Raiden IV

Raiden IV
North American cover art
Developer(s)	MOSS
Publisher(s)	JP: MOSS, Taito (Arcade) NA: UFO Interactive Games, MOSS (XBLA) EU: UFO Interactive WW: H2 Interactive (PC)
Series	Raiden
Platform(s)	Arcade, Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 (PSN), Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	Arcade: JP: June 7, 2007 JP: March 29, 2012 (NESiCAxLive) Xbox 360: JP: October 2, 2008 NA: September 9, 2009 PlayStation 3: JP: May 13, 2014 NA: April 29, 2014 EU: May 28, 2014 HK: April 30, 2014 Microsoft Windows: WW: September 3, 2015
Genre(s)	Vertical scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, 2 player Co-op
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Taito Type X NESiCAxLive

Raiden IV (雷電IV, Raiden Fō) is a vertical scrolling shooting video game developed by MOSS that was first released for the arcades in Japan in 2007. A home conversion was produced for the Xbox 360 in 2008. A later version was released for Taito's NESiCAxLive. An updated version of the game, entitled Raiden IV: OverKill has also been released for the PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Raiden IV is identical to its prior instalments, although its level design is different than Raiden III, but it is exactly the same as Raiden II, as the player starts from in-land, over the farms. In later levels the game progresses through a vast cityscape, into the sky, and finally onward to space. The player faces many enemies, powerful stages, and fearsome bosses. The Flash Shot System, first introduced in Raiden III, returns in IV. Multipliers are given for destroying enemies that just appeared on screen; the faster players destroy enemies, the higher the bonuses are.

Weapons

As with previous Raiden titles, the ship fires simultaneously with two weapons: the main weapon and the sub-weapon. Weapons have a power level, which increases by collecting individual powerups. In addition there are bombs that fill more or less the whole screen, harming enemies and dissolving all enemy shots. At the beginning of the game or after the player dies, the default weapons are a three-way Vulcan (see below), a marked increase of firepower over the one-way Vulcan of the previous Raiden games, no secondary weapon and three bombs (the number of bombs can be altered as a game option). The weapons, bombs and bonus items, like fairies, in Raiden III are retained and works the same as before in this game.

Game modes

Arcade Mode

The Arcade Mode is the original version of the game, and consists of 2 types of gameplay: Light and Original. Light gameplay has an easier difficulty, meant for beginners and players new to the genre, while Original generates more enemies, faster bullets and slightly more complicated boss patterns.

Xbox 360 Mode

The Xbox 360 Mode^[1] is exclusive to the home version and contains new enemy ships and 2 new stages and bosses not found in the arcade version.^[2] Stages can be selected to start playing once the level has been initially cleared. The game supports eight different difficulty levels.

• Play Style: Solo offers single-player, Dual allows 2-player simultaneous play, while Double has one player controlling two ships, which offers a unique and challenging experience.
• Stage: Allows players to select the stages they have already completed to replay.
• Boss Rush Mode: Players fight all level bosses without going through the stages.
• Score Attack Mode: Similar to the Xbox 360 Mode, the only differences are the enemy placements have now changed. Background music which were previously fixed for the specific stage can be selected in any level.

Synopsis

The Cranassians have returned again after numerous defeats against humanity. The World Alliance Military immediately launches the Raiden mk-II and its blue counterpart, the "Raiden mk-II Beta" to stop the invasion and save the Earth.

Development

• The first location test for Raiden IV was held at Akihabara Hey on July 22–23, 2006, on an Egret II system. This version had three difficulties: Light, Original and Strong, as well as including the feature that the 1P has a plasma laser, while the 2P has a proton laser. The "ground door" that opens to reveal the Level 1 boss consists of "bushes" and "roads". Cutscenes are seen showing the first boss exploding, but, it does not show the second boss exploding, however.
• The 2nd location test was held again at Hey and at Taito Game World in Shinjuku on October 14–16. The cutscenes showing the boss' destruction is nixed in this version.
• The 3rd location test was held at High-Tech Sega in Shibuya and Taito Game World in Shinjuku on December 27. In this version, the previous idea of having 1P having the plasma laser while 2P has the proton laser was nixed. Instead, players were able to select either plasma or proton laser to play through before starting the main game. 2nd Round for the game after 1st Round was completed is implemented.
• The 4th and final location test was held at Shinjuku Gesen Mikado on February 20, 2007. In this version, Flash Shot System's multiplier is increased to 5.0x at maximum. Strong difficulty is nixed, however. The damage power of weapons are readjusted. Enemies that appeared during Stage 2's mid-boss were nixed.
• Moss launched Raiden IV arcade on June 7, 2007. The official arcade website is opened.^[3]
• First details for Xbox 360 port of Raiden IV revealed in June 2008, which will include new stages, Live support, TATE options and download content.^[4]
• Release date of first home port to be September 11, 2008 by Moss, it was later pushed back to October 2 as the game needed more polish and to erase bugs.^[5]
• PlayStation 3 version announced on December 21, 2013 by Moss, it was published on Spring 2014.
• Windows version announced on June 30, 2015 for a Fall 2015 release.

NESiCAxLive version

This version was designed for the NESiCAxLive arcade download system. The game was unveiled on 2011-02-22 in AOU2011.^[6]

New features include perfect mode, which incorporates the 7-stage game from the Xbox 360 version of Raiden IV, and background music from Ultimate of Raiden soundtrack, and allow using Fairy fighter.

Raiden IV: OverKill

This version includes two new missions,^[7] 3 fighter types (Fighting Thunder ME-02 Kai, Fighting Thunder Mk-II, Fairy), a new OverKill Mode,^[8][9] and a Replay&Gallery Mode.

Addition Mode includes 7 rearranged stages, without mission stage bonus.

Soundtrack

Raiden IV -Ultimate of Raiden- is a video game soundtrack CD by INH. It includes Arcade, Xbox360, and remixed versions of game music tracks from older and current Raiden games, with a total of 27 tracks. The OST was included with the X360 version of game for a limited time. INH has also offered a special PDF file DVD by pre-ordering from their site. The disc named Raiden IV Secret File, contains player ship specifications, enemy combat data, strategies for the game and concept art. This Secret File is also available from American distributor UFO Interactive Games via a code printed on the American version of the CD.

Track listing

All tracks written by Go Sato, except where noted^[10]. 

Reception

Raiden IV has received below average review scores upon its U.S. release, with both IGN and the Official Xbox Magazine scoring it a 6 out of 10. IGN's Eric Brudvig writes: "Though at first glance you might think there are 14 levels in Raiden IV ... there are in fact only seven with the second half of the game merely repeating the first.... UFO Interactive went ahead and added insult to injury with its use of downloadable content. After dishing out $40 for the game, you'll find that only one of the three ships on the main menu can be used. The other two must be purchased through Xbox Live." Backlash over the pay to play ships has created controversy at several gaming forums, leading gamers to wonder whether the extra content is worth the price to obtain them.^[15]

References

External links

• Official website
• Raiden IV for NESiCAxLive website (Japanese)
• INH Raiden IV -Ultimate of Raiden- website (Japanese)
• Raiden IV at MobyGames