Raiden IV Overkill PSN: Over Here, Please!

[spadgy]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that green weapon is not new. It was the Proton Laser from Raiden III, but it's only useable by the Raiden MK-II in Raiden IV. Also, upon further inspection of the video, it appears that in order to fill the meters up, you have to keep shooting at the wreckage of a destroyed enemy, which seems to "freeze" it in place, which could be used for combos/chaining. But what really excites me besides the new Overkill system is those 2 new stages (hopefully there are more than just those 2, or even multiple courses like in Raiden DX, but that seems unlikely), as well as new music hopefully!

I meant a green text-looking power-up that is different from the Raiden III power-up. I may be wrong, of course. Also, some screens (boss battles?) in the video have some kind of 'chip counter' at the top of the screen; what might that be? And there a gaudy pink neon timer visible on boss battles; perhaps just a cosmetic rather than mechanical update? Also, did I see some kind of grey bar above the bomb stock? May have just been a bit of background.

My main interest is how Double Play friendly Overkill will be. Most of my time with Raiden IV was spent in Double Play, and I really feel that was the play-style the popcorn formations' arrangements primarily served. I hope Overkill continues that trend.

[Pretas]

Would have preferred Raiden V to a third iteration of the same game, but beggars can't be choosers.

Incidentally, I've been playing Raiden III for the first time...are the controls normally so sluggish, or is it lag from the PS3's emulator?

[ZaKa-tokyobassist]

Didn't you folks in Europe get Under Defeat HD and Mamorukun Curse? If you did I'd say there's a high chance of you guys getting it as well through RSG or something. That would be cool if you guys got a legitimate physical release.

[Pretas]

To date, Mamoru-kun PS3 has not had a PAL release.

UFO Interactive does not have a presence in Europe, nor a partner to work with there. Given Rising Star's abandonment of support for Under Defeat HD, and their failure to localize Saidaioujou despite Cave's interest in a worldwide release, it's probably safe to say that they have bowed out of the STG genre entirely due to poor sales.

PAL players should look to purchase Overkill off the US PSN.

[spadgy]

Would have preferred Raiden V to a third iteration of the same game, but beggars can't be choosers.

You never know; perhaps this is a toe in the market waters to gauge interest in the IP. As somebody with a right stonk-on for the Raiden series, I too would love to see Raiden V. I'm not overly confident that would happen, but the effort with Overkill at least suggests Raiden remains an actively supported shooter series. We can but hope!

[Pretas]

To be honest, I would be more interested in a Raiden Fighters IV or a Viper Phase 2 than a Raiden V, but Moss probably does not feel that these names have enough recognition or nostalgic appeal when compared to the original Raiden series.

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

To be honest, I would be more interested in a Raiden Fighters IV or a Viper Phase 2 than a Raiden V, but Moss probably does not feel that these names have enough recognition or nostalgic appeal when compared to the original Raiden series.

Personally I have been longing for Raiden DX 2 for... well forever basically. I would probably start crying from joy if that was ever announced.

[NeoStrayCat]

Still would be nice if Caladrius also gets brought over, but we'll make do with Raiden 4, for now.

[Pretas]

To be honest, I would be more interested in a Raiden Fighters IV or a Viper Phase 2 than a Raiden V, but Moss probably does not feel that these names have enough recognition or nostalgic appeal when compared to the original Raiden series.

Personally I have been longing for Raiden DX 2 for... well forever basically. I would probably start crying from joy if that was ever announced.

This essentially is a DX version of Raiden IV, much like how DX was a considerably revised and expanded version of Raiden II.

[emphatic]

This looks sweet. 360 DLC, please.

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

To be honest, I would be more interested in a Raiden Fighters IV or a Viper Phase 2 than a Raiden V, but Moss probably does not feel that these names have enough recognition or nostalgic appeal when compared to the original Raiden series.

Personally I have been longing for Raiden DX 2 for... well forever basically. I would probably start crying from joy if that was ever announced.

This essentially is a DX version of Raiden IV, much like how DX was a considerably revised and expanded version of Raiden II.

In a sense it is a DX version, but what I believe makes DX stand out from every other Raiden is the fact that it has 3 different courses with a total of 15 different stages (Training Stage, Raiden II stages 1-5, and 9 Expert stages) However, I read that there will be 2 new stages in Raiden IV Overkill, apart from the 2 new Xbox 360 exclusive stages, which brings the stage count to 9 I believe. I was hoping for multiple courses and such, but like you said, beggars can't be choosers. Also, I really hope that there is a new, better arranged version of the song "Gallantry", because the one arranged by Daisuke Nagata on the Raiden IV soundtrack did not do the original any justice at all.

This looks sweet. 360 DLC, please.

It's already been confirmed that all the DLC content will be included.

[Pretas]

Raiden Fighters Jet is also a DX version of sorts for RF2, and it shares the trait of having a large number of stages, though they are briefer and you can't directly choose your route.

I think he was asking for Overkill Mode to be added as DLC for the 360 version, which is unlikely to happen. Moss would rather have everyone pay the full price for the game again.

