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Start with Darius. It is the closest follow-up to Exzisus because a secondary arcade-history catalog says Exzisus’s player ship was designed from Taito’s Darius. You also stay with a horizontal arcade shooter, a Silver Hawk fighter and the distinctive multi-screen presentation that defined the original Darius. After that, choose Darius II or Darius Gaiden to remain in the same lineage, or switch to the vertically oriented Ray series for lock-on targeting and more overtly rendered 3D presentation.
Why Darius is the right first game after Exzisus
Exzisus and Darius are not the same series, but they make a particularly coherent pairing. The Arcade-History.com catalog identifies Exzisus as a Taito arcade release from August 1987 in Japan and reports that its player spaceship was designed from Taito’s Darius. Because that connection comes from a secondary catalog rather than an official Taito archive, it is best treated as historical context rather than an officially documented design statement.
The original Darius appeared in arcades in 1986. Hamster’s official Arcade Archives description calls it Taito’s side-scrolling shooting game and identifies the Silver Hawk as its fighter. That gives an Exzisus player a familiar starting point: horizontal movement, a ship-led attack pattern and a game built for an arcade cabinet rather than a modern widescreen display.
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At-a-glance comparison
| Game | Original arcade year | Scroll and presentation | Core shooting idea | How it relates to Exzisus | Documented current options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darius | 1986 | Horizontal; original three-screen cabinet | Conventional side-scrolling shooting with the Silver Hawk | Closest thematic and historical follow-up; Exzisus ship-design link is reported by a secondary catalog | Arcade Archives editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4; regional storefront availability varies |
| Darius II | 1989 | Horizontal; a three-screen arcade version is documented | Continuation of the Darius format with a larger arcade spectacle | Best for staying with the same series after the first game | Arcade Archives editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4; regional availability varies |
| Darius Gaiden | 1994 | Later arcade entry in the Darius line | Darius-style shooting in a later production | Moves forward in the Silver Hawk lineage without changing series | Included in Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade and the documented physical collection releases; edition and region must be checked |
| RayForce | 1994 | Vertical shooter | Lock-on laser and target acquisition | Best structural change when horizontal Darius-style play is not what you want | Included in Ray’z Arcade Chronology for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4; verify local edition |
| RayStorm | 1996 | Overhead viewpoint with 3D-rendered presentation | Lock-on shooting with two selectable ships and different lock-on capacities | Retains the Ray lock-on concept while making the rendering more overtly 3D | Included in Ray’z Arcade Chronology, including an HD variant; platform and region should be verified |
| RayCrisis | 1998 | Ray-series vertical format with a virtual-space setting | Lock-on shooting inside the runaway Con-Human network | Most radical setting change; Taito describes it as a prequel to RayForce | Included in Ray’z Arcade Chronology, including an HD variant; availability varies by region |
The best choices, in order
1. Darius: the closest follow-up
Choose Darius when the reason you enjoyed Exzisus was its horizontal flow and the feeling of piloting a single fighter through a long arcade run. The recommendation rests on three documented links: both are Taito arcade shooters, the secondary Exzisus catalog connects the Exzisus ship design to Darius, and Darius gives you the Silver Hawk in a side-scrolling format.
The three-screen cabinet is not a minor historical footnote. It explains why the game’s original presentation feels unusually wide and why a modern port may offer display settings rather than a single “correct” aspect ratio. Hamster’s Arcade Archives page lists one- or two-player support for Darius, so it can serve either as a solo continuation or a two-player cabinet-style session.
For current play, Hamster documents Arcade Archives DARIUS on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Storefront catalogs can differ by country, and prices or availability can change, so use the exact title in your local store rather than assuming that a listing in another region is purchasable.
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2. Darius II: stay with the series, increase the spectacle
Darius II is the natural second stop if you want more of the same family rather than a new shooting mechanic. Hamster dates the original arcade game to 1989 and documents a three-screen version, preserving the cabinet-scale ambition associated with the first Darius.
This is a series-continuation recommendation, not a claim that every system or encounter is identical to the original. The useful decision is simple: play the first Darius to understand the foundation, then choose Darius II when another horizontal Taito run with a larger arcade presentation sounds better than a change to vertical play.
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Arcade Archives DARIUS II is documented for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, with the same regional-store caveat as the first game. Hamster also documents one- or two-player support for DARIUS II, making it the other especially clear choice for a two-player session.
