DETAILS Format Audio CD Released 5 Dec 1990 Publisher Pony Canyon Product ID PCCB-00047 Size (cm) 14.2 x 12.4 x 1 Weight (kg) 0.10

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The complete soundtrack to Seibu's arcade mega smash, courtesy of Pony Canyon's 'G.S.M. 1500 Series'. The score is spread over 9 tracks, followed by a 3-track 'S.E. Collection'. View [back] for track listing. CD case, 12-track audio CD, booklet, spine card.

DETAILS Format Mega Drive Released 6 July 1991 Publisher Micronet Product ID T-22043 Size (cm) 17.8 x 12.8 x 2.5 Weight (kg) 0.18

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Micronet deliver a decent (if a little choppy) one-player conversion of the arcade favourite for the Mega Drive. A good version, sure, but by today's standards it's just not sharp enough to cut any mustard. It does feature an additional 'Bonus Stage' at the end, though. Standard MD case, 8Mbit cartridge, colour booklet.

DETAILS Format PC Engine Released 22 Nov 1991 Publisher Hudson Product ID HC91049 Size (cm) 14.2 x 12.4 x 1 Weight (kg) 0.10

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The PC Engine Raiden was easily the best version of its day - if you leave the FM-Towns one aside. Hudson got the PC Engine to pump out a far smoother port than its MD and SFC counterparts - the only thing that's missing is the 2-player mode. Standard PCE case, 6Mbit HuCard, colour booklet.

DETAILS Format Super Famicom Released 29 Nov 1991 Publisher Toei Product ID SHVC-RD Size (cm) 19 x 10.5 x 3 Weight (kg) 0.16

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Looks like the MD and PCE versions were 1P-only for a reason: Toei's Super Famicom port manages to keep the 2-player mode, but the machine simply can't handle it - and more often than not the game completely falls apart in a nasty swamp of glitches and slowdown. What a mess this is. Standard SFC packaging, 8Mbit cartridge, booklet.

DETAILS Format FM Towns Released Late 1991 Publisher Kid Corp. Product ID ? Size (cm) ? Weight (kg) ?

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And here you have it: the FM Towns 'Raiden Densetsu' is by far the best early home conversion of the game. It is near-perfect in fact: the resolution is the same as the arcade, the action is fast and fluid, and the remixed CD soundtrack is superb. Such a shame that the FM Towns was never distributed outside of Japan - this is just yet another taste of what could have been.

DETAILS Format PC Engine Released 2 Apr 1992 Publisher Hudson Product ID HCD2023 Size (cm) 14.2 x 12.4 x 1 Weight (kg) 0.10

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Hudson knew they were onto a winner with their PC Engine port of Raiden: 6 months after their HuCard version they release a 'Super' update of the game for the Super CD-ROM². The game itself remains identical to the HuCard version listed above, but goes that little bit further thanks to its enhanced CD soundtrack and 2 bonus stages. CD case, PC Engine Super CD-ROM² disc, colour booklet, spine card.

DETAILS Format PlayStation Released 27 Jan 1995 Publisher Nihon System Product ID SLPS-00013 Size (cm) 14.2 x 12.4 x 1 Weight (kg) 0.10

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Superb 2-in-1 pack released shortly after the PlayStation itself, featuring nigh-on perfect versions of: - Raiden (1990) - Raiden II (1993) This was hands-down one of the best early releases on the PS: both games are perfectly converted, presented with tons of great options (horizontal & vertical TV modes, original / arranged sound etc.). Sheer brilliance. CD case, PlayStation CD-ROM disc, colour manual, spine card.

DETAILS Format PlayStation Released 12 July 1996 Publisher Nihon System Product ID SLPS-91002 Size (cm) 14.2 x 12.4 x 1 Weight (kg) 0.10

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The excellent 'Raiden Project' pack was one of the first top-selling titles to get itself a 'PlayStation the Best' re-issue. No surprise there then. Contents remain identical to the original 1995 print: - Raiden (1990) - Raiden II (1993) Essential! CD case, PlayStation CD-ROM disc, colour manual, spine card.

DETAILS Format PlayStation Released 28 Nov 2002 Publisher Hamster Product ID SLPM-86613 Size (cm) 14.2 x 12.4 x 1 Weight (kg) 0.10

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Raiden gets itself a celebrational re-release in 2002, courtesy of the Major Wave Arcade Hits label. Note: this version contains the original Raiden (1990) only (as featured in the PS 'Raiden Project'). CD case, PlayStation CD-ROM disc, 12-page monochrome booklet, spine card.