Rayxanber II

~ RAYXANBER II ~

Data West

CD-ROM

1991

Famous for its difficulty, Rayxanber II will dispose of casual players with little ado, but skilled shooter veterans should find only its fourth and sixth stages to be truly insane. The rest of the game is more than manageable, and the whole thing is enjoyable (for those who don't give up easily, at least). The graphics are fantastic, and the soundtrack, wonderful (and quite interesting in that it gets mellower and more melodic as you advance). This one is right up there with Sinistron/Violent Soldier when it comes to the toughest PCE horizontals, and it's almost as much fun. A must-get for the manly shooter player.

Like the level it resides in, the first boss looks really cool but is easily passed.

Things get tougher in Stage 2, as some of the enemies can take a heck of a lot of punishment, even the puny jets. The boss is another big pansy, though.

Stage 3 is one of the coolest shooter stages ever, as it features an enormous mechanical spider wreaking havoc over a charred city. You spend pretty much the whole level underneath the beast. Avoid getting stepped on as you blast up the smaller guys.

Most of Stage 4 is blanketed in a shot-resistant web-like substance. Fight off erratic, super-fast rock-things; relentless chaser aliens; and gigantic worm-like creatures as you deal with the inhibitive environment. All of that action causes extreme slowdown that can even affect your shooting. (Make sure to have the turbo switch in the "middle" position to maintain a stream of fire.)

Stage 5 features a wonderfully gruesome cast of mutated horrors. When you reach the boss's chamber, position yourself as shown above, and fire away with a vertical shot before the fight even commences.

The final level throws you into intimidatingly narrow passageways decked out with lots of cannons. Dodge projectiles and fend off your swift, dangerous enemies while large blocks hurtle down the corridors. You must memorize the entire stage to stand any chance of winning; and even then, you'll need a little luck to make it through.

Sit off to the side to avoid the sudden deluge of balls. When the worm appears, make careful use of your speed burst to stay alive.