Raiden III - PS2 version

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:38 am

After the Type-X port of Yokushin Gigawing Generations I decided that I would try the PS2 port of Raiden III before I buy, I noticed that the game was available this morning so I've tried it.

The game is entirely in english and the initial menu gives you

Game Start (solo,double,dual)
Score Attack (you can save a replay of your level runs to the mem card)
Boss Rush
Replay & Gallery (Includes unlockable superplays for all levels, and they are viewable in every screen display mode)
Option (the usual sound, difficulty, player stock, screen mode etc)
Save/Load
Ranking
Exit

You have 4 screen mode options:

Normal A: Scaled down but proper aspect ratio
Normal B: Stretched to fit screen
Arcade A: Tate proper aspect ratio
Arcade B: Tate scretched to fit screen

I've only played up to stage 3 so far and can't praise this port enough, 60 frames per second and I haven't noticed any slowdown through any of the different screen modes, It is totally seemless and a joy to play.

High scores and all settings are saved to memory card and there are alot of options that it keeps track of.

The explosions and effects are all present as in the arcade type-x version, Texture wise as expected its not quite up to the same standard and it hasn't got the strong defined look (looks a little alised, but you'll be used to it on the PS2).

The music is the only thing I don't like about the game but its the same story with the arcade version.

This is a really fantastic package and an excellent port, I've just gone and ordered it from my usual online store as it is 100% worthy of a look if you had any interest in the game.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:46 pm

How were you able to play the port? (just curious)

parodius · Post by **parodius** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:50 pm

It's out there.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:52 pm

parodius wrote:It's out there.

Oh crap! Another iso already dumped on the internet? What a pity.

Still, this is great news about the port. I may just have to preorder it...uh...now!

Stormowl · Post by **Stormowl** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:12 pm

awesome news kron. can't wait to get this now that i hear about 60 fps. this game looks totally rockin'.

DantesInferno · Post by **DantesInferno** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:16 pm

This one I may have to try before I buy..I have been holding off preordering for some impressions. BTW...did anyone hear that Moss is already developing something for 360?

agony · Post by **agony** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:50 pm

DantesInferno wrote:This one I may have to try before I buy..I have been holding off preordering for some impressions. BTW...did anyone hear that Moss is already developing something for 360?

yes they do,

quote from insertcredit:

... more 2D focused developers working on the system include Treasure (new shooting game coming), Arc System Works (new melee fighting game), Cave Online, Idea Factory (Spectral Force 3, among others), SNK Playmore (Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum), Moss (new shooting game) and Alfa System.

TalkingOctopus · Post by **TalkingOctopus** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:04 pm

Does anyone know if it works with HDLoader? I'd like to get this, but my only way of playing imports is through HDLoader.

MadSteelDarkness · Post by **MadSteelDarkness** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:50 pm

Hot damn!

Thanks for the the impressions, Kron!

*preorders*

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:53 pm

Pre-ordered it last week, but... damn! I went with yesasia's free shipping so it will be a while before I get it. I'll have to find a torrent for it now...

chtimi-CLA · Post by **chtimi-CLA** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:55 pm

sounds good

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:11 pm

It wouldn't work with HD loader but it might be the early rip and the normal release might work fine.

Also another thing I forgot to mention is the loading times, They are really short and much better than the recent gunbird pack and psyvariar 2 for example.

Just a shame the soundtrack isn't a little more memorable.

Post by **nZero** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:23 pm

Kron wrote:Just a shame the soundtrack isn't a little more memorable.

Yeah, from the time I spent on it at the arcade, I can really say I wish that they could've recruited Go Sato again for the game's music.

I'm glad to hear the port turned out well. Looking forward to trying it out in... I guess about a week and a half or so, depending on what the shipping does.

drohne · Post by **drohne** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:35 pm

good to hear. i was waiting for confirmation of 60fps and tate mode. i'm off to preorder it now.

Fighter17 · Post by **Fighter17** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:20 pm

Now the Raiden III ISO file is everywhere thanks to the internet!! Now I'm starting to see torrents sites that have the game ready to download. Geezzzzzzzzzzzzzz

And the game is not even out yet! It reminds me of Halo 2 when it got leak on the net, two weeks before it was release.

postman · Post by **postman** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:21 am

Looks to me in the options there is a way to play the game as a single 1P controlling both ships, as in the Ikargua superplay that legendary guy pulled off.....

