Raiden V: Director's Cut

Raiden V for PC, PS4 and XONE is the fifth full-fledged installment in a legendary series of scrolling shooters played from a top-down view and considered one of the main representatives of the shmup genre. Again, the game was created by MOSS - a Japanese developer in possession of the rights to the franchise since 2005. The game was released exclusively for Xbox One, almost on the 25th anniversary of the original release – Raiden debuted in September, 1990 on the popular, arcade machines.

Plot

As usual, the plot here is centered around a great war against the Cranassian – an alien civilization that has attacked the Earth, aiming to obtain the planet's inherent power sources in the form of mysterious crystals. Taking part in the key phase of the conflict, the player assumes the role of a character chosen in order to save the planet - one can choose from among five persons: an American or a British male, as well as a Romanian, Portugese or a German female. Each character has different appearance, biography, interests and personality.

Mechanics

Before the adventure begins, the player chooses one of the three fighter planes available (Japanese, French or American) and goes through the entire campaign in the machine chosen. The planes differ in basic statistics and weaponry. The game does not bring any significant changes to the formula established by the previous installments, introducing only several lesser improvements to combat mechanics or the system of upgrading the weapons. As usual, the player has three kinds of cannons at their disposal in combat, and those allow for continuous fire, shooting in bursts and launching rockets. Each cannon can be gradually upgraded alongside progression up to the level 10. Obviously, points are earned through eliminating both enemy aircrafts and ground targets. The player scores more through being fast in shooting the enemies down and performing combo kills.

Raiden V for PC, PS4 and XONE offers eight extensive levels set one after another in Manhattan, Middle East, France, England, above an ocean, on the territory of a weapon-producing company, in a space station and finally, on the planet inhabited by the Cranassian. Traditionally, a difficult boss fight awaits the player at the end of each level. At the end of the campaign, the player can face the most powerful of the bosses – the Divine Rampart. To face him however, the player has to meet certain requirements throughout the playthrough.

Game modes

Similar to Raiden IV for Xbox 360, the online component plays an important part here, which was complemented with extensive player rankings. The Cheer System is an important innovation thanks to which, the player can join a game in progress to enjoy the co-op experience by one push of a button.

Technical aspects

In terms of technicalities, Raiden V for PC, PS4 and XONE prolongs the tradition established by the classics of the genre, though the game offers high-resolution visuals and an entire set of special effects. As a result, the game resembles the previous installments when it comes to the atmosphere. The player observes the action in a square-shaped panel in the center of the screen. Different, additional information appear on the sides - these include mainly various statistics, the minimap and the weapon selection panel.

Last updated on 29 May 2017