Darius might be Taito's best-known series of shoot 'em ups, but the "Ray'z" series is popular too. Beginning with 1994's 2D RayForce (also known as Layer Section and Galactic Attack), the series went on to spawn two polygonal entries: RayStorm in 1996 and RayCrisis in 1998. Various iterations of these games will be included in a pair of upcoming collections for PlayStation and Switch from ININ Games: RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection and Ray'z Arcade Chronology. Both titles are due out on June 30.
The existence of two very similar collections based on the same series of shoot 'em ups can be a little confusing, but it's similar to what ININ did with its Wonder Boy and Space Invaders collections. One collection will have some of the Ray'z games and cost less, and the other will have all of them but cost more.
RayCrisis HD
RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection
Included games:
- RayStorm has you fight the rebellious Secilian Federation with the R-Gray.
- In RayCrisis, survive the antivirus systems with your Waverider and take down Con-Human while keeping your "Encroachment" level low.
Enjoy the original arcade and new HD versions of RayStorm and RayCrisis with crisp polygonal graphics.
RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection will be released digitally on PlayStation and Switch on Friday, June 30. The physical PlayStation and Switch versions are up for preorder at Amazon. Both digital and physical editions will sell for $39.99.
Ray'z Arcade Chronology
Included games:
- Pilot the RVA-818 X-LAY in RayForce with its revolutionary "dual-layer attack" system and face the AI Con-Human's defenses.
- RayStorm has you fight the rebellious Secilian Federation with the R-Gray.
- In RayCrisis, survive the antivirus systems with your Waverider and take down Con-Human while keeping your "Encroachment" level low.
Enjoy the original arcade and new HD versions of RayStorm and RayCrisis with crisp polygonal graphics. R-Gear is not included in the Download Version of Ray'z Arcade Chronology.
What's that about R-Gear? Well, R-Gear is a playable prototype of a RayForce sequel that was never completed.
Ray'z Arcade Chronology will be released digitally on PlayStation and Switch on Friday, June 30. It will sell for $49.99.