Raiden IV 360 US-Bound...

[No_not_like_Quake]

Went to a few local shops today to see if they had it/pick it up. Two didn't know wtf I was talking about and one said it was coming in on Saturday. Nut sack. I wanted to play it today.

[chempop]

That's crappy news BulletMagnet, but I kinda figured it would be the case. I want both 360 Raiden games but paying $150+shipping versus $60 is a kick in the mouth (i'm sure a handful of us here are in the same boat). maybe I'll just get the UA versions and play em on my housemates 360, ugh.
Anyway, how's the game?! Is it a big step up from 3, are the graphics godly or what?

[Damocles]

It looks better and feels smoother than 3. Pretty fun.

The bullet patterns start becoming...interesting...about midway through stage 2.

[Elixir]

Is there a certain term for the bullets that.. force you into dodging a certain way?

Because you all know this shit chases you around the screen.

[BBH]

I forgot to preorder. Stopped by a Gamestop to see if they had it, and I walked out with apparently the only copy they received. And I got the limited edition with the OST/artbook code too. rofl

This game isn't fucking around by the 3rd boss

[Damocles]

No more is the sniper tank the bane of my existence. No, no. God forbid one of those little planes makes it to the bottom of the screen.

[Acid King]

No more is the sniper tank the bane of my existence. No, no. God forbid one of those little planes makes it to the bottom of the screen.

Ha, I was thinking that too. I like how they just fly down and chill in the lower corner of the screen. Pain in the ass.

[Zero Gunner]

So does the US version suffer from the sound problems (either the left or right channel had no sound iirc) that plagued the Japanese version? Or did UFO have the courtesy to fix this problem?

[icbluscrn]

I forgot to preorder. Stopped by a Gamestop to see if they had it, and I walked out with apparently the only copy they received. And I got the limited edition with the OST/artbook code too. rofl

This game isn't fucking around by the 3rd boss

there all limited edition's from gamestop. the stores nearby had about 10 each for the floor plus what people had reserved. also verified what someone said earlier raiden fighter aces is no more? I would like to pick one up if its true it maybe might be a collectible someday.

as far as game play i am digging it a bunch, much more then death smiles. I really like playing single player controlling two ships is nutz always end up getting confused but its a blast. have not made it out of the first level but i like the different versions and achievements seem to come pretty easy as well well worth the money

[The Coop]

also verified what someone said earlier raiden fighter aces is no more? I would like to pick one up if its true it maybe might be a collectible someday.

It's true. When one Gamestop store has a game on the discontinued list, all stores do. Unless the rules have changed, it means they won't be getting in new copies of the game anymore, and the only way you'll find it at a Gamestop is used... unless of course, you have a store that still has a new copy currently in-stock from before it was discontinued (a Gamestop near me does, but I already have the game).

Might want to hurry up and get it, as I'm sure this tidbit will be used as an excuse to drive the cost of the game up by sellers. There's still some on Amazon though, so you can always go that route as well.

[Raizen1984]

So, why is Amazon still saying this isn't out till Oct. 27th?

[Zero Gunner]

also verified what someone said earlier raiden fighter aces is no more? I would like to pick one up if its true it maybe might be a collectible someday.

It's true. When one Gamestop store has a game on the discontinued list, all stores do. Unless the rules have changed, it means they won't be getting in new copies of the game anymore, and the only way you'll find it at a Gamestop is used... unless of course, you have a store that still has a new copy currently in-stock from before it was discontinued (a Gamestop near me does, but I already have the game).

Might want to hurry up and get it, as I'm sure this tidbit will be used as an excuse to drive the cost of the game up by sellers. There's still some on Amazon though, so you can always go that route as well.

This actually doesn't mean much really. When Gamestop "delists" a game it's not exactly what you are envisioning. What it means is that the publisher is not actively restocking the title with Gamestop or that Gamestop is not actively looking to restock the title. Recent releases "delist" at Gamestop every day. I recall seeing Ninja Gaiden for Xbox 1 "delist" for a time less than two months after it had released....yet you can still find factory sealed copies of both NG and NGBlack for $30 or less. This doesn't really mean anything other than Gamestop is not increasing stock/actively restocking a title, it doesn't mean that the game is no longer available or that it won't be reprinted. If you had access to their systems you'd see that just about the only games that aren't currently "delisted" are the very newest of releases (1-2 months old), greatest hit titles that are usually restocked a few copies each week, and games like Madden or Halo that continue to sell in large numbers months down the road.

Raiden Fighters is readily available elsewhere and probably will be for the remainder of the year at least. Gamestop routinely delists these kind of non-mainstream titles, so this isn't a big deal. That said, anyone who hasn't already dropped $20 to grab a copy is being just plain silly...

[Zero Gunner]

So, why is Amazon still saying this isn't out till Oct. 27th?

I'm wondering the same...this is who I ordered it with so I'm wondering if I need to cancel and get it elsewhere.

[sideshow]

will the US release have the same achievement list as the JAP release? or will it have a seperate achievement list like Raiden Fighter Aces..one Japanese version..one US verison

I believe the US version has the same achievements. I popped in the US version of Raiden IV and the japanese achievements popped up. The japanese achievements are still in japanese for me but when I ulocked a couple new achievements they were in English. Nice how UFO made the achievements compatible for both versions of the game.

[Elixir]

will the US release have the same achievement list as the JAP release? or will it have a seperate achievement list like Raiden Fighter Aces..one Japanese version..one US verison

I believe the US version has the same achievements. I popped in the US version of Raiden IV and the japanese achievements popped up. The japanese achievements are still in japanese for me but when I ulocked a couple new achievements they were in English. Nice how UFO made the achievements compatible for both versions of the game.

