The Raiden Project

Bundle / compilation

The Raiden Project features two vertically scrolling arcade shooters on one disc: Raiden and Raiden II. Raiden takes place in 2090, a time when Earth is under attack by hordes of alien "exobiological beings, a race of technologically advanced creatures from a distant galaxy." To combat this threat, the world's top scientists, engineers and otherwise brilliant people have replicated a super high-altitude fighter/bomber from the remains of a downed alien vessel. This new ship is called Raiden (aka Lightning Thunderbolt), and you are its pilot.

Released: 27 January 1995
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 PlayStation
Genres: Shooter
Developers: Seibu Kaihatsu
Publishers: Seibu Kaihatsu Sony Interactive Entertainment
Series: Raiden
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Science fiction
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

Raiden Project, known outside Japan as The Raiden Project, is a 1995 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Seibu Kaihatsu for the PlayStation. It is a compilation of the arcade games Raiden (1990) and Raiden II (1993). It was released in Japan on January 27, 1995, for North America by Sony Computer Entertainment as an original launch title on September 9, 1995, and in Europe by Ocean Software in November 12, 1995. This was the only console release of Raiden II and unlike previous ports, these versions are based directly on the arcade originals.

The Project version of the first Raiden was available as a download from the Japanese PlayStation Network store, which could be played on either a PlayStation 3 or a PlayStation Portable. Hamster Corporation re-released the game as part of their Console Archives series for the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 in October 2026.

Keywords

compilation
boss fight
launch titles
vertical scrolling
promo vhs

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Both games consist of eight vertical scrolling stages of increasing difficulty. The player controls the Raiden fighters, engaging enemies and dodging their attacks. Collectible items include bombs and missile powerups as well as score-increasing medals. Both games in this compilation can be played by either one player or two players. In two player mode, both players play simultaneously and have a special attack that produces special projectiles that damage enemies by shooting the other player craft.

Story

The story of Raiden takes place in the year 2090, when a race of collective alien lifeforms known as the Crystals made Earth a target of invasion. In response, the world gathered together under one organization, the Vanquish Crystal Defense, and developed a cutting-edge weapon built from Crystal Technology: the Fighting Thunder aircraft. Fighting Thunder is launched as the last hope for humanity's survival.

In Raiden II, three years have passed since the Crystals were defeated. The remnants of the Crystal invasion force regrouped to launch another invasion on Earth. The Vanquish Crystal Defense had developed a new model of the Fighting Thunder with a new weapon for this new battle in humanity's war against the Crystals.

Reception

According to Famitsu, The Raiden Project sold 61,346 copies in its first week on the market and 120,651 copies during its lifetime in Japan. The Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine ranked the game second in popularity in its April 1995 issue. It received generally favorable reviews.

Electronic Gaming Monthly's four reviewers described it as an outstanding arcade translation. They especially praised the inclusion of Raiden II, as they generally felt that the original Raiden had become dated and that Raiden II was more challenging and fun. GamePro's Bonehead, in contrast, commented that both games are very dated, with repetitive gameplay and overdone concepts. Bonehead also complained of slowdown in the two-player mode and concluded that The Raiden Project is "closer to where games have been than where they're going".