Throwback Thursdays: Sagaia

One of the oldest genres, shoot-em-ups, or shmups, have been around almost as long as computer games. Hitting the mainstream back in the late 1970s with quarter munchers Space Invaders and Asteroids, you can trace the lineage all the way back to Spacewar!, maybe further.

The first shmup that won me over almost to the point of obsession was Sagaia on the Sega Genesis. As soon as I saw the back of the box, I knew I had to experience it. Reading Electronic Gaming Monthly, seeing those screenshots Sagaia has some cool graphical trickery going on right from the first stage. I just had to see that game in motion! So after pushing my parents and insisting I need a new game, I walk into the Toys 'R' Us, look at the little laminated card that displayed the front and back of the box, and instead pick out... Fantasia. Well, that's a story for another article. Back on topic!

Also playable in the arcades, Darius II made its way home on Sega Saturn, PC Engine Super CD-ROM2, Gameboy, Wii Virtual console and under the name Sagaia on the Sega Genesis and Master System. I'm not quite sure why it was renamed for these systems, but luckily I later found out it was part of the Darius series and proceeded to explore the canon. Sagaia / Darius II remains my favorite, but I have definitely enjoyed a few of the others.
On the other hand, I also remember persuading my brother to rent Twin Darius for his SNES, mostly so I could try it. Unfortunately, it failed to reach the level of its cousin and I found myself trying to justify my recommendation. It was a let down to say the least, but I digress.

Many shmups have a mere handful of stages, but here there are 28 as part of a scheme of branching paths. When I finished the first stage and got a view of all of the levels there were to select, I just couldn't believe how much there was to experience! When you're a kid who only gets games on their birthday or Christmas, you thank the stars when you stumble upon a treasure trove of replayability like we have here.

Some levels have similar enemy patterns, but each feels unique enough and backgrounds aren't usually repeated. Many different enemy types and huge bosses, often based on some form of sea life, skulk around or fly at you in tailored patterns. Minibosses surprise you now and then, soaking up damage and flying away if they're not defeated in time. If you're careless, they'll take down your shields, and perhaps deplete your reserve of extra lives.

There are a wide variety of music tracks to accompany the varied landscapes (soundtrack available on iTunes), and you probably won't hear the same one twice during a single run through the game. The music is extremely catchy, comprised of various styles from progressive rock to the more atmospheric, and the style matches the Genesis sound chip perfectly. Some of those tunes are burned deeply into my memory. Just thinking about them reminds me of the areas they accompanied and it all makes me want to go back to the game, even as I write this.

Collecting powerups would enhance your main cannon, add missiles, four-way lasers, or add a shield, making a fully upgraded ship devastating to your opponents. Die, and you lose them all. At least you could make things a bit easier by selecting a different starting ship that would give you one round of basic weapon advancements from the start.

This game did so much right, it was exceptional in every aspect for the time. The whole package is a shining example of how a good third party effort could really make the Genesis sing. As a title that came out just as the system hit its stride, it hit home as a reason to pick up the system even as the SNES became a tempting alternative. It compared very favorably to the launch title Gradius III on the competing console. If you're at all into the genre, please check out this stand-out classic.