Darius II

Released by Taito in 1989 for arcades, *Darius II* is the second entry in the series that follows the legacy of the original masterpiece. In this installment, the setting shifts to the solar system, where the descendants of the original heroes, Proco and Tiat, answer an SOS from planet Darius and launch once again in their Silver Hawks. While the original game utilized a three-screen cabinet, this title moved to a two-screen configuration (though some three-screen versions also existed) to depict an even more expansive theater of war. Interestingly, while the original arcade version displayed a message teasing a sequel during the ending, this became a notable piece of series history due to the subsequent path the franchise took. The game is also remembered for its historical arcade quirks, including a bug in the original hardware where the background music would occasionally be replaced by explosion sound effects.

A few years after the fierce battle of the previous game, the human colony of Planet Darius comes under attack by the alien Beser once again. Tasked with planetary defense, Silver Hawk pilots Proco and Tiatt launch for a second conflict. Steering a course from the solar system to the Darius system, they throw themselves into a final showdown against the Beser army as it schemes to conquer the galaxy.