3. Darius Gaiden: a later Silver Hawk-era entry
Darius Gaiden is the choice for players who want to remain in the Darius lineage while moving to a later arcade entry. Taito’s announcement for Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade lists it as a 1994 game alongside the earlier Darius titles and Sagaia.
Its value in this list is chronological and familial: you do not have to learn the Ray series’ lock-on approach or leave the Darius identity behind. It belongs in the second phase of your play order, after the original game has established the horizontal, Silver Hawk-led design.
Taito’s documented collection route is Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade on Steam, announced in 2021 with four arcade games and seven variants. The announcement also describes training, quick-save and quick-load functions, display options and online leaderboards. Those features are tied to that collection announcement, not a guarantee that every current storefront build has identical menus or that its announced price remains current.
4. RayForce: switch to lock-on targeting
Pick RayForce when you want a Taito shooter that changes the fundamental rhythm. Taito identifies it as the first Ray-series game, released in arcades in 1994, and built around a lock-on laser mechanic. Instead of treating every target as something to hit directly with ordinary fire, you acquire targets and use the lock-on system as the central tactical hook.
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That makes RayForce a deliberate contrast with the horizontal Darius path. It is a vertical shooter, so the screen movement, enemy approach and spatial planning all change. It is the best recommendation for an Exzisus player who wants another Taito arcade game but does not want another side-scrolling campaign.
RayForce is included in Taito’s Ray’z Arcade Chronology for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Taito lists the Japanese release date for that collection as March 9, 2023. Treat that date as the Japanese release information; your local store may show a different date, name or availability.
5. RayStorm: a 3D-rendered step forward
RayStorm is the second Ray-series entry and an arcade release from 1996, according to Taito. Its defining presentation change is a 3D-rendered overhead viewpoint. The game keeps the lock-on concept but offers two selectable ships with different lock-on capacities, giving the player a choice in how aggressively to manage targets.
Choose it after RayForce if you like target acquisition but want a more overtly rendered visual style. The comparison is about presentation and tactical emphasis, not a promise that one game is universally easier or better. RayStorm is also useful when you want to see how Taito extended the Ray formula without returning to Darius’s horizontal format.
RayStorm appears in Ray’z Arcade Chronology, which Taito lists for Switch and PS4 and which includes an HD variant for the later Ray entries. Verify whether your local listing is the standard game, the HD version or both before buying.
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6. RayCrisis: the virtual-space prequel to RayForce
RayCrisis is the third Ray-series game, beginning in arcades in 1998. Taito frames its story as a battle inside the runaway Con-Human network and identifies it as a prequel to RayForce. That virtual-space setting is the clearest reason to choose it: it changes the narrative frame while retaining the Ray family’s lock-on identity.
It is best approached after RayForce, because the prequel relationship gives the two games a meaningful order even though RayCrisis is later as a release. Choose it before another Darius entry only if you specifically want a vertical, lock-on-focused shooter and a setting built around a computer-network crisis.
RayCrisis is included in Ray’z Arcade Chronology for Switch and PS4, with an HD variant documented for the collection. As with the other entries, platform listing and regional availability are not universal.
Choosing by the kind of change you want
If you want the closest Exzisus-like structure
- Start with Darius.
- Move to Darius II for another horizontal game and a documented three-screen version.
- Continue to Darius Gaiden when you want a later Darius arcade entry.
If you want a completely different shooting rhythm
- Choose RayForce for vertical movement and lock-on lasers.
- Choose RayStorm when 3D-rendered presentation and selectable lock-on capacities matter most.
- Choose RayCrisis for the virtual-space story and its prequel relationship to RayForce.
If two-player support is the deciding factor
Hamster’s Arcade Archives listings explicitly document one- or two-player support for Darius and Darius II. The cited Taito collection descriptions for Darius Gaiden and the Ray games do not establish a player-count comparison in the same way, so do not assume that every collection entry has identical multiplayer support. Check the local product description for the exact version you intend to use.
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Current ways to play the Darius games
| Product | Documented platforms or format | Included games or features | What to verify before purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcade Archives DARIUS | Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 | Individual release of the 1986 side-scrolling shooter; one- or two-player support is documented | Local storefront listing, currency, region and current price |
| Arcade Archives DARIUS II | Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 | Individual release of the 1989 shooter; one- or two-player support is documented | Local storefront availability and whether the listing matches your console region |
| Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade | Steam release announced by Taito in 2021 | Four arcade games and seven variants, including Darius, Darius II, Sagaia and Darius Gaiden; training, quick-save/load, display options and online leaderboards are described | Current Steam edition, included variants, update status and present price; the 2021 announcement price is historical |
| Darius Cozmic Collection physical editions | Nintendo Switch packaged release and a PS4 edition documented on Taito’s Japanese product page | Physical collection route for the Darius arcade catalog | Regional packaging, language, stock, edition contents and compatibility |
Current ways to play the Ray games
Taito’s Ray’z Arcade Chronology is the most direct documented route to the Ray trilogy. Taito lists Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 versions and gives March 9, 2023 as the Japanese release date. The collection includes RayForce, RayStorm and RayCrisis, plus HD variants for the latter entries.
