Is Raiden 3 a good game?

cajujoe · Post by **cajujoe** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:55 pm

Hello!

I play Shmups for a long time (more than 20 years), but I'm new to this great site.

Looking for the past Annuals Top 25 games, I found that Raiden 3 is not included in any of them. I don't think that the game received any honorable mention either.

Well, I like Raiden 3, I think that it is a really good game, and I want to know if someone thinks that he deserves to be listed among the greatest Shmups.

Thanks!

Nuke · Post by **Nuke** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:22 pm

Welcome! I see you have great tastes by looking at your avatar

Regarding Raiden III, I agree that it's a great shmup but it kind of pays too much homage to the earlier two (and DX), making it more of a modern upgrade of the series than a sequel.
Here's hoping that the fourth entry will progress things a bit.

doctorx0079 · Post by **doctorx0079** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:26 pm

Jeez, what is with the influx of new members lately??

Anyway, the Top 25 is more of a popularity poll than a scientific survey. There are Raiden III fans around here who either don't feel qualified to vote in the poll or don't bother. I think most would agree that Raiden III is an okay game even if they don't feel that it is Top 25 material. Evidently there are some serious fans of this game what with the superplay videos there are from around the world. INH even released a superplay DVD of Raiden III. So don't fret too much about it not being in the board Top 25. In my opinion there is plenty of depth in this game for most people. Why don't you submit a score to the high score board if you haven't already?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:57 pm

I don't consider it to be in Top 25 territory, but it's not a bad shmup, especially since you can get it new for about 20 bucks now. It's also a bit more user-friendly in several ways over earlier Raidens (though I do miss the toothpaste laser), so although it's not one of my personally-regarded "elite" shmups, I still own a copy.

Welcome, btw.

j^aws · Post by **j^aws** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:15 pm

Raiden DX > Raiden III Solo Mode

Raiden III Double Mode > Raiden DX

So for me, it'll make the list (Double Mode), if I get around to voting this year...

Iaspis · Post by **Iaspis** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:25 pm

Nuke wrote:Here's hoping that the fourth entry will progress things a bit.

Is there going to be a 4th installment on PC/PS2/XB360? Have you heard anything?

RyanDG · Post by **RyanDG** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:49 pm

Iaspis wrote:
Nuke wrote:Here's hoping that the fourth entry will progress things a bit.
Is there going to be a 4th installment on PC/PS2/XB360? Have you heard anything?

UFO Interactive let it slip that they would like to release Raiden IV on the Xbox 360 - however since that happened back in June (?) there has been no word about it.

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:03 pm

I think it's a great game. Not sure if I would necessarily put it in my top 25, but it's possible (I haven't thought about it that much). While I liked it, it really didn't feel much evolved over Raiden II, in fact it felt much the same, except without the best weapon in Raiden II, the purple thing. The overall level design and balance feels slightly better in III, but not significantly, and the replacement of the purple laser with the green crap laser is a big loss.

Raiden IV will be better, I think, since it does have the purple laser. I hope it sees a PS2 port so I can play it though (I think it's on the same engine as Raiden III)

j^aws · Post by **j^aws** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:15 pm

Re: Raiden 3 not progressing things much:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 717#270717

... I won't cover old ground, but Double Mode is where the progression is. I see this mode as an extension to the R-Type mechanic with the Force: Instead of a semi-controllable second 'ship', you now have two fully controllable 'ships'. I actually don't look at Double Mode as two 'ships', but just one 'ship', with a very flexible weapon system and integrated scoring system...

Post by **spadgy** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:19 pm

I think it's an acquired taste. I mid way through acquiring it right now..

themachinist · Post by **themachinist** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:47 pm

I like it. I like how the ship is slow. Some(alot of) people don't like that at all though.

cajujoe · Post by **cajujoe** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:56 pm

Yes, I sometimes like the slow movement... And I really think that it is a well balanced game.

But it is really not a high step in evolution considering the other Raidens, so this must be the reason for the voters not put Raiden 3 in the annual top 25 list...now I'm understanding

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:04 pm

Raiden III is just...meh to me. That's why I got rid of it. I was a little dissapointed at it's graphics, background designs, and the fact that the original laser shot isn't in it. I hate that green laser in R3. And the soundtrack isn't all that good either, in my opinion.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:13 pm

I think Raiden III is actually a step back.

In Raiden DX there's all kinds of neat scoring tricks you can pull off, if you know what you're doing.

In Raiden III you just kinda fly around... and shoot stuff... and the purple laser's gone...

Also, the graphics are really mediocre, look at Under Defeat, and you'll see what a 3D Raiden should really look like.

From what I hear Raiden IV is vastly improved though, so we'll see.

shinsage · Post by **shinsage** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:52 am

no..

it's a great game.

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:35 am

Maybe I should revisit it.

I don't want progression in games, I just want good games.
I like daioh and I also love shienryu and it's a re-do.

My first impressions was that it was uninspired, kind of haywire, some stuff too fast, some stuff too slow. Is memorisation an important element in the game?
I thought it was less solid than raiden or raiden II.

