Raiden Fighters

About

Raiden Fighters is a fast-paced arcade shooter that drops you into the cockpit of one of seven weaponized jets. You’ll blast through three missions split into stages that mix up their order early on before locking into a fixed sequence later. The missions task you with disrupting rebel forces using a mix of dogfights and precision strikes. Controls are tight and responsive letting you chain rapid fire and special attacks to clear waves of enemies. The game stands out for its flexible early mission flow and smooth co-op mode which lets two players team up. Missions unfold over a map hinting at a conflict in eastern Asia with objectives that blend air superiority and ground attacks. Despite its age the PC port retains the arcade version’s punchy action and replay value. Community chatter often circles its legacy as a precursor to the sequel and its influence on later shoot-em-ups.

Storyline

Raiden Fighters' plot is not directly apparent in and of itself. The opening prologue of Raiden Fighters 2 hints at a plot from its predecessor, which the sequel follows. The protagonist squadron must quell a massive guerrilla uprising headed by a ruthless dictator. The setting of this conflict appears to take place in eastern Asia, as the briefings for each "Mission" include a war plan superimposed over a map depicting the countries of China and Japan.