Raiden (Japan)
Raiden (Japan) - Shooter Classic
Raiden (Japan) is the NEC TurboGrafx-16 port of the legendary arcade vertical shooter, released in 1991 by Naxat Soft. This version brought the coin-op hit to Japanese home consoles, faithfully recreating the fast-paced aerial combat that made Raiden a staple in arcades worldwide. It runs on the PC Engine hardware, which was the Japanese version of the TurboGrafx-16, and retains the core experience of dodging enemy fire and blowing up waves of military targets.
Players take control of a fighter jet and scroll upward through multiple stages, each ending with a tough boss fight. The main goal is to shoot down enemy planes, tanks, and battleships while collecting power-ups that upgrade weapons - like the spread shot, laser, and missiles. A secondary bomb button clears the screen of most enemies in a pinch, and two players can join forces for cooperative play. The action is relentless, demanding quick reflexes and pattern memorization as difficulty ramps up.
This port is worth trying today because it captures the raw, addictive arcade feel with minimal compromises. While not the most visually impressive game on the platform, its tight controls and satisfying progression make it a solid pick for shmup fans. It stands as a faithful home conversion from an era when such ports were hit or miss, and remains a fun challenge for anyone curious about classic shooters on the TurboGrafx-16.
How to Play Raiden (Japan) Online
Getting Started
Raiden is a vertical scrolling shooter, so the core loop is simple: move your ship around the screen with the D-Pad (Arrow keys) and hold down the attack button (S) to fire at incoming enemies. Press the bomb button (X) to unleash a screen-clearing explosion when things get hairy. You start with a basic vulcan cannon, but power-ups appear frequently - fly over them to upgrade your weapon or grab extra bombs.
Because this is a Japanese ROM, the menus and in-game text are in Japanese. However, the gameplay is straightforward and language independent: choose your options at the title screen using Start (Enter) and Select (V) to navigate. The game supports two-player co-op, so if you have a second controller mapped, press Start on that controller to join in.
New players should prioritize learning enemy patterns and bomb placement. Dying resets your weapon to the weakest level, so survival matters more than reckless offense. There's no save feature, so you'll need to beat the game in one sitting - classic arcade style. Practice makes perfect, and the difficulty is fair once you learn the stages.
Raiden (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
Comments (0)