Like I said, I only played it a bit.
It seemed way less dramatic than psyvariar 2, and less manic (fast) than trizeal, and just kind of in between. so what's the deal? Also, with less of a rhythm than any other raidens.

Nuke · Post by **Nuke** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:10 am

Well, the problem isn't that it's not innovative enough but has more to do with levels and pasterns being almost recycled from earlier games.
While I have fun playing it, I always get a bit irritated by the sense of deja vu it invokes.
It's fun when games pay a homage to earlier games (Gradius V/Kontra IV) but this is almost copy/paste.

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:44 am

CIT wrote:Also, the graphics are really mediocre, look at Under Defeat, and you'll see what a 3D Raiden should really look like.

I agree.

Under Defeat puts Raiden III to shame in every department.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:28 am

J-Manic wrote:
CIT wrote:Also, the graphics are really mediocre, look at Under Defeat, and you'll see what a 3D Raiden should really look like.
I agree. Under Defeat puts Raiden III to shame in every department.

last i remember rank went down in a game when you died, not up

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:35 am

Twiddle wrote:
J-Manic wrote:
CIT wrote:Also, the graphics are really mediocre, look at Under Defeat, and you'll see what a 3D Raiden should really look like.
I agree. Under Defeat puts Raiden III to shame in every department.
last i remember rank went down in a game when you died, not up

Umm, are you thinking of Border Down? As far as I remember, Under Defeat lowers rank when you die, and I've even read that it's a good strategy to suicide on the first boss to keep rank manageable.

chempop · Post by **chempop** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:54 am

I thought Raiden 3 was iffy, but I was never a huge fan of the series to begin with. Granted, at the time I rented it I was really craving to try some of the new Cave games which have a very different thing going on. I'd still be happy to purchase it for cheap down the road when I'm not so piss poor, must support all USA released shmups or I'll never pass he gates or heaven...

j^aws · Post by **j^aws** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:30 pm

CIT wrote: ...
In Raiden III you just kinda fly around... and shoot stuff... and the purple laser's gone...
...

In Double Mode: You fly around, shoot stuff and score with style!... The combinations/ permutations with the primary/ secondary weapons using both 'ships' more than make up for the missing 'toothpaste' laser, of course, IMO. I especially like how you can effectively use green/green, blue/blue and green/ blue laser combinations like a double-helix; like two dancing serpents in the sky...

I still miss the purple toothpaste laser and can't wait to see how this will play out in Raiden IVs Double Mode... If I ever get to play it...

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:07 pm

CIT wrote:I think Raiden III is actually a step back.

In Raiden DX there's all kinds of neat scoring tricks you can pull off, if you know what you're doing.

In Raiden III you just kinda fly around... and shoot stuff... and the purple laser's gone...

Also, the graphics are really mediocre, look at Under Defeat, and you'll see what a 3D Raiden should really look like.

From what I hear Raiden IV is vastly improved though, so we'll see.

That sums it up right there.

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:27 pm

Raiden III is a nice and simple game, as long as you don't pretend the old skool perfection (and harshness) of Raiden DX. They tried to use again a certain style of gameplay and were successful.

Quick chime in:

Is there a cheap PC port of Raiden III? My old copy is at the other end of the planet, sadly. Also, any ports of IV, japanese or western (but still PC)?

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:33 pm

Randorama wrote:Raiden III is a nice and simple game, as long as you don't pretend the old skool perfection (and harshness) of Raiden DX. They tried to use again a certain style of gameplay and were successful.

Quick chime in:

Is there a cheap PC port of Raiden III? My old copy is at the other end of the planet, sadly. Also, any ports of IV, japanese or western (but still PC)?

There's a PC port of III, yes. Not entirely sure on the cost, but it's easily obtainable... one way or another...

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:50 am

cajujoe wrote:Is Raiden 3 a good game?

Hell yes, the only game i refuse to uninstall from my hard drive. Best when played on a high res monitor on it's side ^___^

Playing through it reminds me of my shmuppin' glory days with Raystorm on PS-X lo those many years ago.

shoe-sama · Post by **shoe-sama** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:20 am

Nuke wrote:Here's hoping that the fourth entry will progress things a bit.

Imagine Dangun Feveron.

Except with 2 loops.

OMG HELL YES

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:50 am

Raiden 3 is OK; I just don't get how it is better than the first 2 games or DX.

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:29 pm

CMoon wrote:Raiden 3 is OK; I just don't get how it is better than the first 2 games or DX.

I don't want to troll but nobody said that, so far. So there's not to get such an idea from, dunno, wide consensus? Even in that case, you could be entitled to think otherwise, we'd forgive you about your unmutuality [/number 2].

Personally I prefer it to 1 and 2, however, since it is more immediate and about the same complexity in gameplay (and much more forgiving). The huge improvement in the series was DX, still a (n unforgiving) masterpiece.

Since we're here, though: any videos of IV or infos about its gameplay?

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:07 pm

In a word, yes. It's not fantastic like it's predecessor (Raiden 2), but it's solid. If you like old-school verts, it's a good buy.

Is Raiden 3 a good game?

Is Raiden 3 a good game?

Re: Is Raiden 3 a good game?