The Raiden Project
| The Raiden Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Seibu Kaihatsu |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Series | Raiden |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | Vertical scrolling shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
The Raiden Project, originally released in Japan as simply Raiden Project (雷電プロジェクト) is a port of the arcade games Raiden and Raiden II to the PlayStation. It was released in North America as an original launch title on September 9, 1995, in Japan on January 27, 1995 and in Europe in November 1995. This was the only console release of Raiden II.
Plot
Raiden is the name of the fighter/bomber that the player flies to destroy and rid mankind of the aliens that have invaded Earth in 2090. Raiden II picks up three years after the player has destroyed the first invasion of aliens and faces a new invasion.
Gameplay
Raiden consists of eight vertical scrolling missions where the player maneuvers the Raiden craft dodging and destroying enemy robots, buildings, ground targets, and aircraft. There are bombs and missile powerups as well as collectable medals which add to the score. Raiden II is similar, and has additional weapons, new enemies and terrains.
The game can be played alone against the computer hordes or another player can join along to fight simultaneously. There are several types of "weapons" and "power-ups" the player can acquire by destroying enemies that make the Raiden ships more powerful and destructive. Thermonuclear bombs destroy almost everything on the screen, the one exception being the end-of-level bosses.
Additions in the port
The opening animation is a 3D rendering of the player's ship taking on the first stage boss.
Raiden Project includes a Horizontal Mode. Users of widescreen format televisions / monitors can turn their sets vertical and play the game in its proper arcade aspect ratio, though doing this can damage the monitors/TV.
The conversion includes difficulty settings, credit limits, remixed music, on screen text positioning and the ability to save high scores with a memory card.
Reception
On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 27 out of 40.[1] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly scored it an 8.375 out of 10, describing it as an outstanding arcade translation. They especially praised the inclusion of Raiden II, as they generally felt that the original Raiden had become dated and that Raiden II was more challenging and fun.[2] GamePro, in contrast, commented that both games are very dated, with repetitive gameplay and overdone concepts. They also complained of slowdown in the two-player mode and concluded that The Raiden Project is "closer to where games have been than where they're going."[3]
References
- ↑ PLAYSTATION CROSS REVIEW: 雷電プロジェクト. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.333. Pg.24. 5 May 1995.
- ↑ "Review Crew: Raiden Project". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis (74): 38. September 1995.
- ↑ "ProReview: The Raiden Project". GamePro. IDG (86): 56. November 1995.
External links
- http://psx.ign.com/objects/000/000720.html (The Raiden Project page on IGN)
- The Raiden Project at MobyGames
- http://www.game-rave.com/psx/playstation_perfect_guide/releasedgames/raiden_project/index.html