Raiden (series)
Encyclopedia
is a scrolling shooter and a popular series of arcade game
s by Seibu Kaihatsu
initially available in arcade
s in Japan
and later distributed to other countries by Fabtek and other arcade game manufacturers.
The game that began the franchise was Raiden
, which has been 26 months at the top 10 in the charts. It was ported for the PlayStation
as The Raiden Project
, and other port
s, including Amiga
, Atari Jaguar
, NEC
's TurboGrafx-16
, NEC
's Turbo Duo (known as Super Raiden includes Redbook audio & 2 extra levels) Atari Lynx, Super Nintendo
, PC
, Sega Genesis and the mobile phone
.
Seibu Kaihatsu developed the Raiden games and its related spin-offs from 1990 until 1998. The license of Raiden was recently purchased by MOSS Ltd. Since 2005, all Raiden games have been on various Taito boards (Taito Type X
).
by an alien race known as the Cranassians. In the wake of the Cranassian invasion, the World Alliance Military must launch a daring counter-attack with their powerful weapon, a Raiden supersonic attack fighter, for the future of humanity. In most of the Raiden games, the Cranassians have a red crystal that holds many powers. It is usually the last boss in the games. The first two Raiden installments had eight stages, and if all stages are completed, a mission clear bonus is given and the players will start another mission. The third installment has seven stages each. The fourth installment blends classic gameplay with new ideas in one package.
The level design of the first two installments consists of five Earth-based levels and three space-based levels:
However, in Raiden III
, level design appears to consist of three basic Earth-based missions and four space missions:
The enemy's insignia appears to be a shape of a diamond in later Raiden installments.
The bosses in Raiden
has normally an octagonal shape of a glowing crystalline being, but in the sequels, they have a diamond shape. In Stage 8 of Raiden
, the octagonal being is concealed with a green module which moves back and forth in one direction, while in Raiden II and later installments, it appears exposed.
In Raiden DX, the st. 9 boss first appears as a featureless sphere of grey metal, then transforms into the boss tank. This suggests that the Cranassian crystals have the ability to reshape metal to any form they desire.
|-
| Two walking statues
| Energy-weapon tank
| Mine-laying fighter
| Repeating fighter (Isudogaaramu) (Xbox 360)
|-
| Forward module of the battleship
| Forward module of the battleship
| Crystal-holding fortress
| Ball holding a crystal (Horda Gardia) (Xbox 360)
|-
| Red crystal in a green module
| Crystalline temple (Cranassian headquarters)
| N/A
| Crystal-holding command vessel (Horda Gestorada)
|}
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
s by Seibu Kaihatsu
Seibu Kaihatsu
is a Japanese manufacturer of arcade games. They are best known for the Raiden series of games. The company was once called Seibu Denshi.-Games by Seibu-Kaihatsu:* Stinger * Kung-Fu Taikun * Knuckle Joe...
initially available in arcade
Video arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
s in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and later distributed to other countries by Fabtek and other arcade game manufacturers.
The game that began the franchise was Raiden
Raiden (arcade game)
is a scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the first game in the popular Raiden series of scrolling shooter arcade games.Raiden first made its debut in September 1990...
, which has been 26 months at the top 10 in the charts. It was ported for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
as The Raiden Project
The Raiden Project
The Raiden Project, originally released in Japan as simply is a port of the arcade games Raiden and Raiden II to the PlayStation. It was also a launch title for the system released September 9, 1995.-External links:...
, and other port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
s, including Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari Jaguar
Atari Jaguar
The Atari Jaguar is a video game console that was released by Atari Corporation in 1993. It was the last to be marketed under the Atari brand until the release of the Atari Flashback in 2004. It was designed to surpass the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Panasonic...
, NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
's TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
, NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
's Turbo Duo (known as Super Raiden includes Redbook audio & 2 extra levels) Atari Lynx, Super Nintendo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, Sega Genesis and the mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
.
Seibu Kaihatsu developed the Raiden games and its related spin-offs from 1990 until 1998. The license of Raiden was recently purchased by MOSS Ltd. Since 2005, all Raiden games have been on various Taito boards (Taito Type X
Taito Type X
The Taito Type X is an arcade system board released by Taito Corporation in 2004. Based on commodity PC hardware architecture, Type X is not a specification for a single set of hardware, but rather a modular platform supporting multiple hardware configurations with different levels of graphical...
).
Overview
In each installment, there is a threat to humanity posed by the invasion of EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
by an alien race known as the Cranassians. In the wake of the Cranassian invasion, the World Alliance Military must launch a daring counter-attack with their powerful weapon, a Raiden supersonic attack fighter, for the future of humanity. In most of the Raiden games, the Cranassians have a red crystal that holds many powers. It is usually the last boss in the games. The first two Raiden installments had eight stages, and if all stages are completed, a mission clear bonus is given and the players will start another mission. The third installment has seven stages each. The fourth installment blends classic gameplay with new ideas in one package.
Differences
Its distinguishing feature was the simultaneous double player mode where one player can play like two players at the same time. Players can get high score by quickly destroying the enemy which appears, with the new flash shot system. But this feature is not new to the Raiden series release-wise, as a slightly different version of this scoring mechanic was introduced in the Raiden Fighters spinoff.The level design of the first two installments consists of five Earth-based levels and three space-based levels:
- Forest (in RaidenRaiden (arcade game)is a scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the first game in the popular Raiden series of scrolling shooter arcade games.Raiden first made its debut in September 1990...
the player starts from the coast, but in Raiden IIRaiden IIis a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the second game in the popular Raiden series of vertical scrolling shooter arcade games that started with Raiden.-Plot:...
