"TREASURE's symphony No. 5"

Radiant Silvergun.

Here is a story of a shooter developed by a little company called TREASURE who released this game in arcades in 1998 and subsequently ported it to the Sega Saturn, with added cutscenes.

To many, it's known as that game that sells for ridiculous prices on the net. To others, it's simply the pinnacle of all shooterdom.

Why all this attention for a game that was never released outside of Japan and is a shooter, a kind of game that no longer holds the interest of consumers nowadays? Because it's an excellent game. That's cutting to the chase and being straightforward. It's no secret that this game was expertly designed, that it posseses the perfect balance of challenge, difficulty, complexity and fun. It's rewarding to play it more and more, and you begin to understand the gameplay mechanics that were implemented into this title.

I still remember the first time I popped RS into my Saturn. I was thinking about how unusual a shooter it was. I was so used to manic type shooters (ie. DonPachi, DoDonPachi, Blazing Lazers, Soldier Blade, etc.) that I wasn't expecting to really like RS. Then, to my amazement, the game began to pull me in. A gripping storyline (which for the most part was a non-existent thing for ANY shooter at the time), awesome sequenced gameplay and an epic soundtrack, all combined to make this game something more than just a game. I was sold, in other words.

There are 7 weapons. Each is elegant and appropriate for different reasons. But the most amazing weapon in the game is the sword itself. An awesome concept that Treasure thought would spice up the genre a bit, which it did and then some. Many developers have tried to replicate the concept, with some success, but never equaling the incredible balance in gameplay. For those that have the game, you know what I'm talking about. And for those that haven't yet, wait until you try it for the first time.

The music is both epic and grand. It's like a symphony No. 5 for shooter fans playing a work of art. Again, no other music could have been more appropriate for this game.

I highly recommend, that for those that never picked up a copy of Radiant Silvergun, you track it down and experience it for yourself. It's a testament to the love and hard work that Treasure puts into all their games.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/08

Game Release: Radiant Silvergun (JP, 07/23/98)