Top down scrolling shooters have had a short but strange history on the 360. Despite being a port, Ikaruga has managed to become the most popular game of the genre on the system. So when DoDonPachi and Ketsui weren't allowed onto the Live Arcade we thought that MS simply didn't like the bullet hell shooters as much as the rest of us. While the aforementioned classics likely won't see any form of full retail release, we're glad that someone out there (Moss Ltd) sees fit to release another game like this.Raiden IV is currently set for Japanese release in September, with the developer expressing interest in following up with a Western release (oh please, oh please). The game has most all the bullet points one would expect from a great shump: vertical screen mode, recordable replays, and worldwide leaderboards, but sadly no co-op. Partly thanks to the increase in the "standard" graphical fidelity of games, older gameplay styles seem to be slowly dying out. We just hope that our favorite hardcore genres don't end up going the way of the dodo.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-20-2008 @ 1:05AM
Rami said...
Raiden4 as in Raiden from MGS4? :]
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6-20-2008 @ 1:31AM
PeacefulOutrage said...
Yeah. Just because there is the technology to do something different doesn't mean the old ways aren't still good. Everything doesn't need to be 3D open world to be fun, engaging, or exiting.
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6-20-2008 @ 8:18AM
jtedesco33 said...
I agree, especially fighters there is a light of life left in 2D fighting games and we need to see more of them.
6-20-2008 @ 5:31AM
Boff said...
They need to release this to the West. Definitely.
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6-20-2008 @ 9:24AM
Boff said...
P.S. I thought it was SHMUP not SHUMP, or was that just a typo?
6-20-2008 @ 7:23AM
Hoffer said...
The Raiden Project, which had Raiden I & II, was probably my most played game on the PS1. I would download Raiden IV in a heartbeat. :-)
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6-20-2008 @ 8:36AM
teradon said...
They should release this with the Raiden Collection... I'd buy two copies of each!
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6-20-2008 @ 8:37AM
Deezul said...
I want 1942!
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6-20-2008 @ 9:03AM
Level 5 said...
see.. i'm one that (although i don't have a 360,) would snap this up in a heartbeat. i loved ikaruga, radiant silvergun, etc. all these old school genre's making their way into a 3D graphical world while still keeping to 2D roots is amazing. coming from a guy that still fires up MAME on a daily basis to re-live gaming's golden years, there's alot to be excited about!
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6-20-2008 @ 9:23AM
SuiXide said...
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
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6-20-2008 @ 11:09AM
PerfectStrategy said...
Unfortunately this won't be coming stateside. Raiden Fighters: Aces was already released (includes Fighters 1, Fighters 2, Fighters Jet) and is Japan only.
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6-20-2008 @ 11:33AM
HalfAzn said...
Wasn't this rumored a loooong time ago? And wasn't it also rumored that this was going to be a full retail game, not an XBLA download? Don't get me wrong, I'd still pay 40, maybe even 50 for it...but never 60.
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6-20-2008 @ 12:09PM
Jonman said...
"...bullet points..." ???
Pun fully intended, I hope.
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6-20-2008 @ 1:13PM
Terrence Stasse said...
Indeed.
I'm glad someone noticed :)
6-20-2008 @ 2:27PM
RagingStormX said...
This is why I envy Live Arcade....and everyday I see myself getting one step closer to bitting the bullet and getting a 360...good news for the ones who can get this. PSN can learn a thing or two when it comes to 2D shmups....
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6-20-2008 @ 8:34PM
v413 said...
"..While the aforementioned classics likely won't see any form of full retail release..."
Actually, last I heard Ketsui and DoDonPachi daioujou black label were both getting full retail releases. That was a couple months ago, but I havent heard anything about them getting canceled. I hope they didnt.
But yeah, Raiden IV is awesome. I just preordered the import version because I'm not waiting around to see if it maybe will get released in the US.
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