Raiden 3 PC better than PS-2 version and Raiden 4...

[ST Dragon]

Last year I bought Raiden 3 for the PS-2 but I wasn’t that impressed primarily due to the fact that the purple “snake” laser was missing, the graphics weren’t that impressive for PS-2 standards and the over all gameplay just didn’t feel like Raiden.

However, yesterday I played Raiden 3 on the PC and I was greatly impressed!
For some reason the gameplay and the over all speed was quite improved and the graphics looked a lot sharper. Especially in TATE when rotating the 19” TFT monitor vertically, it looked awesome and felt like a vertical arcade monitor.
Now, if they had added the Purple snake laser it would have been perfect!

Is it my imagination, or does Raiden 3 PC really take advantage of the better PC graphics hardware compared to the PS-2?

I also noticed that the intro sequence was shortened on the PC version.
I hope they haven't cut the ending sequence as well, as I haven’t completed it yet.

By the way, anybody knows whether Raiden 4 will be released for the PC some time next year? The classic purple snake laser is present on the arcade version of Raiden 4; I would love to see it on my PC!

Very sinister looking fire power (Raiden IV):
http://raiden.mossjp.co.jp/raiden4/arca ... pture.html


Cool Raiden IV Wallpaper with the Snake laser:
http://raiden.mossjp.co.jp/raiden4/arca ... 1_1280.htm
http://raiden.mossjp.co.jp/raiden4/arcade/download.html

Various Raiden 3 shots:

[Super Laydock]

Is it my imagination, or does Raiden 3 PC really take advantage of the better PC graphics hardware compared to the PS-2?

It´s definitely not your imagination. It´s not surprising either since the original arcade board (type-X) is PC based.
The PC version is soo much better looking than the PS2 version and playing with the keyboard makes this an even better experience for me.
Best $15 I spent in a long time.

[ST Dragon]

Actually I played it using a 10 button MS sidewinder Joypad, the best of it's kind imo for shmups!

Let's hope Raiden IV will be released for the PC as well. No way am I buying the Xbox 360.

[MathU]

Best $15 I spent in a long time.

Whoa, where'd you get that deal? Everywhere I look it's criminally overpriced.

[Necronom]

Actually I played it using a 10 button MS sidewinder Joypad, the best of it's kind imo for shmups!

Let's hope Raiden IV will be released for the PC as well. No way am I buying the Xbox 360.

Have you checked the latest XBLA announcements from TGS? There's some really nice arcade-style stuff coming to XBLA. Though some of it might end up on PC (Vista) too.

[j^aws]

Does the PC version have a "Double Mode" like on the PS2? ... Does it need to be unlocked or anything?

If so; I might pick it up too... That mode is the most fun I've had in any Raiden game...

[PooshhMao]

You can play *any* mame shmup that way. Tinker with game.cfg.

[Shatterhand]

yes, it does.

And I had thought about doing that with Mame... but what arcade shmup counts both players score as one? The cool thing with the double mode of Raiden 3 is the fact that you only have 3 lives SHARED between both ships (I belive this mode only costs 1 credit at arcades), and the score is also shared.

[j^aws]

You can play *any* mame shmup that way. Tinker with game.cfg.

Yes, I know; but the games resources and scoring aren't integrated/ shared like in R3, e.g. you get 2x3 life and 2x3 bomb stocks; the scoring is for 2 *different* players etc... unlike R3; which basically plays like having two fully controllable/ upgradable 'orbs/ satellites' as *one* controllable ship... 3 lives and 3 bombs; with integrated scoring...

[Shatterhand]

our replies were posted at exactly the same time

[Fighter17]

Damn my laptop most likely won't be able to handle the graphics.

[PooshhMao]

Okay yes - that's something MAME can't replicate.
Never thought of that actually.

But what Mame can do is control both ships by the same controls - place them next to each other, dual firepower

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Damn my laptop most likely won't be able to handle the graphics.

Time for an upgrade then, hmmm? ^_~

[Fighter17]

Damn my laptop most likely won't be able to handle the graphics.

