The last time shooter fans got a taste of Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden shooting series on a game console was with the 1995 PlayStation release The Raiden Project. Since that time, the series went dormant as new releases from Treasure and Psyiko dominated the scene. In 2005, Seibu woke the series up with the Japanese release of Raiden III for the PlayStation 2. Now, two years later, U.S. -based gamers finally get to play this little gem, courtesy of a domestic release from UFO Interactive. Was it worth the wait? To enthusiastic fans of the shooting genre, absolutely.
Raiden III plays just like the original Raiden games. Players take the helm of a spacecraft, flying through the air and shooting at anything (and everything) that moves. These include enemy tanks, aircrafts and other threats. Along the way, players acquire a series of power-ups, ranging from a spread gun to a pulsating laser that sways in the direction of the ship's movement. Homing missiles can be snagged as well, adding necessary strength to the arsenal. Eventually, the level concludes with a boss showdown, a larger enemy vehicle that fires hundreds of bullets.
While the game was released in Japan in 2005, gamers shouldn't expect an exceptional presentation. While the 3-D graphics look more impressive than previous 2-D Raiden games, they look ancient compared to shooters like Gradius V and Ikaruga. Some of the bigger explosions produce a dramatic effect, but they evaporate in a matter of seconds. The sound effects run the typical route, with explosions and gunfire effects rumbling everywhere.
Seibu's latest does earn points for its numerous options, especially on its highest difficulty. Here, enemy ships lay down gunfire on a maddening scale, forcing the player to duck and weave to avoid certain death. Along the way, they pick up extra gold pieces for bonus points, which become increasingly hard to snag while bullets explode all over the screen. Dedicated players can also try out a multi-ship option, giving them control of two spacecraft at once using the same controller. It can be disorienting to those not familiar with such a feature, but shooter fans will love it.
Along with being able to handle two ships at once, players can also try their luck with two additional modes. Score Attack forces them to scramble while racking up the highest score possible, and Boss Rush features nothing but colossal enemies on a non-stop rampage. The game also supports two players, so a friend can jump in at any time to assist with saving the world. Past this, however, the game gets old. Raiden III probably would've benefited from some online leader boards or some form of multiplayer. Without these elements, its $29.99 MSRP feels steep.
Even with the lack of a modern presentation and online capability, Raiden III doesn't skimp on the action, and gamers will enjoy it.
Final Score: 7 (out of 10)
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