RayCrisis

RayCrisis

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	1998
Founder	Taito
Products	Vertically scrolling shooter arcade game
Parent	Taito

is a vertically scrolling shooter arcade title released in 1998 by Taito, who also developed and published it. The PlayStation edition, launched in 2000, was renamed RayCrisis: Series Termination. This installment serves as the third in the Ray franchise and functions as a narrative prequel to RayForce.

Gameplay

Building upon the foundation laid by RayForce, RayCrisis presents a vertical scrolling shooter experience from an overhead viewpoint. Players assume control of the Waverider, a computer virus designed to penetrate the supercomputer Con-Human’s system, engaging in combat against its defensive antibody programs.

A distinctive feature is the Encroachment mechanic, where accumulating 100% results in point deductions and triggers early boss battles along with an unfavorable ending. Players can decrease Encroachment by destroying antibodies or collecting specific items, promoting tactical gameplay to evade detection by Con-Human.

The game initiates within the Self-Area, then proceeds through three out of five selectable stages—Emotion, Consciousness, Intelligence, Memory, or Consideration—each symbolizing different facets of Con-Human’s consciousness. Upon completing the fourth stage, an emergency protocol activates, leading to confrontations with the Dis-Human antibody and ultimately Infinity, Con-Human’s core entity.

Plot

Serving as a prequel to RayForce, RayCrisis delves into the genesis of sentience within the Neuro-Computer Con-Human following an unsuccessful experiment that mentally linked it with a human clone. Subsequently, Con-Human turns hostile toward humanity through aggressive attacks and cloning operations.

A mecha-neurologist infiltrates Con-Human’s network using computer viruses known as Waveriders, launching Operation Raycrisis to neutralize the rogue AI’s destructive campaign. Although significant internal damage is inflicted on Con-Human, humanity is compelled to evacuate Earth and relocate to space colonies.

Years later, Terran Command deploys the X-LAY starfighter fleet for a decisive offensive against Con-Human’s mechanized stronghold on Earth, aiming to eliminate the cybernetic menace at the expense of their home planet.

Release

The PlayStation iteration grants players freedom in selecting Stages 2, 3, and 4 and permits multiple replays of these levels. It includes an original mode where players can progress through all stages while acquiring additional items; however, no continues are allowed once all lives are lost. This version uniquely offers customizable ship colors, contrasting with the arcade and smartphone editions that assign fixed colors (red for player one and blue for player two). The Japanese release featured a downloadable "Pocket Ray" minigame compatible with the PocketStation, which was excluded from the U.S. version due to the PocketStation’s absence in that market.

The Windows 95 port presents notable differences compared to the PlayStation release.

Additionally, the game was packaged alongside RayStorm in the compilation titled Simple 1500 Series Vol. 75: The Double Shooting.

Reception

The PlayStation version garnered mixed feedback, earning a Metacritic aggregate score of 67 out of 100. Reviewers praised its striking visual presentation but expressed reservations regarding its gameplay complexity. Chris Charla from Next Generation lauded its graphical quality as "fantastic" yet recommended other titles for those seeking a true successor to R-Type. In Japan, Famitsu awarded it a score of 26 out of 40.

According to Game Machine, the arcade edition ranked tenth among Japan’s most successful arcade games in 1999.

Critical ratings varied widely: IGN assigned it an 8.1 out of 10, Electronic Gaming Monthly averaged around 7 out of 10, while outlets such as Edge and Eurogamer offered lower evaluations. The iOS adaptation also received moderate critical reception.

See also

• RayForce
• RayStorm

External links

• Official site