[emphatic]

I think he was asking for Overkill Mode to be added as DLC for the 360 version, which is unlikely to happen. Moss would rather have everyone pay the full price for the game again.

Correct! I will never own a PS3 or PS4 though, so the jokes on me.

[Pretas]

I don't understand why people claim with absolute certainty that they will "never own" a popular console with a large library of quality exclusive games, or a console that just launched and has a long unwritten future ahead of itself. How can you know that you will never have the requisite money, time or interest for the rest of your life? Or is it just irrational fanboyism?

[colour_thief]

For me it's simple math, there are 3 PS3 exclusive games I would care to play. I won't buy a system for 3 games.

...now dedicated arcade PCBs on the other hand...

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

I think he was asking for Overkill Mode to be added as DLC for the 360 version, which is unlikely to happen. Moss would rather have everyone pay the full price for the game again.

Correct! I will never own a PS3 or PS4 though, so the jokes on me.

Sorry about the misunderstanding, and at one point I was considering getting a 360 just for Raiden IV, Raiden Fighters Aces, and Ace Combat 6, but I'm glad I waited because I can play Raiden Fighters through MAME, and I even got Raiden IV to run on my PC, although it's really iffy and won't always start up. Now the wait has paid off I guess! Also, this link http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/03/05 ... ril/77042/ mentions that the price will be $19.99 in North America.

[Pretas]

Raiden Fighters Aces is hands down the best porting job to date of any 90's arcade game, even better than M2's Neo Geo Station ports. No minor detail or option setting was ignored, the menus are very clean and accessible, and the phosphor filter is gorgeous on an HDTV. It's also the only console STG I know of with an instant reset button that won't lock you out of the leaderboards. MAME simply cannot compare.

It's a shame that Gulti hasn't ported any more games since. A downloadable collection of Raiden II/DX would be particularly desirable, in light of the games' historic absence from any version of MAME.

[Furry Fox Jet Pilot]

Raiden Fighters Aces is hands down the best porting job to date of any 90's arcade game. No minor detail or option setting was ignored, the menus are very clean and accessible, and the phosphor filter is gorgeous on an HDTV. It's also the only console STG I know of with an instant reset button that won't lock you out of the leaderboards. MAME simply cannot compare.

It's a shame that Gulti hasn't ported any more games since. A downloadable collection of Raiden II/DX would be particularly desirable, in light of the games' historic absence from any version of MAME.

I have yet to play RF Aces, but what you described sounds perfect! Speaking of downloadable collections, I would easy fork over $60 for a complete Raiden collection that includes every Raiden game including Viper Phase 1 and the Raiden Fighters series. 9 games in one complete package would seal the deal for me. However, being a Raiden purist, I am extremely picky and I would prefer perfect arcade ports, especially for Raiden II/DX. The PSX ports of II/DX are fairly accurate gameplay-wise, but I immediately noticed several things off-key, including the frame rate not being arcade accurate because it lacks slowdown and also the music instruments are weak and lack bass, as do the larger explosions. The arcade version also produces more shrapnel and debris from destroyed enemies than the port, and has a light bluish shockwave around certain tanks exploding. Finally, there are slightly different enemy placements, which might seem trivial to others, but to a Raiden addict like me, no detail escapes my eye.

[emphatic]

I don't understand why people claim with absolute certainty that they will "never own" a popular console with a large library of quality exclusive games, or a console that just launched and has a long unwritten future ahead of itself. How can you know that you will never have the requisite money, time or interest for the rest of your life? Or is it just irrational fanboyism?

1. I don't have time - my game library has everything I "need"
2. I already own a Bluray player

[spadgy]

Raiden Fighters Aces is hands down the best porting job to date of any 90's arcade game, even better than M2's Neo Geo Station ports.

I understand the Raiden IV port on 360 was of a very high standard, simply because of parallels between the 360 architecture and the Taito Type-X's innards. I've put likely dozens of hours into the 360 version, but never played the arcade version ( ) So I'd not claim to be utterly qualified on that one though!

Still, if Overkill PSN matches the quality of the 360 version of Raiden IV, I'm happy.

And is it that unlikely Moss would decline to do Overkill as Raiden IV DLC? I take the point about selling the complete game again, but with an installed fan base for the game on 360, it would seem a little daft not to serve them, even if the motivations are entirely capitalist.

[Mills]

That youtube trailer alone was an OVERKILL with all that fast editing cuts. Looked like a 'pop video' in which your eyes couldn't adjust to WTF was going on during all the whole video segments.

[Phellan Wolf]

I don't see why Moss won't make a Xbox version as a DLC. They'll probably have more incomes than the ps3 version. The install base is already there, and a Black Label mode is always welcomed.

[Pretas]

I don't see why Moss won't make a Xbox version as a DLC. They'll probably have more incomes than the ps3 version. The install base is already there, and a Black Label mode is always welcomed.

They may think that most 360 players, especially in Japan, also own a PS3 at this point. I can't argue with them.