Steel Dragon: comparisons with Raiden II?

[Spyke]

Hi all,

I hope I'm not rehashing a discussion that's already taken place, but I was just going to say that my first vertical shmup for PS2 arrived a few days ago. I've had time to spend a few evenings on it and am having a blast (literally). Now, I thought that I was a died in the wool Raiden II fan, but it's a long time since I've had that game. Watching Youtube videos of Raiden II and comparing it with Steel Dragon (Shienryu) in my room, I'm beginning to think that Steel Dragon might be superior?

I know it was a newer release by a year or two, so perhaps benefited by having newer hardware - I really don't know, I'm quite new to all this... but what I was really wondering was what other people thought who have a chance to play them side by side. Do you think that Steel Dragon is the "better" game? Am I looking at Raiden II as the master vertical shmup simply because I'm looking at it through spectacles tinted with nostalgia?

Just curious as to other people's thoughts,

Ant

[kidpanda]

its hard to say, i like both in a different way, kinda like tatsujin and fire shark ......

[mjclark]

It's nice to see Shienryu being discussed again.
Personally I prefer it to Raiden II- to me it feels much more fun (a very underestimated quality in shmups) though Raiden II is solid, definitive and pure quality.
Like the difference between a Cherry Coke and a nice glass of water on a hot day

[gray117]

It is indeed easy to forget Shienryu/Steel Dragon ... I not sure why, I think that part of it's problem was that it lacks some of Raiden's strong identity.

I suspect the PS2 re-release/re-make was in recognition of this good game: there's some definite work there. But the timing of that release was probably unfortunate for the series...

I like it a lot. The 3d version has a nice psyvariar 2 like feel to it - and I certainly appreciate the upfront original + remake release technique.

But, oddly, the 2 different looks do seem to dilute the identity of the game in my mind...

[Kiken]

I suspect the PS2 re-release/re-make was in recognition of this good game: there's some definite work there. But the timing of that release was probably unfortunate for the series...

Shineryu Explosion was originally designed as a NAOMI/DC game (which would follow the Sega-based hardware release of the first game, seeing as it was ST-V). I'm not sure that we ever got an explanation as to why it got put on hold (probably budget related), but I guess it's good that it did see release in the end. Kinda interesting that 3 years later, Warashi revisited the NAOMI with Triggerheart Exelica.

[Spyke]

The more I play this game the more I like it. I can vaguely remember playing it in arcades back in the day...

Ant

[Mortificator]

The faster ship and scrolling speed of Shienryu (or Daioh) is gratifying, especially if you've just played Raiden II (or DX). It's also nice to have three different bombs instead of two, and tying them to the shot type adds a little strategy. Raiden's mechanics are deeper, though, especially when you get into DX. Mixing checkpoints and instant respawn... I didn't like that in the Star Soldier games and I don't like it in Shienryu. I definitely think there were more resources put into Raiden's visuals as well.

[Mero]

Major difficulty spike on stage 7 of Shienryu

[Spyke]

I hadn't played Shienryu on my PSP for a while, having been concentrating on it (aka Steel Dragon) on PS2, but when I played on the PSP today I noticed that the PSN version of Shienryu is a lot faster and harder than the PS2 Steel Dragon version. Is this a known phenomenon? Maybe I should use the PSP as a practice tool for the PS2 game!

Ant

[xDanx]

I really like steel dragon,steel dragon ex was terrible i thought. Steel dragon is one of my favourite shooters so far,im kinda nooby to vertical shmups. but it was the first i ever bought haha.

I do agree it does have some similarites to raiden II

[Mero]

PAL Shienryu (known as Steel Dragon EX) is 50hz only, hence why the game is slower than it should be with that version.

Tbh I'd say avoid that version unless you've no other alernative. (PRO TIP: get a Japanese PS2).

[Spyke]

Yeah, I'll be keeping an eye open for a Jap PS2 now - or for someone who can convert my PAL machine to play imports.

Ant