By Joseph Walter
You already know how much it means to me, sentimentally, from my "Title Screens" entry on The Raiden Project, and you know that I love its most recent sequel, Raiden V (along with its untouchably outstanding soundtrack) but what is it about Raiden II that's just so damn good?
There are a lot of reasons, actually (none of which have to do with drunkenly getting roped into my best friend's shmup obsession) and it's finally time we jumped into it.
As much as I love V, I firmly believe that Raiden II is the pinnacle of the series, and perhaps even the genre itself. A bold claim, I know, but there are a few elements of this beloved masterpiece that truly set it apart as something special... so let's take off from our carrier and discuss it!
Somewhere between the ecstasy of executing a perfect jump and beating up old dudes with a vacuum cleaner was Raiden II.
Although I can't remember whether it was tucked away in some bar or hiding in some cubby near a hotel's pool, I can see Raiden II's arcade cabinet in exquisite clarity.
Its silent attract screen, featuring a futuristic harrier-esque jet emerging from a jungle, caught my attention, and the bombastic-yet-controlled action of the gameplay (especially the almighty purple laser) hypnotized me further. The ships were so powerful! My Dad and I would cheer as our fully-powered planes delivered impossibly destructive payloads against countless adversaries.
The whole game simply emanated an aura of pure coolness that almost made it seem more mature than its peers, like it was in a class of its own. This wasn't some cartoony spectacle. This was real.
The gameplay, pacing and mechanics just feel so good, even today. It's the distilled, pure form of the genre, straightforward and polished to perfection.
Obviously, a multitude of games (including Raiden V) are technically superior to Raiden II when it comes to more depth, mechanics, graphics and sound, but there's an elusive quality that Raiden II possesses, which no other "shmup" has been able to match: Undertone.
It's this special ingredient that sets it apart and puts it in a league of its own.
"Undertone" seems like a weird quality for a video game and, honestly, it might not even be the best way to describe what's going on with Raiden II. "Feel" and "atmosphere" are both part of it, too, but the neither word fully captures the nature of Raiden II's spirit. There's palpable emotion bubbling beneath its surface.
It feels more real, more visceral. The action isn't mindless. It's contemplative.
Either way, from the moment the game begins, it's readily apparent that there's something very different about Raiden II.
The effects and ravages of war are seen in the environments all around you. You battle over cities, suburbs and farms, witnessing the destruction and devastation (and sometimes causing it). Occasionally, you'll even see the lasting effects of (presumably) the original Raiden, with giant craters or evidence of reconstruction attempts.
It all makes you feel that the first Raiden war must have been considered more of a regrettable calamity than a righteous cause, regardless of victories or triumphs, and this one will be no different. After fighting so hard to obtain peace, and at a great cost, humanity once against finds itself plunged into the darkness of war and devastation. The cycle continues. The sorrowful tragedy repeats. Can we ever escape this self-destructive cycle? Or is this our nature? Are we doomed?
I mean, the song is even called REPEATED TRAGEDY.
This gloomy and mournful track is a perfect accompaniment for both the action and circumstances. Along with the rest of the similarly somber soundtrack, it acts as another coat of emotional paint that helps sell and amplify the distinct feel and underlying tone of the game.
It feels like a functional, self-contained world that exists somewhere out there, rather than some generic, run-of-the-mill sci-fi shooter.
Enemies don't just mindlessly fly around and fire at you in set patterns. They actually aim, adjust their tactics and, should you miss taking them down, they might just swing back around and chase you from the bottom of the screen!
While this kind of enemy behavior is unique and realistic in its own right, another huge component of what sells the "reality" of Raiden II's world are the incredible visuals, and the overall visual design.
Raiden II's graphics are impressive to this day, but it's the aesthetic, level of detail and attention to detail that really sets it apart as something special.
The way your ship subtly converts into a hover mode for certain sequences, or how it opens up, revealing additional weapon systems the more it's powered up is cool as hell.
The imaginative environments feel both real and alive, featuring little details like flowing water, animated livestock and even waving citizens. However, it's the fact that most of the environment is completely interactive and destructible that truly brings it to life.
Crashing enemies collide with buildings, houses and trees, setting them ablaze or destroying them outright. Gigantic walking tanks leave massive footprints and demolish anything in their path. Scraps of metal from downed foes twirl through the air before plummeting to the surface, leaving a little crater and a dust cloud (or a nice splash, if they fell into the water) in their wake. Roads are wrecked by explosions. Powerful adversaries increasingly catch fire as they take damage. Treaded war machines leave tracks in their wake. Smoldering craters form under destroyed ground forces. Hell, even your own ultra-powerful and graphically impressive bombs raze the environments they detonate over.
Finally, there's the sound design, the last element that makes Raiden II so damn good.
Each round of gunfire, surge of plasma, or burst of laser is accompanied by a meaty report that easily impresses, as do the decidedly crunchy and visceral sounds of your enemies exploding and crashing. In fact, Raiden II's explosions are probably the most satisfying I've ever heard in a video game, especially when it comes to the larger ones. These thunderous booms seem to echo throughout the world of the game, adding whole new levels of realism and impact.
In other words, Raiden II doesn't simply sell you on addictive and exciting shoot-'em-up gameplay, it sells you on a tangible reality, a practically palpable feeling, and a powerful subtext that gives it an impactful edge. All of which remain unmatched.
This is why it had such an impact on me as a kid. This is why is continues to resonate with me today. And this is why Raiden II is so damn good.