Raiden is one very special shooter. While the game essentially did nothing new, it instead took the entire linage of incredible Toaplan arcade shooters - like Twin Cobra, Fire Shark and Truxton - and put it all together in a tighter package then even Toaplan had ever managed! The result, a compelling and addictive shooter which spans the eras of classic arcade shooters of the 80's, and modern 'pre-bullet hell' shooters of the 2000's. If you haven't played the original Raiden and you are at all interested in vertical shooters, then you simply have to play this game. Even though Raiden II would go on to introduce more weapons and razzle-dazzel, you'll find the absolute purity of why the Raiden series is so loved right here, without the need for any more fluff or effects :-) Other machines made by Seibu Kaihatsu during the time period Raiden was produced include: Double Dynamites, Dynamite Duke, Dead Angle, Air Raid, Empire City: 1931, Seibu Cup Soccer, Olympic Soccer '92, Zero Team, Raiden II, and Raiden DX.