Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by MOSS and published by NIS America, Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX is an updated version of the classic arcade shooter. This release is the latest release in the Raiden franchise, known for intense sequences and bullet hell action. This title is available for all major console platforms and Windows PC, with a link to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank NIS America for providing the copy of Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story section as there is not a pronounced plot for this release, going straight into discussing the gameplay of Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX. I will be calling the game Raiden III for the sake of brevity in this review.

Gameplay – Raiden III is a vertical scrolling shooter, with bullet hell style action that plays out over 7 stages. The player will be surrounded by enemies from above and the sides, bombarding them with a hail of bullets. The game itself is separated into several game modes for players to choose from, alongside special play modes that can add some variety to the gameplay experience. Replays can be saved for all game modes, allowing players to evaluate their performance.

Here is a breakdown of the different game modes in Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX;

• Arcade Mode – play through the original game, taking on all 7 stages of Raiden III. This game mode (as well as the others) can be played alone or with a partner, battling the waves of enemies together while competing for the highest score possible. Once stages are cleared, the player will be able to select them from the menu as their starting point.
• Score Attack – take on individual stages that have been cleared in arcade mode, trying to set the highest score possible. the player can also use score attack to practice stages that they may struggle with.
• Boss Rush – the player can battle all of the different bosses in order, selecting the starting stage depending on the challenge they want to play. This mode is unlocked once all stages of the Arcade Mode have been cleared.
• Ranking Mode – in this mode, players can take on the game in single, co-op or even dual mode controlling both ships at once (this is also available for other modes) to submit a score to the global rankings. In this challenge, players will be under the standard rules of the game with a single credit to set the best score they can.

During the course of the game, the player is able to collect power-ups that will boost the weapons that they can use. The main weapons are the Vulcan cannon that uses spread fire, the Ion Laser that fires a straight beam and the Proton Laser which swings like a whip with the ships movement. The missiles that players can collect are Nuclear that explode on contact, alongside Homing and Radar that track enemies.

The Bombs are limited but deal massive damage upon use, this is most useful during the more intense segments as they clear the enemy bullets on screen. But care must be taken when using bombs as they are limited, making some of the later sections of stages more challenging. If the player is taken out by an enemy, they will lose their current power-ups. However, if the player found a fairy, they will drop pickups for the player upon being shot down.

At the end of each stage, there is a boss battle that has multiple phases to battle through with intense bullet hell sequences that can be very difficult. These are very challenging with a variety of enemy bosses, patterns and phases that are used. When the boss is taken down, the player will earn bonuses based on their performance, with more points awarded based on remaining bombs, lives and special point items that have been picked up.

If the player loses all of the lives that they have, they have the option to continue which will reset their score if they choose to keep going. But when starting the game first, there will be limited credits leading to a game over when they are all used up. Luckily, additional credits will be awarded over time, going up to free play. This makes the game a challenge to see how far the player can get with limited credits until free play is unlocked.

The last thing to discuss is the bonus content for this release. This version of Raiden III is a special collaboration with MIKADO Game Center, with artworks and music from representatives of the MIKADO Game Center. There are also special guests from the general shooting game community, with bands and artists providing content for the player to enjoy in this newest version of Raiden III which can be used in game.

By playing the game, the player will unlock additional music tracks, gallery artworks and wallpaper art as rewards for play. This content can be unlocked by meeting special conditions, as well as by earning points during play, with milestones unlocking different content. The most important thing about the custom wallpapers and music is the way they can be used, with the ability to customise the experience with this extra content.

So with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.

Controls – the control system for this release is simple and easy to get to grips with, utilizing a two button input system. With a button for the main weapon and bomb respectively, using the thumbstick or D-pad for movement on a standard controller. The recommended way to play this title is with an arcade stick, providing a more authentic experience for players, but a standard controller will work just as well.

Difficulty – this can be a very challenging title for those who are not the most experienced with bullet hell style shooters, due to the intense bullet patterns and sequences. However, the game provides settings to tailor the experience to all skill levels, with the ability to increase or decrease the challenge and set the number of lives/bombs available. This makes for an experience that everyone can enjoy.

Presentation – the visual style for Raiden III looks very good for a title originally released in 2005, with 3D models that look just as good now as they did back then. There are occasional moments of slowdown during gameplay, but this is due to the game itself and in some cases helps the player to avoid some difficult bullet sequences. The overall visuals of this release are solid, with the special background art adding some extra flair to the game.

The sound for this release is fantastic, with the inclusion of both the original soundtrack and the option to customise it via the special guest tracks that can be unlocked. These new arrangements and remixes are provided by popular artists within the Japanese arcade and shooter scene, including the bands Heavy Metal Raiden, Go Sato Band and Fantom Iris. This makes for the ultimate version of Raiden III currently available.

Final Thoughts – I am a fan of the Raiden series, having played other titles in the past which made me excited to get my hands on this title. I will say that I am not the best at bullet hell titles, but I have a lot of fun with them and this wasn’t any different. The frantic shooting action and hail of bullets that filled the screen at times was intense, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it, working my way through each difficulty setting.

I have no problem at all recommending this game to all fans of the vertical SHMUP and bullet hell genre, even if you don’t do particularly well with them. This is because of the flexible settings and varied difficulty options, making it possible for even the most inexperienced player to get through the game. This is the definitive way to experience Raiden III and another excellent release from the team at MOSS.

In the end, I give Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX a final score of 5/5. This is the best version of Raiden III that has been released to date, with fun yet intense bullet hell action, difficulty settings that make it approachable for everyone and a plethora of additional content for fans of the genre. If you want to check it out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Xbox version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)