Time for an upgrade then, hmmm? ^_~

Well for the most part it's good.

It has an AMD Althon 64 4000+ at 2.4 GHZ with 1.2 GB of RAM.

The video is a ATI Radeon Express 200M.

[j^aws]

our replies were posted at exactly the same time

Of course, playing Double Mode unleashes our dormant, telekinetic powers!

... but what arcade shmup counts both players score as one?

Space Duel by Atari, circa 1980, comes to mind: A sipritual succesor to Asteroids/ Asteroids Deluxe... although the two ships are connected by a 'string'; unlike the fully decoupled ships in R3...

[ST Dragon]

Actually I played it using a 10 button MS sidewinder Joypad, the best of it's kind imo for shmups!

Let's hope Raiden IV will be released for the PC as well. No way am I buying the Xbox 360.

Have you checked the latest XBLA announcements from TGS? There's some really nice arcade-style stuff coming to XBLA. Though some of it might end up on PC (Vista) too.

No I had no idea until you mentioned it!
Could you direct me to any specific direction?

Thanks in advance.

If Raiden IV is Taito Type X based (PC based arcade HW) like Raiden III, it would be easy not to mention cost safe for a Raiden IV PC port.
Hopefully at least. roll:

[JBC]

No wonder i liked Raiden III better than most mags made it out to be. I've been playing the pc version for like a year now and never get tired of it. I really love the game's visuals and gameplay feels similar (albiet easier) than previous Raidens. Still great, just not as frenetic - something that might be improved upon in 4.

Either way... i think just about every review i've read was for the ps2 verison which i've never played. I couldn't imagine the crispness of the pc edition appearing over a ps2 anyway.

[j^aws]

Can someone confirm my earlier question: Does the PC version have Double Mode?

[Twiddle]

yeah

[j^aws]

Thanks!

[ST Dragon]

After searching through the official Japanese site, I can't quite comprehend if there will be a PC version of Raiden IV ?!

[ST Dragon]

yeah

Hi Twiddle, that's one cool sinister looking cat you got in your avatar, what anime is from?

[Necronom]

@ST Dragon
That's because nothing has been announced yet. A PC version would be very easy to do since the arcade hardware is pretty much a windows based PC already BUT console ports are where the money is so don't expect a PC version before they bring it to some consoles.
360 is very likely though not confirmed yet.

[ST Dragon]

Has anybody managed to 1'CC Raiden III (PC or PS-2) in Normal difficulty Mode?
I've reached up to level 5 but I get killed just a few clicks away from the start.

[ST Dragon]

@ST Dragon
That's because nothing has been announced yet. A PC version would be very easy to do since the arcade hardware is pretty much a windows based PC already BUT console ports are where the money is so don't expect a PC version before they bring it to some consoles.
360 is very likely though not confirmed yet.

I would much rather prefer a PS-2 or PS-3 port than an Xbox360 port!
The 360 joypad with the misplaced D-Pad and analog pads sucks!
Not shooter friendly at all!

[Necronom]

I used to think that also. Then I stopped using the PS2 pad and got used to the 360 pad. Didn't take long actually. Now, I don't have any issues with it any more whether it's fighters or shmups. Still, proper arcade stick is the best way to go.

[landshark]

I actually bought a new video card for my MAME cab so I could play Raiden 3. Excellent port.

[Super Laydock]

Best $15 I spent in a long time.

Whoa, where'd you get that deal? Everywhere I look it's criminally overpriced.

Got it from Yes-Asia. It was the Chinese version though...
They had a similar deal on Shiki III, but when I checked last week to see if they still sold them the results came out negative...

Even at Play-Asia prices around $65/70 I´d still say get it if you´ve got the PC to run it and don´t have the PS2 version yet. It´ll do wonders for your appreciation of the game...

[MathU]

But, but... $70... Plus shipping.

[Mills]

after waiting months to get this sorted, i can finally play some serious games on this lame duck game. arcade joystick was fcuked for months without repair because we dumbarse technician staff that cant be bothered to fix/replace a fcuked joystick. oh the stress and relief!