You realize he isn't going to buy it now, right

[dial911]

I picked up my copy today from Gamestop and they only had one in stock.. the limited edition was all they received.

I gave the game 2 quick 1CC attempts and made it to the end of stage 3 both times. Here are my initial thoughts:

Pros:
-The music is fantastic
-Excellent stage layouts
-Improved graphics & overall much smoother gameplay with absolutely no hiccups.
-Fairy has the ideal ship speed to play the game- the Mk-II and the original plane are still as quick as they were in Raiden III (read: too god damn slow)
-Next to no loading

Cons:
-You have to pay around $2.80 to download the two additional ships (Fairy & Mk-II)
-Mk-II is too god damn slow still
-The original plane is too god damn slow
-Both of the planes are too god damn slow

I'll give the game another go or three with the two planes but I absolutely hate how sluggish they are. Also, it''s pretty shitty that you have to pay to unlock 2 ships that should have been free from the very beginning. This was my biggest and only fear in regards to console downloadable content - charging for petty shit that should be a part of the base game - before we know it... we'll be paying to advance to the next level... oh wait... (<- nobody uses that shit so I took the initiative...)

Conclusion - fairy saved this game.

[originalz]

So, why is Amazon still saying this isn't out till Oct. 27th?

I'm wondering the same...this is who I ordered it with so I'm wondering if I need to cancel and get it elsewhere.

People have been speculating that Gamestop got an exclusive month to sell the game, since that seems to be the only store that has it in stock. Anyone found a copy elsewhere?

[Rob]

-Excellent stage layouts

Has to be the difference between this and III. That game was boring from the start and with this I just want to keep putting in another credit.

Ship speed is fine. Soundtrack is whatever, but game is lots of fun.

[jefflev13]

I never played Raiden IV before and my first impressions are so-so at best, after about 5 games. Reading above, maybe I will spend the rip-off 2.80 for the extra ships & see if that improves things. Early on, the game just feels kind of sparse for my tastes & a little sluggish

[PsikyoPshumpPshooterP]

will the US release have the same achievement list as the JAP release? or will it have a seperate achievement list like Raiden Fighter Aces..one Japanese version..one US verison

I believe the US version has the same achievements. I popped in the US version of Raiden IV and the japanese achievements popped up. The japanese achievements are still in japanese for me but when I ulocked a couple new achievements they were in English. Nice how UFO made the achievements compatible for both versions of the game.

You realize he isn't going to buy it now, right

true

[mirkvid]

Picked this up today after work. Its a pretty pleasant surprise actually. The music is catchy, the graphics are great, and I absolutely love the fast aimed bullets. Kinda plays like Batsugun (aimed bullets) meets Ikaruga (ship speed) with the little yellow bullets from Gunbird 2.

Stage 3 boss is EPIC.

[Elixir]

Conclusion - fairy saved this game.

Conclusion: You need to play the game past an hour.

[Damocles]

The fairy is nice during the levels...most of the time...but tends to suck during the bosses. It's the speed, really. The speed makes it harder to tap-dodge between the bullet streams...which you end up doing on most of them. Unless you can just dart around the entire pattern it's a bitch.

[bigbadboaz]

There's no GameStop exclusive for a month - I picked this up at an indie game store. Add another preorder mishap to their lousy track record - they have exclusivity on absolutely nothing.

Is there any gameplay difference between the stock ship and the downloadable MK II?

[Damocles]

Is there any gameplay difference between the stock ship and the downloadable MK II?

The MKII features stronger weapons and the traditional Raiden bomb.

Would there be a problem if I post the english Secret File with weapon stats?

[No_not_like_Quake]

Finally got it yesterday.

Much better than I thought it would be as I had heard Raiden III was ho hum (haven't played it). It's intense by stage 3 and having access to others replays is a great feature as usual.

Haven't had much time to play but so far 1c it to the second boss. Must practice.

[Ichabod]

Much better than I thought it would be as I had heard Raiden III was ho hum (haven't played it)

Radiden3 is awesome, even on the pc no less!

[WarBovine]

Has anyone else in Canada picked up a copy? There's just two things I'm curious about. It seems like EBGames Canada only has the unlimited editions, probably because the publisher doesn't want to bother with a bilingual LE (and unsealed, display copies to boot. I hate Gamestop.) . And I haven't been able to find the downloads for Raiden IV. Are they US/JP marketplace only right now, or am I just incompetent at finding things on the CAD marketplace?

[antares]

Does the US version share the same leaderboards with the JP version?

I had posted elsewhere, but i'll post this here...I just played Raiden III, and thought it was OK. If it was kicked up a notch(graphics and gameplay), I could see it being worth a purchase.

How much better is IV than III?

Imo IV is much better than III, in fact it's the second best Raiden game after Raiden DX for me (not counting the Raiden Fighters games of course).

And yes, the fact that the bullets are moving with you is annoying at the beginning but you get used to it really fast.

[Malc74]

Has anyone else in Canada picked up a copy? There's just two things I'm curious about. It seems like EBGames Canada only has the unlimited editions, probably because the publisher doesn't want to bother with a bilingual LE (and unsealed, display copies to boot. I hate Gamestop.) . And I haven't been able to find the downloads for Raiden IV. Are they US/JP marketplace only right now, or am I just incompetent at finding things on the CAD marketplace?

I just picked up a copy today in Thunder Bay. Limited Edition, and sealed to boot.

And yes, it looks like the clots have left this off the Canadian marketplace. Attempts to download the extra ships from within the game result in an error, and the game doesn't even show up at all when you browse the marketplace from the dashboard.
So even if you actually want to give them some money, you apparently can't (without creating a US profile, presumably).