Raiden

The Good
This is the best translation of Raiden available on any home system. In my opinion it is even superior to the arcade game. Some features on the Turbo Version actually look better than they do on the arcade game. Really beautiful graphics. It also controls very well and has a nice assortment of power ups.

It has better graphics than the Genesis version and controls better than the awful SNES version. It also offers a full screen view of the action instead of a narrowed field of view as on the Genesis.

As top down shooters go this one is excellent. Not the most original concept for a shooter, but it is extremely well executed; a refinement of the common formula of the time.

The Bad
There are a few annoying things about the game. Its incredibly difficult. And if I remember correctly when you beat the game you don't really get an ending with a sense of closure that explains the plot. You basically get a message in Engrish stating you beat the bad guys and your ship flies off into space? Huh? I don't mind games not having much of a story but I don't like it when you don't get a cool ending. That's a pet peave of mine.

The Bottom Line
Its a great overhead shooter for the Turbo Graphics 16. Blazing Lazers is better. There are actually a lot of these great shooters on the Turbo / PC Engine. Super Star Soldier and Tatsujin come to mind.