Raiden IV scrolling onto Xbox 360, Raiden III on PS2 in March
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 27th 2007 at 6:58PM }
After XS Games dropped the distribution rights to the North American localization of Raiden III for PlayStation 2, UFO Interactive Games graciously picked them up -- and, despite low-demand forecasts, kept the project alive. The vertically-scrolling shmup originally debuted on PS2 (in Japan) back in September 2005, and next month Raiden III will finally arrive in North America; for $30. UFO product manager Chong Ahn confirmed as much during the latest Team Fremont podcast, adding that the game's follow up (currently Arcade-only) Raiden IV is being prepped for release on Xbox 360.Ahn remained vague on further details, not willing to commit to a launch date or format; but he seemed to indicate that Raiden IV would be released to retail and not via Xbox Live Arcade (à la Treasure's Ikaruga port). Expect an official announcement after Raiden III gets off the ground.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Myke @ Feb 27th 2007 7:20PM
you have no idea how psyched I am about this, I spent 3 months hunting down "the Raiden Project" for PS1!!!
RAIDEN FTW!!!!
Hoffer @ Feb 27th 2007 7:31PM
This is great news!! The Raiden Project and Parappa the Rapper are the only two PS1 games I've kept since back in the day. I still play Raiden II every month or two.
I will buy Raiden III and play it on my PS3 and Raiden IV will be played on my 360.
Happy Days!!
Ironhide @ Feb 27th 2007 7:41PM
Sweet! Double dose of Raiden! I'm all for old school style shumups! Let's see Thunderforce revived adn I'll be a happy camper!
Nate @ Feb 27th 2007 7:44PM
Great news for shump fans....can't wait for Raiden IV for the 360....
Anyone here like Einhander for the PS1? Probably one of my top 5 all-time favorite shumps (and one of my favorite PS1 games) along with the classics (Silvergun, Gradius, R-Type, etc.)....I thought that game was wildly overlooked.
Strider_J @ Feb 27th 2007 8:18PM
no freakin way!!!!! this is what I call an arcade title!
raiden is super old school. XBLA needs stuff like this. now this is arcade.
i can't wait.
BONESTOCK @ Feb 27th 2007 9:03PM
#5) To bad it's most likely a retail game. Not live arcade.
But still I'll probably get it!!
SonicRift @ Feb 27th 2007 10:27PM
Here's hoping its a Live Arcade game. Especially with Ikaruga on the way. I just last month found Ikaruga for DreamCast, and I've been loving it since. Been looking at least 2 years.
The Wii VC has gotten me back into shmups in a big way.
spongebolton @ Feb 27th 2007 10:36PM
RAGING SHMUP HARD-ON GET!
shadowfamicom @ Feb 27th 2007 10:49PM
this is awesome. i already imported the game when it came out in japan and its freakin awesome. best raiden ever!!!
bVork @ Feb 28th 2007 7:25AM
Raiden III isn't all that great, but I still enjoy it. I bought the PC version for $13 here: http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-w/section-games/pid-1004479065/
I'm not thrilled with it, but it's worth it for that price. I don't think I'm going to buy the $30 domestic release, even just to "support shooters." I do that enough already - I even bought Chaos Field!