Raiden IV 360 US-Bound...

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:01 am

escadrille wrote:Will pass on RFA because those games are old news

Lots of good bonuses (options, quick replay saving/swapping, elaborate leaderboards) and cheap. Well worth it.

Post by **spadgy** » Thu May 28, 2009 12:17 pm

Doublepost oops!

Post by **spadgy** » Thu May 28, 2009 12:17 pm

Excellent news! Except that now I'm going to tumble down the world leaderboards!

Oh, and soon you can all post your scores here, and get involved with Double Play! (Bored of me pimping this shit yet?)

Raizen1984 wrote:Not really sure why this is out on 360. It doesn't seem to look any better than Raiden III (in fact, it looks exactly the same, judging from the few videos I've seen).

It looks far nicer, and has a tonne of extra features compared to the RIII ports.

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu May 28, 2009 5:51 pm

Really excited for this. I wonder if we'll get the bonus music disc?

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Fri May 29, 2009 2:45 am

Saw this news today. Can't believe it's taken this long, but nevertheless I'm stoked!

Square King · Post by **Square King** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:27 am

More Raiden love? Excellent!

Zero Gunner · Post by **Zero Gunner** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:59 am

Awesome news! 4 Raiden games for a console in a single year!

Raizen1984 wrote:Not really sure why this is out on 360. It doesn't seem to look any better than Raiden III (in fact, it looks exactly the same, judging from the few videos I've seen). Early Type X games aren't exactly cutting edge tech anymore, and this game will stick out like a sore thumb on the much-more-powerful 360.

They really should have just ported it to PC when it came out three years ago. Releasing it on 360 just seems like a cash grab to me.

I agree! And look at RF1...a game from what? 13 years ago! Definitely sticks out like a sore thumb! How dare they release this now! Seriously some people just seem to want to complain... I don't get the negativity from some of you about this. What's wrong with a good port, even if it's on a platform that makes it seem dated? Who cares if the game is cutting edge? Maybe you've noticed that shmups don't tend to stand up visually/technologically to something like Gears of War?

Plus I don't get all the complaining about ports and remakes that someone else mentioned. Seriously how many people would even be able to touch a game like Death Smiles were it not for the 360 port? Sure a brand new, made from scratch shooter would be nice but how many non-arcade shmups are even being developed anymore? I can think of a small handful on XBLA and PSN and that's basically it. Considering that a Japan only arcade game is now going to be available in the US for much less than the average (and totally worthless) new sports game that's only a good thing for those of us who want these kinds of games. Especially since some of the complainers would be doing backflips if this were coming to a certain other console. Get over it and be happy that another shmup is coming to the US.

Raizen1984 · Post by **Raizen1984** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:26 am

`Throwdown wrote:
They know gamers like us on here will buy it.

*reads responses*

Looks like you're right about that.

Hope you guys have fun!

escadrille · Post by **escadrille** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:34 am

Rob wrote:
escadrille wrote:Will pass on RFA because those games are old news
Lots of good bonuses (options, quick replay saving/swapping, elaborate leaderboards) and cheap. Well worth it.

All good points. What I mean to say is that I've played all the games in the RF series before, but I haven't played Raiden IV yet.

Looks like you've already got the foundation for a PRO REVIEW.

(Seriously though, do one for Aces and/or Raiden IV)

heavy liquid · Post by **heavy liquid** » Fri May 29, 2009 3:00 pm

This is the first I've seen the price mentioned (unless I missed it elswhere):

http://www.arcade-renaissance.com/2009/ ... ailer.html

Looks like the game is going to be $39.99. I'm a bit surprised, with Aces being only $19.99. I'll still buy it to give what support I can for the genre in the US market, but I can't help but wonder if the sales will be even close to that of Aces at that price point.

Bishamon · Post by **Bishamon** » Sat May 30, 2009 11:34 am

I'm very excited!

Daika110 · Post by **Daika110** » Sun May 31, 2009 1:34 pm

I'm less excited about this after watching the youtube videos of the game. It DOES look a heckuva lot like 3 except a bit more scaling in how some of the enemiies initially appear on screen. Oh and the weapons look cooler. I'll definately buy upon release though.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Sun May 31, 2009 2:01 pm

Raizen1984 wrote:
`Throwdown wrote:
They know gamers like us on here will buy it.
*reads responses*

Looks like you're right about that.

Hope you guys have fun!

Raizen1984 wrote:Am looking to buy the following game boards. Please contact me with any offers if you have any of these for sale. Thanks!

Asterix
G.I. Joe
Golfing Greats 2
Hexion

hurf

Malc74 · Post by **Malc74** » Sun May 31, 2009 2:16 pm

heavy liquid wrote:This is the first I've seen the price mentioned (unless I missed it elswhere):

http://www.arcade-renaissance.com/2009/ ... ailer.html

Looks like the game is going to be $39.99. I'm a bit surprised, with Aces being only $19.99. I'll still buy it to give what support I can for the genre in the US market, but I can't help but wonder if the sales will be even close to that of Aces at that price point.

I'm pretty sure 3 was released at the same price point, so I'm guessing it did well enough for them to warrant repeating the tactic. Personally, I think $40 is perfectly reasonable for a new shmup release. The inevitable Gamespot and IGN reviews will object to paying that much for a game you can "complete" in an hour, of course.