It shows a pic of one controller split in half, with each analog stick a different color, red and blue (for each ship). But I can't quite figure out how to set this up for the normal game...........maybe you need to unlock it?

That would be uber-cool if they included this feature........

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:26 am

postman wrote:Looks to me in the options there is a way to play the game as a single 1P controlling both ships, as in the Ikargua superplay that legendary guy pulled off.....

It shows a pic of one controller split in half, with each analog stick a different color, red and blue (for each ship). But I can't quite figure out how to set this up for the normal game...........maybe you need to unlock it?

That would be uber-cool if they included this feature........

You set it on the screen where you pick 'game start','score attack' etc. I think either the triangle or one of the triggers sets it. Look in the 'box' that has the graphic, and above it has 'solo'. You can switch it to 'dual' or '2 player' I think.

TalkingOctopus · Post by **TalkingOctopus** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:38 am

Kron wrote:It wouldn't work with HD loader but it might be the early rip and the normal release might work fine.

Also another thing I forgot to mention is the loading times, They are really short and much better than the recent gunbird pack and psyvariar 2 for example.

Just a shame the soundtrack isn't a little more memorable.

Awww...That's bad news...I will have to hold off on my pre-order. If whatever you downloaded didn't work, I doubt the final will be any different. Isn't what you download just an image of the disc?

amerrykan · Post by **amerrykan** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:42 am

I also wanted to chime in with some praise. Some people were already talking about Raiden 3 being crap, and it's just not true. It's a very fast game, not terribly difficult it seems (I've been near the end of stage 2 so far), but definately a lot of fun. I also like the music. Not memorable, but much better than what the Raiden Fighters series called music.

I will also be ordering this.

EDIT: Also, the split controller looks like you can use the analog sticks to control each ship, or the d-pad for the left ship, and the four pad face buttons for the right ship, using the triggers for shoot and bomb. Haven't tried it yet, though.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:55 am

I'll definitely be training up some double-play skills with this! ... although I already have my homemade 2-players sticks, it would be nice to have a compact alternative that doesn't take up a large amount of table/lap space...

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:38 am

It works fine with HDLoader btw. I dunno wtf is up with the guy who couldn't get it to work.

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:31 am

after playing it for a lil bit, the game feels very bland and not inspiring..i suggest hardcore raiden fans shouldnt be expecting anything new from this game but im still preordering just to support the genre even if im dissapointed with the game, but the port feels just fine..explosions and bullet patterns feels very welcome...i made it to stage 4 till i ran out of credits..the game is very noob friendly. in the earlier stages..

futurespa · Post by **futurespa** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:29 pm

I have it, bores straight from the box. Damn makes me think how good raiden fighters jet is, 1000x better then this.

landshark · Post by **landshark** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:34 pm

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP wrote:after playing it for a lil bit, the game feels very bland and not inspiring..

That's exactly how I felt. Gonna give it some time.

Texhnolyze · Post by **Texhnolyze** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:47 pm

Raiden III turned out much better than expected. It's a much better port than Gigawing Generations.

It's a decent enough game. I'm having fun with it so I pre-ordered Raiden III from Play-Asia.

I promise to destroy my copy when I receive the real thing

Post by **undamned** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:31 pm

futurespa wrote:I have it, bores straight from the box.

The CD-R box?
-ud

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:37 pm

undamned wrote:
futurespa wrote:I have it, bores straight from the box.
The CD-R box?
-ud

http://forum.shmups.com/forum/search.ph ... =futurespa

I'll get it if Rando/Rob likes it.

DantesInferno · Post by **DantesInferno** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:27 pm

I just preordered it. I think the game is pretty slick. Looks very naomi, which I like..

angrycoder · Post by **angrycoder** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:45 pm

The music is awful, your ship is very slow, and the whole game is just bland and totally uninspired.

Honestly the horrible port of GigaWing Generations and the medicore Trizeal both feature better gameplay.

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:57 pm

I'm so glad this seems to have turned out well and that apparently it's not missing much from the Type-X version. Thanks for the impressions.