Raiden, nore like Junk-den. C'mon! Arcades just rolled over in their graves.
Fast-forward to today, where the arcade is all but gone (at least the one I went to is, I hope you are luckier then I.) Raiden now lies in the annals of gaming lore, it's distant cousins Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun are both a few years old now. Vertical shooters have all but dissapeared, yet in the darkest hour, hope may well spring eternal. Mobile phones have become a haven for lost arcade games, allowing now-business men who grew up in the 80's and 90's to re-live the fun they had as adolescents on the commute to work.
Now, for the game. Raiden has definitely lost something in translation to mobile phones. The graphics looks very much like that in the arcade original, with crisp backgrounds going past you as you fire literally hundreds of bullets at the still somewhat impressive enemy ships. Levels consist of flying through a level filled with various ships, cannons, and other enemies trying to impede you along the way to a giant end-level boss. Along the way you can collect power-ups of the bullet and lazer variety, which upgrade up to four levels. Missle upgrades aid you on your journey by either homing in on enemies or charging straight ahead. If you find yourself in a particular jam, a rare bomb can help thin out the enemy ranks.
So far, so good, right? Well, yes, but it goes downhill once the game starts to move. I should clarify though, that the term "move" is relative when it comes to Raiden. No longer does the game fluidly scroll in a barage of bullets and lazers. Think of Raiden more of like an interactive slide-show, where if you're lucky you might actually move in the direction you want. Move, that is, if your thumb can accurately press the tiny keys crammed onto the face of the phone. Never have I missed the joystick of the arcades that I once scoffed at for their "unique" appearance.
Anyway, I am tired of this review now. This game is a mere shadow of it's once-great forebearer. Play at your own risk.