Game Analysis: Raiden III

Raiden III

Introduction:
Raiden 3 is a vertical scrolling shooter game found in both the arcade and PS2. Released first on September 22 2005 and developed by the Japanese company Moss, Raiden 3 follows up from the events of its previous version Raiden 2. It has a low learning curve such that player who first time play this game would get into the game as soon as possible.

Plot:
In the year 2090, Earth has suddenly become the target of deranged aliens known as the Cranassians. Following the invasion, the World Alliance Military builds a new cutting-edge weapon,
the Raiden Supersonic Attack Fighter, based on a destroyed alien craft, is created for humanity’s hope for survival.

Influences:
Gradius.
The Gradius games, first introduced in 1985, make up a series of scrolling  shooter video games published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. Though Raiden 3 is a vertical shoot them up game, whereas Gradius is a horizontal shoot them up game, both games are quite similar to each other as both require the player to collect power-ups to defeat swarms of enemies.

Game-play Review:
Raiden 3 like all vertical side scrolling games allow the player to control a unit such as a airplane. With simply the joystick and 2 buttons, the player must fight through countless enemies to get to the boss stage. Defeating the boss allows the player to continue on to the next level. Players can collect power-ups that will be dropped from destroyed enemies to power up their airplane’s weapons. In fact if found in a bad situation, the player can drop
a bomb in order to destroy bullets and enemies. However bombs are usually limited in the game and should be used sparingly.
Raiden 3 is a great game as it challenges players will have to react quickly from incoming planes and bullets. Furthermore, with a variety of weapons for the plane. Each new game will be a different experience from the other.

Huizinga:
The game ends when the player loses all his/her lives in the game. Players would remember the game as not only they enjoy the game, they will enjoy challenging each other for the best high-score.

6-11 Framework: