• Battle Garegga, Terra Diver, and Mahoudaisakusen DLC for Dariusburst Chronicle Saviors 
  
• Developer- Pyramid, Chara-Ani
• Publisher- Degica
• PC, PS4
  

In what seems to now be a regular occurrence, Dariusburst CS has once again expanded its already massive scope to cover even more territory. While previous DLCs mostly consisted of well known titles, this one digs deep even further into the die hard SHMUP catalog, adding Battle Garegga, Terra Diver and Mahoudaisakusen characters into the mix. Luckily, it’s also one of the best releases so far.

Battle Garegga stands out, not only because it pays homage the ultra complex title of the same name, but out of sheer satisfaction for the weaponry provided. It’s overall very traditional–guns, bombs, satellites–but it works well in context and provides an empowering arsenal. The satellites, which allow multiple formations in order to fire in varying directions–are more fiddly than I’d like, especially given there are so many, but they do the job. The worked well enough that at times I forgot I even had the option to turn the ship around and fire in the opposite direction. 

Mahoudaisakusen employs a similar satellite based approach, but its aesthetics don’t work quite as well. Similar to Deathsmiles, it has a more fantasy approach, and even with the aquatic themes, it doesn’t coordinate well with the metal and dead space of Dariusburst. The supplementary shurikens feel impotent next to your main fire, and the bombs are underwhelming. Unlike Battle Garegga, I found myself often sticking to one formation for the majority of the stages. 

Terra Diver, however, is a different story. The original game employed a lock-on mechanic similar to those in Rayforce, and it works better here than in the actual Rayforce themed DLC. There are two styles of lock-on: one that locks onto enemies within a cone in front, and another that creates a half sphere nearby. These provide defensive and offensive variants to the lock-on lasers, and also modify the behavior of the bombs, which quickly charge for frequent use. Where the Rayforce DLC struggled to fit the multi-plane approach into Dariusburst, Terra Diver feels more at home and provides a fresh and satisfying arsenal to make up for it. If the 8ing pack ends up being the final expansion for Dariusburst, the Terra Diver pack alone ensures that it goes out on a strong note.