, the player starts from inland) - City/Farm
- Ocean
- Ruins/Savanna
- Factory
- Planetoids
- Giant enemy battleship
- Final attack goal (in RaidenRaiden (arcade game)is a scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the first game in the popular Raiden series of scrolling shooter arcade games.Raiden first made its debut in September 1990...
the final attack goal is the alien command battleship, but in Raiden IIRaiden IIis a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the second game in the popular Raiden series of vertical scrolling shooter arcade games that started with Raiden.-Plot:...
, the final attack goal is the planetoid with the Cranassians' headquarters/temple)
However, in Raiden III
Raiden III
is a revival of the classic Raiden series of scrolling shooter games. It was developed by the Japanese company Moss with some assistance and license by Seibu Kaihatsu which produced Raiden and Raiden II, and published in Japan by Taito in 2005...
, level design appears to consist of three basic Earth-based missions and four space missions:
- Farm, City
- Enemy in-land remote base
- Ocean with platforms
- Giant Battleships
- Battleship Interior
- Connected Planetoids
- Final attack goal
The enemy's insignia appears to be a shape of a diamond in later Raiden installments.
The bosses in Raiden
Raiden (arcade game)
is a scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the first game in the popular Raiden series of scrolling shooter arcade games.Raiden first made its debut in September 1990...
has normally an octagonal shape of a glowing crystalline being, but in the sequels, they have a diamond shape. In Stage 8 of Raiden
Raiden (arcade game)
is a scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the first game in the popular Raiden series of scrolling shooter arcade games.Raiden first made its debut in September 1990...
, the octagonal being is concealed with a green module which moves back and forth in one direction, while in Raiden II and later installments, it appears exposed.
In Raiden DX, the st. 9 boss first appears as a featureless sphere of grey metal, then transforms into the boss tank. This suggests that the Cranassian crystals have the ability to reshape metal to any form they desire.
Boss differences
Armed satellite (Da Rutyura) (Xbox 360)|-
| Two walking statues
| Energy-weapon tank
| Mine-laying fighter
| Repeating fighter (Isudogaaramu) (Xbox 360)
|-
| Forward module of the battleship
| Forward module of the battleship
| Crystal-holding fortress
| Ball holding a crystal (Horda Gardia) (Xbox 360)
|-
| Red crystal in a green module
| Crystalline temple (Cranassian headquarters)
| N/A
| Crystal-holding command vessel (Horda Gestorada)
|}
The bosses in Raiden DX keeps their similarity to its precursor, with the exception that it contains an extra level boss tank.
Main series
The first three Raiden games were published by Seibu Kaihatsu and sent to distributors for specific countries such as Fabtek (US), The Metrotainment Network (Asia), and Tuning Electronic (Germany). After more than a decade, the original series was revived and licensed by Moss, Ltd. and published by TaitoTaito
Taito may mean:*Taito Corporation, a Japanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware*Taito, Tokyo, a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan*Taito, also known as matai, paramount chiefs according to Fa'a Samoa...
.
- RaidenRaiden (arcade game)is a scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the first game in the popular Raiden series of scrolling shooter arcade games.Raiden first made its debut in September 1990...
(1990) - Raiden IIRaiden IIis a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game that was developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was the second game in the popular Raiden series of vertical scrolling shooter arcade games that started with Raiden.-Plot:...
(1993) - Raiden DXRaiden DXis the third installment in the Raiden series of arcade games developed by Seibu Kaihatsu.-Gameplay:The gameplay of Raiden DX is similar to that of its predecessor Raiden II in ways of weapons, levels, and bosses; however its expert stage mode branches slightly from the formula.-Alpha Stage:A...
(1994) - Raiden IIIRaiden IIIis a revival of the classic Raiden series of scrolling shooter games. It was developed by the Japanese company Moss with some assistance and license by Seibu Kaihatsu which produced Raiden and Raiden II, and published in Japan by Taito in 2005...
(2005) - Raiden IVRaiden IVis an arcade game that follows up from the events of its precursor, Raiden III. It was developed by the Japanese company Moss, under the license of Seibu Kaihatsu, and currently in co-operation with Taito.-Plot:...
(2007)
Spinoffs
The Raiden game legacy saw its own spinoffs. Viper Phase 1 originally had an exhaustible secondary weapon system (indicated by a bar meter). A "new" version of Viper Phase 1 modified the weapons system to be that more similar of the Raiden games.The Raiden Fighters games inadvertently became associated with the Raiden legacy. The first Raiden Fighters game was originally a completely unrelated game with the name Gun Dogs during development. Seibu Kaihatsu changed its name to the current Raiden Fighters due to market tests of the game performing better in the public with the Raiden name.
- Viper Phase 1Viper Phase 1is a 1995 scrolling shooter arcade game by Seibu Kaihatsu, and is the spin-off in the Raiden series. This game is often referred to as "Raiden in space".-Story:...
(1995) - Raiden FightersRaiden Fightersis a 1996 scrolling shooter arcade game by Seibu Kaihatsu. It is followed by the sequel, Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive. It introduced unique gameplay elements that are a departure from the original Raiden series.-Plot:...
(1996) - Raiden Fighters 2Raiden Fighters 2is a 1997 scrolling shooter arcade game by Seibu Kaihatsu. It is the direct sequel to Raiden Fighters, which is part of the Raiden scrolling shooter game legacy. This game shares the same intense gameplay as its predecessor, as well as expanding on the concepts that defined it...
(1997) - Raiden Fighters JetRaiden Fighters Jetis the third and last game in the Raiden Fighters series. This game retains the same intensity and manic gameplay as its predecessors, while introducing several new mechanics.-Gameplay:The Hybrid Attack from Raiden Fighters 2 returns in this game...
(1998)