History VideoGame / RadiantSilvergun

* NintendoHard: Oh ''lawd'', is this game TERRIFYINGLY hard. If you're not a hardcore gamer, setting the difficulty to easiest is a must. In most shmups, players tend to use their first continue by the time they reach the second stage. In this game? By the time most players come out of [[AnachronicOrder Stage 3]], the digit in the score that tracks the number of continues used is already maxed out! And let's not get started on the chain scoring system...

* NintendoHard: Oh ''lawd'', is this game TERRIFYINGLY hard. If you're not a hardcore gamer, setting the difficulty to easiest is a must. In most shmups, players tend to use their first continue by the time they reach the second stage. In this game? By the time most players come out of [[AnachronicOrder Stage 3]], the digit in the score that tracks the number of continues used is already maxed out! And let's not get started on the chaining system...

* NintendoHard: Oh ''lawd'', is this game TERRIFYINGLY hard. If you're not a hardcore gamer, setting the difficulty to easiest is a must. In most shmups, players tend to use their first continue by the time they reach the second stage. In this game? By the time most players come out of [[AnachronicOrder Stage 3]], the digit in the score that tracks the number of continues used is already maxed out!

* NewGamePlus: Over the course of the game, the Silvergun's weapons level up as more points are earned. Saturn Mode in the Saturn version (or Story Mode in the XBLA version) of the game saves these levels and lets you start the game over again with them. Eventually, you'll be able to start the game from the beginning with maxed-out weapons. On the downside, you get no continues.

* TheScourgeOfGod: The Stone-Like, but it's also pretty close to a [[GaiasVengeance Gaia's Avenger]] because [[spoiler:after everyone else dies, Creator tells the player that not only is the Stone-Like the guardian of Earth, it ''is'' the Earth]].
** For those who thought the Stone-Like's actions [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]], keep in mind that [[spoiler:it's said to be the guardian of ''Earth'', ''not'' the guardian of ''humanity'']].

*** That's still pretty hypocritical, given that humanity is Earth's only defense against planet-destroying events (large meteor impacts, catastrophic supervolcano eruptions, alien invasion/contamination, among others) and the Stone-Like could have [[spoiler: easily forced humanity (or its remnants) into whatever role it wanted to, rather than wiping all of them out.]]
** [[spoiler:GodIsEvil: If VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'s ending is any indication.]]

* SequelDifficultyDrop: It is much easier than ''Radiant Silvergun''. Notably, you don't have to power up your weapons anymore since they are static in firepower throughout the whole game, and the bullet absorption mechanic has been changed from "specific type of bullet can be absorbed with a specific weapon" to "any shot of your color can be absorbed". The scoring system is more forgiving too: chains no longer need to be entirely of one color (you just need to shoot 3 enemies of the same color, then the next chain segment can be of either color), so you can actually kill most of the enemies now. Scoring has also become optional, due to the aforementioned static shot power; its only purpose for non-scoring players now is for [[EveryTenThousandPoints extra lives]].

* SequelDifficultyDrop: It is much easier than ''Radiant Silvergun''. Notably, you don't have to power up your weapons anymore since they are static in firepower throughout the whole game, and the bullet absorption mechanic has been changed from "specific type of bullet can be absorbed with a specific weapon' to "any shot of your color can be absorbed". The scoring system is more forgiving too: chains no longer need to be entirely of one color (you just need to shoot 3 enemies of the same color, then the next chain segment can be of either color), so you can actually kill most of the enemies now. Scoring has also become optional, due to the aforementioned static shot power; its only purpose for non-scoring players now is for [[EveryTenThousandPoints extra lives]].

* SequelDifficultyDrop: It is much easier than ''Radiant Silvergun''. Notably, you don't have to power up your weapons or play for score (which powers up your weapons in ''Radiant Silvergun'') anymore since they are static in firepower throughout the whole game, and the bullet absorption mechanic has been changed from "specific type of bullet can be absorbed with a specific weapon' to "any shot of your color can be absorbed". The scoring system is more forgiving too: chains no longer need to be entirely of one color (you just need to shoot 3 enemies of the same color, then the next chain segment can be of either color), so you can actually kill most of the enemies now.

