Ready for a new classic shoot ‘em up from NIS America and MOSS on PlayStation 5? Then check out our Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX review!
After giving us Raiden IV x MIKADO remix earlier this year on PlayStation, NIS America and MOSS are back with more shoot ‘em up action thanks to Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX. Raiden III is an excellent shoot ‘em experience that was originally launched on arcades back in 2005 for the Taito Type X hardware, which allowed the series to make the jump into the 3D realm for the first time.
As was the case for Raiden IV x MIKADO remix, we’re now getting the definitive version of another modern shoot ‘em up classic thanks to Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX. Along with the original vertical arcade experience – and being able to select an arcade difficulty setting so that you can play it just like you remember – there are some other game modes along with some extra bells and whistles that make for an excellent package on PlayStation.
The game can be played in one of seven difficulty settings, which means that gamers of all skill levels can take a crack at this one. Practice is ideal for those that have never played a shoot ‘em up before since enemies won’t fire. Very Easy is for gamers who have dabbled in the shoot ‘em up genre but that might not have had it click before. Easy is for gamers of an intermediate skill level who want to learn more. Normal is the standard shoot ‘emu experience. As mentioned before, Arcade will allow you to take on this one with the same difficulty as the original arcade version. Hard dials things up and is a good option for those with more experience under their belt. As for Very Hard, it’s one that only hardcore Raiden gamers should take for a spin!
What game modes are available for Raiden III X MIKADO MANIAX? You can play in Normal Mode, which offers you all of the levels to play one after the other. Score Attack Mode will have you taking only on the first level in the game as you try to aim for the highest score possible. Boss Rush Mode is one you’ll first need to unlock. Once you gain access to it, you’ll be able to take on all bosses from all levels in one go. There’s also the option of taking on World Rankings as you try to earn a spot at the top of the leaderboards by playing the game in Normal without any continues.
This is a classic shoot ‘em up, and that means that the controls are going to be simple and to the point. Once you jump into your ship, you’ll pilot it with the left analog stick or the D-Pad. Attacks are mapped to the X button, while the Circle button can be pressed to activate a mighty bomb that will deal a ton of damage to enemies and save you from doom… that is if you have any bombs in stock! You also have the option of configuring and remapping the shoot and bomb commands to other buttons if you feel like it.
Destroy special enemies, and they will release power-ups for you to collect. These include orbs that glow red, blue, or green, which will power-up your main weapon, different types of missiles that will aid you on your adventure – such as a homing missile -, extra bombs to damage all enemies on the screen and destroy all bullets, very rare extra 1ups, or faeries that will release extra power-ups when you’re defeated.
There’s a bonus Replay and Gallery section for you to check out. The Replay Data feature will allow you to view any saved replay data so that you can check out your performance. While in there, you can also check the Demo Play videos from the Ace Play Data List that show you how things can be done. As you play through Raiden III X MIKADO MANIAX, you will also get to unlock a variety of artwork, screenshots, and concept art for the game, as well as get a chance to check aircraft in detail.
Since this one is from NIS America, that means we’re getting a full trophy list with a Platinum trophy. The list includes 32 Bronze trophies, 7 Silver trophies, and 4 Gold trophies to work on. What will you need to do? Completing the game will unlock several trophies as long as you play on the Normal or higher difficulty setting. There are also objectives tied to each of the levels, such as rescuing a fairy on the first level in the game or destroying all meteorites on the fourth level. Other trophies require you to get ten wallpapers, save replay data 10 times, or earn 100,000 game points.
Raiden III was the first time that the series made the jump to 3D back in 2005. We’re now getting a revamped take on a shoot ‘em up classic on PlayStation with new game modes, bonus content, an HD presentation, a solid soundtrack available in its original form or with several remixes, and all of the action you remember from your time with Raiden III at the arcade, making this a must-buy for shoot ‘em up fans. Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX is launching on June 6 in North America with a $29.99 price tag. It will launch in Europe on June 9.
Disclaimer
This Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by NIS America.
