The A and C weapon is much simpler – it simply acts as a variation of the standard A weapon, except it shoots from the ship’s rear, allowing you to attack enemies from behind. A and B together will activate another targeting system, which fires two lines from the front of your ship – if they hit an enemy, it will lock onto them and electrocute them, until they either explode or they fall out of your range. A and C together will activate a close range targeting system, which will launch missiles at anything that comes near, and is useful for firing at enemies behind barriers or finding hidden objects.

Pressing each of the buttons together will attack with a different weapon. The C button fires out two lasers at a wide angle, which explode on contact – the most powerful of the weapons, but the most awkward to use efficiently. The B button fires homing projectiles which are versatile, but weak. The A button fires standard, forward firing projectiles, the kind that you’ll probably be using most of the game. Radiant Silvergun is an overhead shooter where you have three primary weapons, assigned to three primary buttons. It’s one of the few shooters that can actually be qualified as “epic” – its ambitious storyline, its wondrous presentation, its tightly paced level and boss design. It may have been beginners luck, or it may just have been the collective culmination of years of brilliant video game development experience, but Radiant Silvergun outclassed most of its previous titles, and even eclipsed most shooters from other companies. Yet they mostly produced side scrolling action platformers or beat-em-ups – it wasn’t until six years after their foundation that they created their first real shoot-em-up – Radiant Silvergun. Treasure, developer of such standout hits as Gunstar Heroes, gained quite a bit of popularity with fans due to their adherence to old school conventions, combined with innovative mechanics, explosive action, and an amusing sense of humor.

Radiant silvergun mame