Best Raiden game?

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:53 pm

I've been playing alot of Raiden DX lately,so much so that I am now compelled to seek out all the rest of the games in this great series,Fighters and Jet included.

Thoughts?

B-

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:04 pm

IMO that one was the worst- I never really got a chance to get in to it though, I had the cheapo version on PCB and sold pretty soon after I got it, so maybe it's better than I thought.

I really love Raiden II- a real marathon and hard as hell in the arcade- I think it ranks up there with the r-types as far as difficulty and compulive perseverence goes.
Raiden (1)- actually seemed a little more dramatic to me than #2 in it's own way and also really good, though definitely looking old.

As for fighers through jet,
Raiden fighters actually gets a little boring I think, especially compared to Jet which is a caffein trip the WHOLE way through. #1 seemed like a drawn out, older style thing in the same vein as raiden II but not as intense or charming- although all the Raiden fighters games have great sprites I think.
I've never tried #2 and am under the impression that it's actually the best, is that true?

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:19 pm

Well I have Raiden 1-2 I just need DX

I would say Raiden 1 for sure, but I dont know if Raiden 2 warrents a purchase as you have DX, but I dont really know.

kemical · Post by **kemical** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:22 pm

raiden 1 and 2 are the best imo.

you might want to give raiden 1 a try first since you've been playing dx, raiden 2 is great but it shares a lot with DX, so raiden 1 may seem refreshing and cool since its got the older graphics and stuff.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:26 pm

kemical wrote:raiden 1 and 2 are the best imo.

you might want to give raiden 1 a try first since you've been playing dx, raiden 2 is great but it shares a lot with DX, so raiden 1 may seem refreshing and cool since its got the older graphics and stuff.

I concur

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:24 pm

Thanks for the input,guys.

I'll definitely try playing the original Raiden sometime tonight.

What about the Fighters and Jet series? I'd like to here more about them.

B-

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:31 pm

Raiden DX being the worst of the bunch? unusual talking. Can you elaborate a bit or it's just a personal taste difficult to explain?

tehkao · Post by **tehkao** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:46 pm

Yeah, I'm confused as well. I thought Raiden DX was just like Raiden 2, but better?

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:54 pm

raiden dx is best imo. like the other raidens (1+2) only faster and therefore better. the main criticism leveled at the first two was the slow speed of the ship, this was addressed in dx.

Jet and fighters are ok but for me they are just a futher step away from the perfection that is dx.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:03 am

I'm more for the Raiden DX style of Raidens then the Fighters series. DX is just one of those expertly done games, hard to top. The Fighters games just don't work for me.

If anyone is interested in Jet, I've got a JPN board that wants a new home. PM if interested.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:14 am

I've only played Raiden II, but I've got to say that it was my first introduction into 'modern' shmups (not something like Galaga) so I hold it dear to me. The explosions, the graphics, everything...it was hard as hell but I loved it. The end level boss, that huge walking tank, just amazed me.

I went to KLOV but couldn't find any screens, I really would like to see how the graphics have held up.

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Fri May 13, 2005 4:22 am

I can only find one flaw with Raiden DX, and that´s the score system which gives a bonus score after the game that is way out of proportion. Without even reaching stage 1 boss, you can get 1 million bonus points for shooting down 100% of the 10 enemies you met before the game was over, while reaching stage 4 will usually give you still less than a million even if you went out of your way to collect secrets, save up bombs etc. Beside this flaw, Raiden DX is a perfect game, better than any other in the series.
But because it has this flaw, and for nostalgia, I still like to play Raiden I and II occasionally. The Raiden Fighters games, of which I only own part I and Jet, are quite a different cup of tea, different from the previous games as well as different from each other. I don´t get how someone can feel Jet to be more hectic than RF1, imo it´s just the other way round. RF Jet has one of the most complicated score systems ever, but to allow the player performing the elaborate tricks it asks for, the pure survival challenge was reduced significantly compared to RF1. One charming detail about RF Jet is the fact that stages will vary depending on your performance, so like in Psyvariar, you can´t just creditfeed to see all stages. RF1, on the other hand, appeals by having a very flexible scoring system, you don´t have to plan your way throughout the stages elaborately but can play rather intuitively, and if something goes wrong, you can always adapt to the new situation easily, while still being challenged for survival in a rather hard way.

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:22 am

Actually,I prefer DX over II for the simple fact that you are able to respawn and keep on going,as opposed to being sent back to a check point everytime you lose a life ala Raiden I and II.

