Fans of Gradius or Darius Gaiden will be treated to a gorgeous mix of 2D and 3D graphics: fully textured 3D ships against highly detailed 2D backdrops. There are many new ships, weapons, and power-ups; end-level 'boss' enemies are appropriately huge, menacing, and tough to kill. The game's best innovation is the addition of "capture balls" which are used to capture enemy ships. Captured ships can be used as a weapon (with its firepower added to yours), a bomb, a shield, or a Super Laser. Depending on the kind of ship you capture, the captured ship can shoot homing missiles, fireballs, lasers, or other weapons.

With excellent graphics, smooth gameplay that rivals the better-known PlayStation version, and innovations like the capture balls, G-Darius is a worthy successor to the Gradius series, and a worthwhile underdog to add to every shooter fan's collection. Highly recommended!