Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Raiden III picks up the gauntlet from its early ’90s predecessors, Raiden and Raiden II, and delivers a relentless vertical shoot ’em-up experience. Players pilot the Raiden “Fighting Thunder ME-02,” cutting through waves of alien invaders across seven intense stages. The first three levels unfold over familiar terrestrial landscapes, while the final four thrust you into the cold void of space, each environment offering unique tactical challenges.

The game runs on the Taito Type X arcade system board, which unlocks a dynamic 3D scrolling engine. Unlike traditional 2D shooters, backgrounds in Raiden III can ascend, descend, and shift laterally in three dimensions, creating a sense of depth as missiles streak across the sky and enemy formations swirl around rocky outcrops. This technical leap not only enhances immersion but also demands sharper spatial awareness from the player.

Raiden III continues the series’ signature weapon-pickup system. The Yellow Vulcan Shot remains your trusty rapid-fire option, while the Green Proton Laser replaces the classic “toothpaste” plasma beam, offering a straight, high-damage laser bolt. New to the franchise is the Blue Laser: a continuous forward beam that tracks your lateral movements, rewarding precision dodging with concentrated bursts of damage.

Secondary weapons and smart bombs round out your arsenal. Nuclear Missiles (“M” power-ups) fan out and accelerate, inflicting splash damage on clustered foes. Homing Missiles (“H” power-ups) latch onto nearby targets, safeguarding your flanks, and Radar Missiles (“R” power-ups) drift laterally before locking on. Bombs create a fiery radial blast, clearing bullets and enemies alike—collect up to seven to weather the toughest onslaughts.

Graphics

Visually, Raiden III exploits its arcade hardware to deliver crisp, vibrant stages that stand out among shoot ’em-ups of its era. From rain-soaked cityscapes to derelict space stations, each backdrop is rendered with high-resolution textures and subtle lighting effects that accentuate explosions and weapon trails. The contrast between fiery blasts and dark starfields helps keep the screen legible during the most chaotic moments.

Enemy designs blend mechanical menace with alien biomorphic forms. Bosses loom large, composed of rotating turrets and glowing weak points that pulse in time with their attack patterns. Particle effects—smoke plumes, electric arcs, and debris—enhance every hit, rewarding precise shots with satisfying visual feedback and making each successful dodge a cinematic flourish.

Performance is rock-solid, even when the screen fills with projectiles. Both arcade and home versions maintain a steady framerate, ensuring input remains responsive when split-second maneuvers are required. The option to flip your display between “yoko” (horizontal) and “tate” (vertical) modes further immerses dedicated enthusiasts, giving purists a true arcade cabinet feel on modern hardware.

Special attention has been paid to color clarity: enemy bullets and missiles glow in distinct hues against multi-layered backgrounds, helping you track threats in crowded scenarios. Combined with dynamic camera shifts during boss encounters, the overall presentation feels polished and intense without ever sacrificing readability.

Story

While Raiden III isn’t driven by an expansive narrative, its premise is straightforward and effective: humanity’s last line of defense, the Raiden Fighting Thunder ME-02, must repel an overwhelming alien invasion. This clear objective fuels each mission, encouraging players to push forward through waves of adversaries without distraction.

Stage progression conveys a subtle storyline through environmental transitions. Earth’s surface, scarred by craters and smoldering cities, gives way to orbital platforms and asteroid fields, culminating in battles around massive alien motherships. Visual storytelling is woven into the level design, hinting at the invaders’ plans through the destruction they leave in their wake.

Boss encounters act as narrative milestones. Each colossal machine you face reveals more about the enemy hierarchy—towering tripods, rotating gun arrays, and bio-mechanical leviathans all stand between you and the heart of the invasion force. Defeating them feels like dismantling the invaders’ strategic strongpoints, driving momentum toward the climactic showdown.

Longtime fans will appreciate the homage to Raiden’s legacy: familiar enemy types are reimagined in 3D, and iconic soundtrack themes receive updated arrangements. Though the story remains minimal, it provides just enough context to underscore the stakes and remind players why the Raiden series endures.

Overall Experience

Raiden III is a triumph for shoot ’em-up aficionados. Its blend of classic vertical-scroll gameplay with modern graphical flair and responsive controls makes for an exhilarating experience. Newcomers will find the learning curve forgiving at first but swiftly steepens, offering a satisfying challenge that rewards mastery of both shooting and evasion.

Replay value is high: multiple weapons encourage experimentation, while bombs and power-ups create a strategic layer of resource management. The “tate” mode option will appeal to dedicated shmup enthusiasts, and leaderboards underscore the competitive spirit inherent to the genre. Speedrunners will love optimizing routes through levels and chaining multipliers for maximum scores.

Although the story is minimal, the game’s pacing and presentation keep the action front and center. Boss battles break up the relentless waves of enemies, and the smooth difficulty curve ensures each stage feels distinct. Occasional visual clutter can challenge the eyes, but distinct color schemes and strong performance minimize frustration.

For anyone seeking a high-octane shooter that honors its heritage while embracing modern enhancements, Raiden III is an essential addition. Its combination of 3D‐enhanced stages, varied weapon systems, and pulsating soundtrack delivers an arcade-perfect experience, whether you’re at home or chasing high scores in the arcade.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10