============================================================================== REVIEWS OF CYBERSLED AND RAIDEN PROJECT FOR THE SONY PLAYSTATION! ============================================================================== | Typed on 2/10/95 by The Great Muta | Title: Raiden Project System: PlayStation Company: Seibu Kaihatsu Available: Now Rating (1 to 10): 10 Comments: Arcade to home system translations are always best handled by the company that is responsible for the arcade version. Usually that isn't the case. Also, up to now, arcade translations have always suffered from being programmed for under powered platforms. Luckily for us die hard shooter fans, both problems have been solved in order to bring us absolute perfection. Featuring both the original Raiden and its awesome sequel, Raiden 2, Raiden Project is truly a blissfully well done conversion. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING was lost in this translation by Seibu. You get the same powerups, hordes of enemies, massive viscous boss characters and everything else that made true shooter fans flock to the back of the arcades (where the good games are tucked away behind the 40 lousy one-on-one fighters and sports games). What else can I say? The fact that there is nothing new to report about the gameplay itself testifies to its flawless nature. The only "new" things to be found in Raiden Project are options that Seibu thoughtfully put in so as order to give the player exactly what he wants. There is a mode to view the game in the normal format (with the same vertical arcade format screen ratio) with black bars on the borders, a mode for fit-to-screen vertical scrolling format, or a genuine vertical ratio with no borders that scrolls from left to right (the idea being that you turn your monitor on its side). In another heads-up move, Seibu programmed an option to shift the on-screen display about so that nothing is cut off because of the individual monitor. The music and sampling are exactly the same, but now you can choose to listen to an even better soundtrack composed of new arranged tracks. If you love shooters, get this game. If you love anything, buy this game. I can personally guarantee that this kick-ass CD is a blessing for anyone looking for that one perfect title. Don't wait... drop everything and get this game now! * ** *** ** * Title: CyberSled System: PlayStation Company: Namcot Available: Now Rating (1 to 10): 9 Comments: SIMPLY WILD! I can't believe I was getting bummed out hearing some of the negative reviews of this game floating around the Internet. I should have known that the early demos I'd seen of this game would only get better until they reached perfection. Well, as you had probably noticed, CyberSled was one of the hottest arcade titles released last year. Everyone knew that as soon as the PSX was out, the a conversion of CyberSled by Namcot (which is very chummy with Sony) would be soon to follow. The question was: Could it possibly be done? Can all of the incredible experience from the arcade version be retained? Fortunately for Namcot, the answer is a resounding yes. What you get for the outrageous import price is a total arcade tank battle package. Everything that made the arcade version so great is in here, along with some nice enhancements. As in the arcade, the action takes place as two futuristic battle tanks (nicknamed SLEDS, so the story goes) fight it out one-on-one in a fully 3D arena. The goal of both sides is to sneak up on the opponent tank and let him have it with cannon blasts and guided missiles. The movement throughout each of the various arenas is fast paced and very realistic, and the new texture mapping (optional in the game) makes it that much better than before. Complementing the awesome high-speed movements are excellent animation and detail; so very close to flawlessness. The music tracks in this game are EXACTLY as good as the arcade tracks with a few changes and enhancements to be found in a few places. I was expecting a bit more from the sound sampling and voice, but it's still very good. I was very pleased to see what Namcot did with the controls. Reminiscent of the overhead scenes in Konami's Contra Spirits on the SFC, the player shifts his position from right to left and backwards and forwards with the use of the directional pad while using the top buttons to pivot left and right. Borrowing a feature from Acclaim's Smash TV on the SNES, Namcot also included an option that lets you use the directional pad in conjunction with the four main buttons to simulate the dual-stick setup found in the arcade version. All in all, it's not letter-perfect, but it is as good as it gets... for now. I strongly recommend this one to anyone interested in this type of game. You won't be disappointed! ============================================================================== Thank you for reading, please feel free to ask any questions you might have! Before I take off... I'd like to send out a few fast greets: *Rave - Get me those discs from Taiwan man! *Songoku - I noticed you're back! Stay with us this time... *Shredder - So what do you think of your new PSX? :) *Xavier - Remind me to give your board a ring one of these days. *Dragon Avenger - Still looking for a good deal on that stuff? Try the net. *Sledge - What are the floods like over there? Ya'll ok? CYA everyone. Look for more reviews and stuff later on (if I have time!).