Vertical remix
The Raiden series has been around for a long time. I don’t think there are many platforms where I have not played at least one entry in the series, that includes the Atari Jaguar. I have always been a fan of these games. They are traditional vertical shooters, but their mix of visuals and weapon styles is more fun than others in the genre, so when I heard they were bringing a collection to the Switch, I had to jump in. Raiden Fighters Remix Collection contains three games, with multiple versions, as well as some other goodies, so let’s see what is included in this package.
Included in this collection are three games. We have Raiden Fighters Remix, Raiden Fighters 2 Remix, and Raiden Fighters Jet Remix. Each of these can be purchased separately on the eShop, but the package saves a bit of money, so if you are interested, I recommend getting them all in one place. This also means you can just swap between games without closing apps, which is nice. Each game also comes with both its English and Japanese versions which are more than just language differences. Each version has different layouts and enemy placement, making them just different enough to play through each one separately.
MSRP: $34.99
Platforms: Switch (reviewed), PlayStation
Price I’d Pay: $34.99
Jumping into these games I recommend tackling them in the order they are presented. The first game is an introduction to the Fighters series. It establishes the mechanics of the game with interesting enemies, linear design, and plenty of action. I really enjoy the pacing of these titles and the first title eases players into it. The second game amps up the series with more aggressive enemies and more complex stages. Finally, the third game introduces variable paths depending on performance, which really rewards players with their mastery of the shooting action. This really is a journey when it comes to game mechanics.
One of the best additions to this collection though is the newly recorded soundtrack. They went all out here with 30 brand new tracks recorded by three different composers all with their own unique flavor. Soshi Hosoi delivers some crunchy guitar riffs that match the energy of the series. Kazushi Tsurukubo brings the beats with drum-heavy tracks, while it is rounded out with some synth-inspired tunes from Yuki Arai. I loved the soundtrack and would listen to it outside of the game. Of course, you can always switch back to the original soundtrack as well, which still rocks.
This being a Remix means we have some added features. In addition to the soundtrack, we also have the standard upgrades. There are multiple difficulties including easy modes for those who have trouble with shooters. Rapid fire is massive for games like this, and of course we have save states and restart functions. The Practice Mode removes the bullets so you can learn the enemy and stage patterns. There are also visual extras, and they have done an outstanding job with these. There are CRT filters that look good, and they manage to keep the crisp pixels without adding too much blur or distortion. This version also includes a Tate Mode for putting the screen vertically, which is always nice.
As far as the visuals are concerned, the game looks good, but there is a weird issue with the framerate that comes with upping the game to 60fps. While the performance is smooth on Switch, the original game was built for 54Hz, while this version runs at 60. This means it is even harder on normal difficulty. The bullet speed has not been updated, which means they move even faster, if ever so slightly. Weird omission for a game designed around precision, but this could be fixed with a patch. Most people won’t notice the difference, but it is there.
The Raiden Fighters Remix Collection is fantastic. The Raiden games have always been top-tier vertical shooters, and revisiting these three has been a blast. This collection is one of the better Raiden collections released, and if you enjoy these games, it is a no-brainer.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