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Because the cited release information is Japanese and storefront catalogs are country-specific, confirm four details in your own store: the platform edition, whether the standard and HD versions are both included, the available language or regional release and the current price. Do not treat a Japanese product page as proof of stock or purchase eligibility elsewhere.
How to verify a modern edition before buying
- Open the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store or Steam storefront for the account and hardware you will use.
- Search the exact product name:
Arcade Archives DARIUS,Arcade Archives DARIUS II,Darius Cozmic Collection ArcadeorRay’z Arcade Chronology. - Check the publisher, platform, region and edition name. Similar titles can refer to an individual port, a collection or an HD variant.
- Read the product description for player count, display features, save functions and included games rather than inferring them from the arcade original.
- Confirm the final price and availability at checkout. Catalog prices and stock are volatile, and the dated 2021 collection announcement should not be used as a current price reference.
Understanding the presentation differences
Horizontal versus vertical movement
The Darius recommendations preserve the horizontal structure associated with Exzisus. That means the game’s primary movement is across a side-scrolling field, with the cabinet and screen width shaping how threats enter the play area. The Ray recommendations move to a vertical format or overhead viewpoint, changing how you read distance and incoming formations.
This distinction is more useful than a simple release-year ranking. If your priority is continuity, remain with Darius. If your priority is learning a different spatial pattern, select RayForce, RayStorm or RayCrisis.
Conventional fire versus lock-on targeting
Taito documents lock-on lasers as RayForce’s central mechanic and identifies differing lock-on capacities for RayStorm’s two ships. Those systems make target acquisition part of the decision process. The Darius entries are the better fit when you want the Silver Hawk and the traditional side-scrolling shooter framework rather than a lock-on-focused game.
Two-dimensional staging versus rendered 3D
RayStorm is the explicit presentation pivot: Taito describes its overhead viewpoint as 3D-rendered. The original Darius is instead remembered for its unusually wide three-screen arcade cabinet. Neither description should be read as a claim about modern rendering resolution; they identify the presentation ideas documented for the arcade games and collections.
A practical play order
- Darius: establish the closest connection to Exzisus and learn the Silver Hawk’s horizontal format.
- Darius II: continue with the series and its documented three-screen arcade version.
- Darius Gaiden: move to a later 1994 Darius arcade entry through a documented collection.
- RayForce: reset your expectations with vertical movement and lock-on lasers.
- RayStorm: explore the 3D-rendered viewpoint and two ship choices.
- RayCrisis: finish with the virtual-space prequel to RayForce.
You can shorten that route according to your preference: Darius followed by Darius II is the compact horizontal path, while RayForce followed by RayStorm is the compact lock-on path.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the Exzisus connection is official canon: the ship-design link is reported by a secondary arcade catalog, not an official Taito archive.
- Buying the wrong edition: individual Arcade Archives releases, PC collections, physical packages and HD variants are different products.
- Using a historical price as a current quote: the Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade announcement dates from 2021, and storefront prices can change.
- Ignoring regional stores: Switch, PlayStation and Steam listings can differ by country, including release date, stock and edition contents.
- Expecting every collection to document the same features: one- or two-player support is explicitly stated for the Arcade Archives Darius releases, while the cited collection descriptions do not establish a uniform player-count statement for every other title.
- Choosing by year alone: the meaningful split is horizontal Darius versus vertical, lock-on-focused Ray, with RayStorm adding the clearest 3D-rendered presentation change.
Final recommendation
Buy or play Darius first if you want the best Taito arcade shooter to play after Exzisus. It is the nearest match in lineage, ship identity and horizontal arcade design, while its three-screen history explains why the presentation feels distinctive. Follow it with Darius II and Darius Gaiden if you want to stay with the Silver Hawk family. Choose RayForce, RayStorm and RayCrisis instead when the attraction is a vertical format, lock-on targeting, rendered 3D presentation or a virtual-space story.
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