B-

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Fri May 13, 2005 10:31 am

How can you chose between I, II and DX. All three are the mutt's nuts!

C'mon, they play like Fireshark + Twin Cobras with some of the most solid music and visuals from the early 90's! The only thing I'd ever change with these games is making the ship a tad faster (and perhaps the hitbox cave-sized).

Raidenfighter Kirkov · Fri May 13, 2005 11:14 am

Raiden Dx and Raiden Fighters Jet

Naiera · Post by **Naiera** » Fri May 13, 2005 11:18 am

I like both Super Raiden for PCE and Raiden DX on arcade, but if the Fighters series is included I definitely prefer Jet. It's more to my taste and objectively I think it's just one of the best shooters ever.

llabnip · Post by **llabnip** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:24 pm

Raiden 1, 2 and DX are all must-haves. All are amazing - Raiden I from a historical point of view though it is still very playable and enjoyable. Raiden 2/DX are the best in the series... with Raiden DX being just a notch better, IMO (though I love the original music in II more). The original Raiden Fighters (which has a different feel - I gather it was not intended to be a Raiden game at all until they changed it prior to release) is also an amazing game.

Naiera · Post by **Naiera** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:21 pm

Yes, the original name was Gun Dogs, but it didn't do well in location tests, so they changed the name to Raiden Fighters.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:41 pm

CMoon wrote:How can you chose between I, II and DX. All three are the mutt's nuts!.

You cant complain with CMoon's post

I've tried Raiden Fighters Jet in Mame

It deffiantly is a different game to the classic Raiden series

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:37 pm

Turrican wrote:Raiden DX being the worst of the bunch? unusual talking. Can you elaborate a bit or it's just a personal taste difficult to explain?

I have 1, II, and Jet, and have played Raiden fighters in the arcade 4 or 5 times.
I had the CRAPPY dx board for a bit with the poor video and the HORRIBLE music and sound-- It was so bad I actually hardly played it, so if the gameplay is a step up from Raiden 2, I could get into it. My main impression besides that was the the background graphics seemed really boring! (which is my main critisism having not played it much). Do they get better later?

As for the difficulty, Raiden 2 feels really hard (cheap almost) in a good way- the same way r-type 2 feels to me, like you're going to die no matter what but you want to keep trying- especially with no auto fire and that wimpy pea shooter.

As for Raiden Fighters vs. Jet, I can get pretty far and spend a long time playing 'fighters, but Jet just seems to be over in a flash, and a spazzy flash at that. I havn't been able to compare them side by side, though, and have actually decided to just skip 'fighters and try for a copy of 'fighters 2 (hoping it would be more like Jet).
Is Raiden fighters 2 awesome? Anyone?

oh yeah, I love them all by, by the way.

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:52 pm

dpful wrote:
Turrican wrote:Raiden DX being the worst of the bunch? unusual talking. Can you elaborate a bit or it's just a personal taste difficult to explain?
I have 1, II, and Jet, and have played Raiden fighters in the arcade 4 or 5 times.
I had the CRAPPY dx board for a bit with the poor video and the HORRIBLE music and sound-- It was so bad I actually hardly played it, so if the gameplay is a step up from Raiden 2, I could get into it. My main impression besides that was the the background graphics seemed really boring! (which is my main critisism having not played it much). Do they get better later?

I gotta agree with you here. DX does seem a bit weak in terms of graphics and sound,compared to that of Raiden II

Is Raiden fighters 2 awesome? Anyone?

Seriously,anyone played this?

B-

The Bullet Dodger · Post by **The Bullet Dodger** » Fri May 13, 2005 10:50 pm

I still play Raiden DX quite often. I have it for my PSX, and it's excellent in tate. I wish I had the money to get the rest of the series, as Raiden 2 is very impressive to me. Despite the old music and sound effects, I love it's detailed backrounds, explosions, water splashes, etc. Great stuff.

Raiden Project continues to collect dust on my shelf.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat May 14, 2005 10:30 am

BIG wrote:
dpful wrote:
Turrican wrote:Raiden DX being the worst of the bunch? unusual talking. Can you elaborate a bit or it's just a personal taste difficult to explain?
I have 1, II, and Jet, and have played Raiden fighters in the arcade 4 or 5 times.
I had the CRAPPY dx board for a bit with the poor video and the HORRIBLE music and sound-- It was so bad I actually hardly played it, so if the gameplay is a step up from Raiden 2, I could get into it. My main impression besides that was the the background graphics seemed really boring! (which is my main critisism having not played it much). Do they get better later?
I gotta agree with you here. DX does seem a bit weak in terms of graphics and sound,compared to that of Raiden II

Huh? Now I'm more puzzled than before.

http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/raidendx.htm

I thought Raiden DX was a "rearranged version" of Raiden II, with added stages, renewed scoring system, and different game modes.

