continues to fall back on. A hidden red pickup swaps the primary firing pattern between the classic Darius and its sequel’s style.

Critics were split – GameRankings capped the aggregate at 59%, yet magazines such as Computer and Video Games praised it with an 88% score, and several Japanese outlets gave mid‑30s out of 40. The blend of familiar visuals and fresh mechanics makes Darius Twin a quirky retro shooter worth revisiting.

Storyline

In Darius Twin, the peaceful world of Darius is shattered when the star‑hopping tyrant Belser launches a brutal invasion. Most Dariusites fall, but a courageous couple—Proco and Tiat—organize a resistance and flee with survivors to unclaimed space. Their descendants spread across many worlds, eventually founding the Galactic Federation on the resource‑rich planet Orga.

A thousand years later Belser’s empire resurges, conquering new systems and targeting the Federation. Inspired by Proco and Tiat’s legend, the Federation’s top pilots pilot transforming battle ships called Silver Hawks. These craft convert energy into powerful weapons, letting pilots strike Belser’s forces on each planet along a chosen route.

The final objective is to reach Darius and destroy the Alloylantern, a massive mechanical fortress powering Belser’s technology. Scientists think Belser’s homeworld was oceanic, judging by the aquatic motifs of its machines. The story drives this side‑scroll shooter through a galaxy of retro‑style battles, echoing the original Darius saga.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Videos

Game Screenshots

  • Darius Twin Screenshot 1
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 2
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 3
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 4
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 5
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 6
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 7
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 8
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 9
  • Darius Twin Screenshot 10

Game Artworks

  • Darius Twin Artwork 1
  • Darius Twin Artwork 2

Alternative Titles

  • Darius Special Old
  • Darius Twin: Silver Hawks Alternative