Exclusive: Darius Interview With Taito Development Team

As office of our contempo serial of interviews with TAITO evolution staff, we had the pleasance of exchanging emails with Yuichi Toyama, the director of both Darius Cozmic Collection every bit well as Space Invaders Invincible Collection. In this interview, we explore the development choices for the upcoming Darius Cozmic Revelation collection as well every bit a bit of Taito's history equally told by someone that's been developing games for over three decades, starting with being one of the programmers on 1988's Herzog.

Yuichi Toyama (left) and Junichi Kashiwagi (right)

What makes the two Darius titles in this Cozmic Revelation collection and then different from the Cozmic Collections that came out earlier this year?

The primal idea behind the Darius Cozmic Drove was to collect all Darius titles together and release them on Switch, simply due to budget and schedule constraints we were just able to include the before second titles in that first drove. Later, after receiving positive feedback from players, we were able to add a further platform (PS4) and realise Darius Cozmic Revelation: a collection of the 3D titles in the franchise.

In the cease, the games were developed and released in the order they were released in the arcades and on consoles: 2D followed by 3D, resulting in ii very different collections.

Why does Taito choose M2 specifically to assistance with porting these archetype titles onto new consoles?

Nosotros picked M2 because not but are they great at developing ports, they also keep the player at the forefront of their collective minds when working on a product, whether it's a port or not.
However, Taito has worked with numerous other companies too, such as Gotch Technology for the Space Invaders Invincible Drove and the arcade port included in Bubble Bobble 4 Friends.

In your personal opinion, what is the best Darius title?

Personally, I accept to say the original Darius (Old Ver). I'll never forget how overwhelmed I felt when I came across it. In the dimly lit arcade in Sasebo, Nagasaki, the heavy bass sound and beautiful graphics emanating from the unusually long and distinctive chiffonier stood out more than any other game there. Sitting in front of it, the darkness of the surroundings fabricated the large screen and stereo sound and then immersive that you felt like yous were in some other world while playing. At the time, it was then unlike from other game consoles; so unique.

Will Taito e'er release the original PSP version of Dariusburst?

Sorry, nosotros don't accept any plans at the moment, but with changes in game platforms and technology, this may go more likely in the hereafter.

Until then, please enjoy DariusBurst ACEX+, which depicts the aforementioned war from a dissimilar perspective. Aye, yes, I know it's not the same: it doesn't characteristic Ti2 or Riga Pratica, and even the title says it'southward Another Chronicle.

Could Pyramid render to make another Darius title in the future?

Of course, information technology is a possibility. Taito continues to be on good terms with Pyramid, cooperating on each other'southward titles: non just Darius. I believe that we volition continue to do so going forward, meaning more titles similar DariusBurst may be built-in. Would you like to see a sequel, or a completely new title come up of this relationship?

What would a next-generation (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X) shmup look like in your eyes? Are there any innovations that could not be done on current consoles (PlayStation iv, Xbox One) or arcades?

Sorry, I've actually been then busy with Cozmic Collection, I haven't had time to wait at the next-gen consoles, permit alone call up nigh what a next-gen shooting game might look like! Once things calm downwardly, I'll give it some thought!

Similarly, how can shmups evolve as a genre?

I believe it's safe to equate the history of shmups with the history of video games.
Video games have stimulated the senses in many ways, and their ability to achieve this has not merely intensified, just deepened over time.

It may not be limited to shmups, simply I believe that video games will keep to evolve in a way that connects people'south senses over networks.

Practice you believe ultrawide screens could return to arcades?

Of course, but that doesn't mean it will exist limited to just making the display area wider. I recollect the original opted for that design to show off the size of the bosses and the vastness of the universe, but if there's some other way to reach that goal, we might cull that way. Information technology could exist XR, it could be audible enhancements, information technology could be controller feedback, it could even be an olfactory device. Taito once even made a motorbike game with a fan attached to the cabinet which blows air in the player'due south face to give a sensation of speed…

How practice y'all get the side by side generation of young developers interested in creating shooters and other arcade genres?

Historic period is not really a factor in the procedure of releasing titles that players want; games that are fun. However, it is true that with remastered titles, like these, the average age of the players is higher.
Still, nosotros don't worry about that so much because by enjoying the development and production of these games, we develop bonds with other developers and players from a broad range of backgrounds who share our passions, and we'd like to and we desire to aggrandize that.
I've been involved in game evolution since I was a teenager, and what I was doing back then would probably be called indie development now. However, unlike in the past, with the advancements in game engines and libraries, the doors to making games are open much wider. I'd really like to be involved in encouraging younger game developers.

Are there any shoot-em-up'southward that you lot would recommend to fans?

Playing on consoles is nice, simply I prefer playing on actual arcade machines.
My favourites are Defender, Exerion, Battle Chopper and Rayforce. If you accept the chance to come to Tokyo 1 day, come to the "Hey" arcade in Akihabara. You'll find all sorts of arcade shmups and lots of players. Near of the Darius series can besides be institute at that place.

What's next for the future of Taito?

Taito is a company that has grown from its arcade origins with Space Invaders. Nosotros're working in various areas, similar online, arcade and console games, and in Nippon, Taito operates a number of game centres, including Taito Station and NOBOLT, a sports and athletic facility.

Did y'all know that we also have the world record for the arcade with the largest number of crane games in the world? Please come up and visit if you get the chance!

Give thanks you for your time.

Darius Cozmic Revelation will exist available subsequently this year for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 and published past Inin Games. A concrete release from Strictly Limited Games is available for pre-order on both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Both M-DARIUS Hard disk drive and DARIUSBURST Another Chronicle EX+ will be bachelor in this compilation.