In the 90’s, the space shooter genre really hit peak levels with improving technology and the implementation of 3-D graphics. Taito’s Ray’z Arcade Chronology is an interesting piece of history, as it includes the original game in the series, RayForce, which was a 2-D vertical shooter, but then you get to see how things transitioned to 3-D in the follow-up, RayStorm, and then how it all tied together with RayCrisis. So, how does it hold up in the modern era, you ask? I guess you’ll have to read on to find out!

I’m going to assume that everyone here is familiar with this type of game. It’s what we called “shooters” back in the 90’s (before the first-person shooter took over the moniker), but the genre has become known as “shoot ’em ups” in the past couple of decades. You are the pilot of a lone space ship (or two space ships if you play two-player) and are fighting against an army of enemy space ships. There is indeed a story underlying each of the games in the collection, but the text is so small and goes by so quickly, that you probably won’t have any idea what it is. And does it really matter? I mean, you get to blast off and shoot as much stuff as you can while avoiding everything that the enemy throws at you! 

One thing that separates the Ray’z games from other vertical shooters of the time is the fact that you have 2 different guns at your disposal. One is your standard “shoot forward” at anything on the main plane of play. The other is a lock-on laser that can be used to chain attacks together and destroy multiple enemies at once and can also hit enemies that are below the main field of play. The more you lock on with the laser, the higher the score multiplier, so those playing for score would be wise to master this lock-on ability. Both of your weapons can be powered-up by destroying certain enemies that drop power-up items. In the latter two games, you are also given a screen-clearing “bomb” ability and the choice of different ships which changes your main shot and the number of “lock-ons” your laser can latch onto at a time.

Back in the day, I had the Saturn and PlayStation versions of these games, and while Ray’z Arcade Chronology are the original arcade versions, the differences are minimal outside of RayCrisis (arcade) has two-player and the PlayStation port did not. Otherwise, Ray’z Arcade Chronology has some modern updates we’ve come to expect in recent re-releases. For one, you have unlimited credits on every game in the collection, so even those of us who suck at these games can still push through to the very end. There is a save-state ability to save anywhere you like, so if you are trying for a perfect run to get the best ending, then that makes things quite a bit easier. 

The real icing on the cake is the updated HD visuals for the two 3-D games in the collection! It makes them look quite pretty, and probably a little easier to follow the action on screen, too, but that may just be my imagination. Personally, I still really like the original graphics and think that all of these games hold up really well for 3-D games of their time. The visuals of most games from back then look like trash today, but in the Ray’z series, it worked out rather well. Even in the 90’s I remember thinking, “This is how 3-D games should be done!” It allows for some pretty impressive graphics and flashy scenes to play out, and overall, the games just look cool!

The soundtracks in Ray’z Arcade Chronology are pretty rockin’, too, definitely something that you could find me listening to outside of the game. The catchy tunes are definitely up to par with many of the games’ contemporaries, something that modern games sadly miss the mark on (I loathe the transition to “mood music” in games!  *grumble* *grumble*). In fact, there is even a trophy tied to hearing all of the music in the game, so I was hoping there was a sound test, but unfortunately, it just means playing every level with a unique song attached to it. I would have liked a sound test, but that is another old-school staple that seems to be forgotten by modern games. Probably to sell soundtracks… or because most modern soundtracks are boring and suck! Come at me, bro!

Okay, so Ray’z Arcade Chronology looks great, sounds great, but how does it play? Fast-paced, lots of action, and plenty of near-death experiences that you eventually learn to see coming. You definitely feel the improvement with each sequel, and while RayForce is a great game by itself, each game gets progressively better, and the real gem really is the finale, RayCrisis! With RayCrisis, you are actually given a set number of levels up front, but when you complete the game once, if you enter the same initials for your subsequent play-throughs, then you can play different levels, so every play-through can feel a little different than the last. 

All three games in Ray’z Arcade Chronology are tons of fun, and I still feel that these are some of the best shooters I’ve been lucky enough to play over the years. Huge bosses, with an onslaught of bullets that transform as you fight them…  The style, the gameplay, the fun…  it’s all there! Definitely recommended for those old school shooter fans who missed out previously or those who enjoy the genre. 

*Disclosure: A copy of Ray’z Arcade Chronology for PlayStation 4 was provided to The Splintering for the purpose of this review.

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