Daika110 · Post by **Daika110** » Sun May 31, 2009 5:22 pm

When will UFO post an official release date?

Malc74 · Post by **Malc74** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:10 pm

Daika110 wrote:When will UFO post an official release date?

"August" is probably the best you're going to get until... August. At which point it'll be delayed until November.

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:52 pm

Twiddle wrote:hurf

Hexion is kinda cool

Bishamon · Post by **Bishamon** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:55 am

Malc74 wrote:"August" is probably the best you're going to get until... August. At which point it'll be delayed until November.

I fear you may be right.

Daika110 · Post by **Daika110** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:15 am

Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that leads to total obliteration.

I'm thinking this might actually make August because the localization process should be pretty minor.

Raizen1984 · Post by **Raizen1984** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:50 am

Twiddle wrote: hurf

If you say so, though G.I. Joe is pretty sweet, kinda like a shmup played from a third person perspective. And 4 player cooperative play.

The rest I mainly want for their soundtracks.

Malc74 · Post by **Malc74** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:26 pm

Daika110 wrote:Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that leads to total obliteration.

I'm thinking this might actually make August because the localization process should be pretty minor.

You don't remember what happened with Raiden III then?

LoneCynic · Post by **LoneCynic** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:38 pm

I have Raiden III for PS2 and the Raiden IV import for my Japanese Xbox 360. For those curious, yes it is true that watching Youtube videos makes them look very similar. However, the reality is the exact opposite of that. If you have an HDTV and your 360 connected with an HDMI cable then you are in for a graphical treat. Raiden IV is one of the best looking games I've played. It definately takes advantage of the 360's graphical capabilities, and any purchase made by Raiden fans and shooter fans in general will not be a disapointment.

I can also say (with confidence as the Raiden series is my favorite vertical shooter series and I've played them all multiple times) is that Raiden IV is a fantastic entry in the series. You get to choose from the beginning if you want the purple weapon powerup to act as the Plasma beam from Raiden II or take on the tri-beam like property of the green powerup item from Raiden III.

Many of the stages have remixed stage music from Raiden and Raiden II, and it was a very nostalgic run for me during my first playthrough. The presentation, control, graphics, music, and enemies are all great. I would say that altogether it is a much, MUCH better game than Raiden III in every way possible, more akin to Raiden II, but with Raiden III's speed.

The Japanese version had downloadable content for two additional ships. The first is the Raiden Mark II, which is the ship you used in Raiden and Raiden II, and the second is a playable Fairy.

The differences for each are as follows:

Raiden Mark II - Slower movement, powerup progression like Raiden II (Vulcan can starts out firing two rounds straight forward, then four, then the six in a spread, etc.) and the bombs that you drop with a delayed timer on them. This makes the game more difficult, but the shots are seemingly more powerful and kill things faster.

Fairy - Very quick movement, weapons seem to be the same as the standard ship, but different colors.

All in all, everyone's in for a real treat. My opinion is slanted somewhat because I am such a huge fan of the series, but I can still say this game will live up to your expectations.

Daika110 · Post by **Daika110** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:38 am

Wow now you've got my interest. I wonder how long it will be before Raiden 4 can be preordered from Amazon.

Post by **spadgy** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:02 pm

LoneCynic wrote: All in all, everyone's in for a real treat. My opinion is slanted somewhat because I am such a huge fan of the series, but I can still say this game will live up to your expectations.

Mine too, as I'm a Raiden fan too, but LoneCynic is right - it looks stunning compared to RIII and to get both the original Light and Original arcade builds, plus the extra levels and patterns that come with the Xbox exclusive version included...

Great online leaderboards too - but still no Double Play online leaderboard! Grrrr

kemical · Post by **kemical** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:57 pm

Raiden IV is absolutely great, my favorite shooter on X360 thus far. It is nonstop intense fast shooting action + the BGM is great, absolutely a Raiden game and a lot better than 3.

antron · Post by **antron** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:01 pm

LoneCynic wrote:If you have an HDTV and your 360 connected with an HDMI cable then you are in for a graphical treat.

or component or VGA

Zero Gunner · Post by **Zero Gunner** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:32 am

LoneCynic wrote:I have Raiden III for PS2 and the Raiden IV import for my Japanese Xbox 360....All in all, everyone's in for a real treat. My opinion is slanted somewhat because I am such a huge fan of the series, but I can still say this game will live up to your expectations.

Awesome! Thanks for the comments. I'm psyched. Hoepfully this and RFA opens the doors for some of the other great shmups hiding away in Japan...

`Throwdown · Post by **`Throwdown** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:32 pm

Twiddle wrote:
Raizen1984 wrote:
`Throwdown wrote:
They know gamers like us on here will buy it.
*reads responses*

Looks like you're right about that.

Hope you guys have fun!

Raizen1984 wrote:Am looking to buy the following game boards. Please contact me with any offers if you have any of these for sale. Thanks!

Asterix
G.I. Joe
Golfing Greats 2
Hexion
hurf

LOL good find. Explains alot.

Raizen1984 · Post by **Raizen1984** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:33 am

What does it explain, exactly? I'm curious.

SFKhoa · Post by **SFKhoa** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 2:26 am

Suddenly, everything stopped making sense.