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Shin Force > Systems > Sega Saturn > Games > Radiant Silvergun

Radiant Silvergun Review

Reviewed
11.18.1999
Publisher
ESP
Developer
Treasure
Format
1x CD
Origin
Import/Domestic
Available
Jul. 22, 1998 (Japan)
Exclusive
Yes
Difficulty
Adjustable / Hard
Dimensions
3D
View
Top
Genre
Arcade / Shooter
Player(s)
1-2
Options
Backup 33
ST-Key
Requires
n/a
Importable
95%

Intro

> When the word "Treasure" is associated with the word "Saturn" we always get "masterpiece" as a result. After creating the most original games for Saturn (Guardian Heroes, Silhouette Mirage, etc...), now they strike back with a ST-V conversion in all its glory, probably, the best shooter ever made.

Graphics

> Radiant Silvergun has (with the exception of Grandia and Panzer Dragoon Saga) the most ambitious graphic engine ever seen on Saturn, or any other console. Backgrounds are the best I've seen. They've got multiple graphic effects just like polygons, scaling or awesome fog effects. Speaking of effects, this game has an amazing set of transparencies (yes, transparency) and light source effects.

> This game is, however, an interesting mixture of 2D and 3D, so you could think that due to the high amount of RAM this game requires, it may have a lot of slowdown. Not so fast! Treasure has proven their infinite talent in mastering the Saturn with this smooth graphic engine free of any slowdown.

> As usual in all Treasure games, FMV is great, it's full screen and has amazing quality . As I always say, Treasure could teach a lesson to the other developers that never try to do their FMV in full screen.

Control

> Easy to learn; Treasure wanted to make all weapons selectable from the start (that lets you concentrate better on the game rather than collecting power ups). Control is good and fluid, which is really necessary in a very hard game like this.

Sound

> Radiant Silvergun comes with a great soundtrack featuring plenty of instrumental details (bells in first stage are great ). However, its sound effects aren't as good as the music. They have bad quality and poor volume (sometimes I can't even hear the explosions). Voices are good and abundant though...

Fun

> As a perfect conversion, Radiant Silvergun has two different modes of play: Arcade Mode (the game that allows you to play the original Arcade game) and Saturn Mode (a spectacular new mode which includes new stages, bosses, FMV sequences, voices, etc...

> It's incredible how much imagination Treasure put in each game they make. This time, in Radiant Silvergun, they reached a climax -- they always find a way to put you in the most original and thrilling situations... Each new stage is a new world!! To top it off, bosses are the best feature of the game (there are more than 25). They're all huge polygon creatures with a large variety of attacks and cool designs. Honestly, I think Radiant Silvergun is the hardest shooter I've played (and I've played a lot). Even in Very Easy mode it is hard as hell to complete the third stage (with 10 lives and 5 continues).

Bottom Line

> Impressive, impressive, impressive. The biggest, hardest and best shooter ever made.... and, of course it's a Saturn exclusive!!.

Ratings

Overall: 9.8 | Graphics: 9.9 | Control: 9.9 | Sound: 9.5 | Fun: 9.9

~ Dantares ~

Screenshots / Pix

Reviewed
07.24.1998
Publisher
ESP
Developer
Treasure
Format
1x CD
Origin
Import/Domestic
Available
Jul. 22, 1998 (Japan)
Exclusive
Yes
Difficulty
Adjustable / Hard
Dimensions
3D
View
Top
Genre
Arcade / Shooter
Player(s)
1-2
Options
Backup 33
ST-Key
Requires
n/a
Importable
99%

Intro

> This year is turning out to be a great year for shooters on the Sega Saturn. Earlier we had Battle Garegga and Stellar Assault. Now, thanks to Treasure, we have what is the best shooter I've seen in a long time. Saturn Fans can expect that Radiant Silvergun is on par with, if not a greater achievement than Thunder Force V. To top it all off, RS is 100% importable with the only thing in Japanese being the speech during the FMV video scenes.

> The premise remains the same. You are the pilot of an advanced spacecraft with multiple weapons at your disposal. Your mission is simple: blast your way through the enemy defenses and destroy the final boss to save the galaxy from certain tyranny.

Graphics

> The graphics are nothing short of spectacular! You name the effect and Radiant Silvergun eventually uses it. For instance, you'll see zooming, transparency, light source shading, gigantic explosions, vertigo inducing movement and 3D perfection on the Saturn. The enemies provide nonstop action and are varied in size, shape and weaponry. The bosses come frequently and do all sorts of crazy things to try to thwart your efforts. No doubt, Treasure knows what they're doing. Absolutely grand...

Control

> Control is mint, as expected. Tight, responsive action accompanies you with seven weapons from the start. The weapons include a lightning gun, rear/forward fire, seek and forward blasters. Old school control, but that's good.

Sound

> The music is quite good, for a shooter, and consists mainly of upbeat tunes which are heavy on the keyboards. The sound effects aren't new, but they're done to perfection in Radiant Silvergun. Above average on the whole.

Fun

> You get Arcade (same as ST-V) and Saturn modes with the option to play with a friend. I can't think of a shooter that's as fun as this one. The graphics alone keep you going... and wondering why people say the Saturn doesn't do 3D.

Bottom Line

> Beautiful graphics, exact control, cool sound, nonstop action, vertigo inducing movement and Saturn quality, all courtesy of Treasure. I'd have to say it's the best shooter so far on Sega Saturn... and possibly any 32/64-bit console!

Ratings

Overall: 9.3 | Graphics: 9.9 | Control: 9.6 | Sound: 8.8 | Fun: 8.8

~ Shinobi ~

Screenshots / Pix

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