So, how can it be graphically worse than Raiden II if it's Raiden 2.5? I don't get it.
Unless you're talking of some PCB video output flaws that don't affect the RProject / DX PSone ports...

The Bullet Dodger wrote:I wish I had the money to get the rest of the series, as Raiden 2 is very impressive to me.
[...]
Raiden Project continues to collect dust on my shelf.

I don't get this one too. Don't you already have the rest of the series and RII, if you own Project?

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 14, 2005 10:38 am

Turrican wrote:
The Bullet Dodger wrote:I wish I had the money to get the rest of the series, as Raiden 2 is very impressive to me.
[...]
Raiden Project continues to collect dust on my shelf.
I don't get this one too. Don't you already have the rest of the series and RII, if you own Project?

I too was thinking that.

Raidenfighter Kirkov · Sat May 14, 2005 11:03 am

BIG wrote:
dpful wrote:
Turrican wrote:Raiden DX being the worst of the bunch? unusual talking. Can you elaborate a bit or it's just a personal taste difficult to explain?
I have 1, II, and Jet, and have played Raiden fighters in the arcade 4 or 5 times.
I had the CRAPPY dx board for a bit with the poor video and the HORRIBLE music and sound-- It was so bad I actually hardly played it, so if the gameplay is a step up from Raiden 2, I could get into it. My main impression besides that was the the background graphics seemed really boring! (which is my main critisism having not played it much). Do they get better later?
I gotta agree with you here. DX does seem a bit weak in terms of graphics and sound,compared to that of Raiden II

Is Raiden fighters 2 awesome? Anyone?

Seriously,anyone played this?

B-

Yes i got the board.
Its also an amazing shooter.
Especially the bosses are gigantic. The games only lacks the complexity of Raiden Fighters Jet.

Its a must have title for all Seibu Kaihatsu Fans (and dont forget Viper Phase One and G Stream !)

Greetings
RFK

Zach Keene · Post by **Zach Keene** » Sat May 14, 2005 12:41 pm

Turrican wrote:Huh? Now I'm more puzzled than before.

http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/raidendx.htm

I thought Raiden DX was a "rearranged version" of Raiden II, with added stages, renewed scoring system, and different game modes.

So, how can it be graphically worse than Raiden II if it's Raiden 2.5? I don't get it.

Well, as someone who owns both Project and DX on the PS... I have no idea what they're on about either.

thesuperkillerxxx · Post by **thesuperkillerxxx** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:20 pm

^^^

I also own the Project and DX and cannot detect a graphical difference..... DX doesn't get much love in the Williams household though.

Raiden II is a must have just for the boss music and the Stage 5 Boss fight, as they are sheer perfection. Because of this, it is the best in the series (1,2,dx). Absolutely brutal difficulty, I LOVE IT!!!!

futurespa · Post by **futurespa** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:07 pm

Raiden Fighters 2 and Raiden fighters jet are the best in the series. Ofcourse 3 will be über.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:33 pm

futurespa wrote:Raiden Fighters 2 and Raiden fighters jet are the best in the series. Ofcourse 3 will be über.

Do you mean in the Fighters series or the whole Raiden series?

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Sat May 14, 2005 4:39 pm

Raidenfighter Kirkov wrote:
BIG wrote:
dpful wrote: I have 1, II, and Jet, and have played Raiden fighters in the arcade 4 or 5 times.
I had the CRAPPY dx board for a bit with the poor video and the HORRIBLE music and sound-- It was so bad I actually hardly played it, so if the gameplay is a step up from Raiden 2, I could get into it. My main impression besides that was the the background graphics seemed really boring! (which is my main critisism having not played it much). Do they get better later?
I gotta agree with you here. DX does seem a bit weak in terms of graphics and sound,compared to that of Raiden II

Is Raiden fighters 2 awesome? Anyone?

Seriously,anyone played this?

B-
Yes i got the board.
Its also an amazing shooter.
Especially the bosses are gigantic. The games only lacks the complexity of Raiden Fighters Jet.

Its a must have title for all Seibu Kaihatsu Fans (and dont forget Viper Phase One and G Stream !)

Greetings
RFK

Do they all share a common motherboard?

B-