Raiden 4

Available now
Xbox 360 (Japan only)
4485円 (Amazon.co.jp)
No Japanese required

When I was a boy growing up in Australia I would spend most of my free time at the local arcades watching the older boys play games like Silkworm, Wonder Boy, Gradius etc. Towards the end of my arcade infatuation I came to love a 2D shooter called Raiden. It was a generational leap ahead of other games like Silkworm and 1942 graphically and it wouldn't be until the release of the PSX version (Raiden Project) that I would own a semi-decent copy of the game. Since that time I had almost forgotten the skills required to play a game such as Raiden - the difficulty curve that meant the difference between winning the admiration of your fellow slot jockeys or going home early because you're too ashamed to show you face at the arcade centre. The release of Raiden 4 has brought back all of those bittersweet memories (I admit, I was one of those kids who went home early more often than not).

The Xbox 360 has not done well in Japan but that is not to say it has done badly either - as of December 2008 it has sold some 866000 units here (compared to the 473000 the original Xbox sold). I mention this because despite the low sales and stigma attached to the system, it receives the most love from smaller developers unwilling to commit to higher development fees (PS3) or the mainstream (Wii). The 360 has enjoyed a renaissance of old-school arcade games, particularly in the 2D shooter genre, one I had believed to be long dead. As I write this games like Otomedius G (available now), Shooting Love (02/19), DoDonPachi Black Label Extra (02/19) and Death Smiles (04/23) are making their way to the system. A system quintessentially Western yet home to some of the best Japanese gaming experiences outside of the arcades.

Which brings me back to the Raiden series. Released last year in March, Raiden Fighters Aces was a prelude to something bigger on the horizon. Essentially a jam session with the best the series had to offer (strangely lacking Raiden 3 though), it served to reacquaint gamers with a time when being good at a game meant hard work and practice (lest you lose that 60 cents). Raiden 4 hit the 360 in October 2008 with updated graphics, limited Live support and soundtrack of all the music in the levels. Development had been handed off to Moss but you wouldn't know it from playing the game.

The graphics are huge step up from Aces, on par with Ikaruga (i.e. 2D on scrolling 3D backgrounds), it is difficult to keep track of most of the action at times but this is one silky looking game. The gameplay is classic Raiden, from the opening level you need lightning quick reflexes to dodge the hail of bullets coming your way. While not quite at the level of 'shooting hell' you certainly have to keep your eyes wide open. The are lots of options: you can go through the game on the practice level and none of the enemies will fire at you - a good way to memorise attack patterns. You can adjust the screen 0 through 270 degrees. I only wish I could set my TV vertically because you get more detail at 90 degrees. In the Arcade mode you have the option of Light and Original, from what I can tell Light makes your ship profile smaller so it is more difficult for bullets to hit you. Original is what it suggests - arcade difficulty level, more enemies and more complicated attack patterns.

The biggest gripe I have about this game is that there is no online co-op. You can do challenge runs and upload your progress to a leaderboard from which other players can see your replay but it isn't the same as having a wingman alongside you. Also available for download is the classic Fighting Thunder Mk-II the original Raiden as well as the Fairy - both go for 80 points a pop. Overall, an awesome game. If you have to import, do so. Otherwise start letter bombing your local distributors.

Buy At Any Cost
Buy
Borrow Before You Buy
Don't Buy

Japanese version reviewed. At the time of writing this Raiden Fighters Aces has become available for preorder in the US for $29.99. If you want to see Raiden 4 outside of Japan, go and buy Aces!