Raiden 3: Den of Red Thunder and Blue Lightning

Hi there reader. Do you like score-based vertical shooters? Are your digits dexterous enough to withstand onslaughts of virtual bullets? Is your PS2 getting kinda lonely sitting between its two fresher siblings?

If you answered yes to even one of those questions, you're cool enough to glide with the dual player lightning called Raiden 3. Place your PS2 vertically, unravel its controller cords, and sit down comfortably. Time to ride the lightning.

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The Raiden series is probably the most recognizable arcade-style game in shooter history. One or two players control either the red or the blue ship, and blast away clusters of enemy spacecraft. This formula has served the series well since its 1990 inception, and Raiden 3 is no different.

This is the type of game in which you'll spend many lives trying to figure out enemy patters. You'll chase elusive floating weapon upgrades. And you'll dodge waves of bullets shot from fleets of futuristic war machines like jets, choppers, submarines, spaceships, and huge menacing bosses. It's fun. It's frantic. And the best part: it can all be shared with another player, because the game can be played simultaneously.

All the classic Raiden weaponry is here too: the Vulcan shot which spreads broad, the piercing blue laser that's injected with lightning for good measure, and the good ol' Proton blast used to incinerate foes in a sweeping wave. There are also three different missile types and, of course, your ship is equipped with a projectile clearing, and very destructive, cluster bomb(s). Unleash the payload and let 'em rust in peace!

theisozone.com

Although the game is 2-D, all moving sprites and all the structures in the backgrounds have been skillfully sculpted with polygons—adding surprising depth to the scrolling battlefields. All the battlegrounds are scenic and enjoyable to fly by: beaches, cities, asteroid colonies, and metallic fortresses with confining corridors; everything in the game is well detailed and clearly defined. I almost feel bad for shooting down all those shiny jets and impressive bosses.

When two players are playing simultaneously, the screen can become splattered with bullets decreasing visibility and amplifying the inertia. This is what classic shooting action is all about. If you or the person you're playing with is new to shooters, the game has several difficulty levels that can either, ease you in, or grind you down.

gamekult.com

After finishing a stage, you can select to practice on that stage or try gunning for a higher score; you may even choose to fight any boss after beating the game once. There's a gallery of production artwork, and a feature to watch your saved replays. All the options make the game very user friendly and re-playable. For some added wackiness, I recommend the Double Play Mode where one player can control two ships with one controller.   

Classic arcade games like Raiden 3 are all almost gone and forgotten. I found my copy while cottaging in a small lake-side town, and payed $10 for it. It was worth every dollar. Anyone who still recalls the lure of the arcades will get a kick out of this classic. Filled with fast-paced action, easy to understand mechanics, and armed with catchy techno-synth tunes, Raiden 3 will take you on a memorable flight. Don't be afraid to clip your wings, and shoot down all incoming ships.

Developer: Moss Ltd.

Publisher: UFO

Platform: PS2

Genre: Vertical Shooter

Released: 2007 (US)

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