RayStorm is a vertical-scrolling shooter that was originally released in Japanese arcade machines way back in 1996. A year later, it was popular enough to be ported to the PSOne and Sega Saturn. Fast forward to 2010 and RayStorm has now gotten an HD remake of sorts and is available now for you to download on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PlayStation Store.
RayStorm was enjoyable at the time of its release. Does RayStorm still hold its own in today’s market? Are the HD visuals really that good? Which old-school shooter is better; RayStorm HD or Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype? Answers to these questions and more as we take a look at the HOTs and NOTs.
HOT
Old-School Gameplay
There’s something about playing this style of shooter that takes you back to the 90s. The on-rails shooter genre faded at the turn of the millennium so it is great that some game developers are trying to bring back this style of gaming via downloads on the PSN and Xbox LIVE Marketplace. All you do is pick a ship and shoot. Simple and accessible for anybody to play. There’s even an auto-lock system so you can shoot missiles at multiple targets simultaneously!
Another great feature is the fact that the game has an offline co-op mode, so a friend can join in on the action. People wanting to play with a friend online will be disappointed to know there is none available here. You can however, check your high scores against the rest of the world.
A replay mode is also on offer. If you are proud of you efforts on a certain level you can save your replays and view them later. Sadly, you cannot fast forward or rewind the replays but you can skip to a specific level you may want to see.
NOT
Graphics
Although the title suggests this game has got an HD makeover, the graphics still look outdated. The ships and level designs are still PSOne-like and the only HD thing the Taito did was make the game fit onto a wide-screen. The background detail is bland and the colors lack any depth to them. Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype had prettier visuals and was more up-to-date. Not only that but the ship designs were varied, unlike the monotonous clone-like enemies you see in RayStorm.
Life System
Most games these days have a life-bar, or better yet, a stop and recover health system. In RayStorm HD however, if you hit by one laser blast you’re dead. Although you have lots of lives as backup you’ll go through them quickly. Not only this, but your credits and lives do not replenish after completing each level so you can potentially reach the last level with one life and then die prompting you to start the game all over again! Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype’s life bar system made it a lot less frustrating for me to play. The fact you have to avoid EVERY shot fired from the enemies makes this game very annoying. The rate of deaths are not as freqeunt if you’re playing alongside a friend, but it will still frustrate. Bosses don’t have a life bar either, so you’re shooting at it blindly until it finally explodes.
Longevity
Although there is a total of eight levels to play they’re all criminally too short and resemble one another. You’ll be busy blasting away for a few minutes and then the end level boss will suddenly appear. Trust me, the levels are too short to leave a lasting impression. The levels don’t offer anything different too. It’s your usual shoot and dodge everything in sight affair.
Price
The game costs a hefty 1200 Microsoft Points to download. This is way too expensive considering how lackluster the graphics are and the fact that the game is short and unmemorable. Had this been going for 400 Microsoft Points it would have been more value for your money. Sadly, 1200 Microsoft Points is too much to justify a game that not only looks outdated but plays like it too. If you’re on the PSN the price for the game stands at $15. Which is still too expensive…
VERDICT
Sadly, RayStorm HD disappoints on so many levels. Whereas most remakes offer new and innovative gameplay, RayStorm HD delivers nothing but outdated graphics and boring gameplay. If you’re looking for an old-school style shooter Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype offers better visuals and less frustrating gameplay. You may find some value in this game if you enjoyed the PSOne original and want feelings of nostalgia (it retains the same music and menu set ups). For everyone else, my advice is to save your money towards something else.)
Receving a 2 out 5 score should be a red flag for every gamer out there. We do not recommend wasting time or money on games that receive this score, as they have serious issues that make them not worthwhile.
[Editor’s Note: Raystorm HD was reviewed on a Xbox 360 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher.]