* NewGamePlus: Over the course of the game, the Silvergun's weapons level up as more points are earned. Saturn Mode in the Saturn version of the game saves these levels and lets you start the game over again with them. Eventually, you'll be able to start the game from the beginning with maxed-out weapons.

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Every boss in Radiant Silvergun (well, maybe except for the first boss) is preceded by a warning screen with three pieces of cryptic advice. For one of the Stage 6 bosses in the Saturn version, the three tips are "Be careless" "Go go heart" and "YYTM strategy".
** Better yet, the advice for the FinalBoss: 1. BE PRAYING; 2. BE PRAYING; 3. BE PRAYING.

->''"Now that it's done · · · · ·''
->''I've begun to see the reason why we are here."''

''Radiant Silvergun'' is a vertical scrolling shooter by Creator/{{Treasure}}, released in arcades (on the Sega Titan-Video hardware) and on the SegaSaturn in 1998. It was [[UpdatedRerelease ported to]] XBoxLiveArcade on September 14, 2011.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The [[http://silver.emuxhaven.net/Link%20Stage%20Explanation.html Stage 1 and ending]] dialogue and monologue is intentional symbolism for [[spoiler: ExecutiveMeddling between game retailers, developers, and publishers, with hardcore gamers caught in the middle]].

* {{From Bad To|Worse}} '''''[[FromBadToWorse Way]]''''' [[FromBadToWorse Fucking Worse]]

* SenselessSacrifice / StupidSacrifice: [[spoiler: Guy's attempt to destroy the Stone-Like at the end of Stage 5]].

* [[spoiler: ShootTheShaggyDog]]

** Xiga is, oddly enough, [[spoiler:''{{Ultraman}}'']].
** Guy has more than a passing resemblance to another [[spoiler: [[{{Nadesico}} hot-blooded dead Gai]]]].

-->'''Igarashi''': On other matters, I recall that today is the last day of your tests! Our superiors have placed a lot of expectations on these new models, so ''please'', do your best!
-->'''Guy''': *tsk tsk tsk* C'mon, pops, you don't need tests if you've got the guts!
-->'''Igarashi''': So, Tengai, just how ''is'' my son doing on the tests?
-->'''Tengai''': ... Heheh ... '''HE'S THE WORST DAMN PILOT IN THE HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY!'''
-->'''Guy''': *screams in anguish*

* TheScourgeOfGod: The Stone-Like, but it's also pretty close to a [[GaiasVengeance Gaia's Avenger]] because [[spoiler: after everyone else dies, Creator tells the player that not only is the Stone-Like the guardian of Earth, it ''is'' the Earth]].
** For those who thought the Stone-Like's actions [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]], keep in mind that [[spoiler: it's said to be the guardian of ''Earth'', ''not'' the guardian of ''humanity'']].
** [[spoiler: GodIsEvil: If {{Ikaruga}}'s ending is any indication.]]

* TurtlePower: Bechew. It ''will'' [[IncrediblyLamePun bea-chew]] up.

* UpdatedRerelease: One of Microsoft's TokyoGameShow 2010 announcements was an XBLA remake. There was much rejoicing...except from those hoping to [[CrackIsCheaper invest in legit Sega Saturn copies.]]

** Unfortunately, the Options+ menu (which let you make hitboxes visible or alter the Silvergun's speed) was lost in the mix - even after ninety hours of play, people haven't been able to make it appear. Another issue is that the game is presented in a 16:9 pillarboxed screen, even on non-16:9 displays, resulting in a significantly reduced game window--a problem for players who don't have [=HDTVs=] or want to play on a CRT.
* WarmupBoss: The first boss, [=AKA-O=]. Well...except when playing on the hardest difficulty, in which case it's a WakeUpCallBoss and can easily kill any unsuspecting player.

----

The gameplay is rather unique, allowing you to use any of seven weapons at any time, as well as a charged attack. Weapons gain in strength as you score points with them, and destroying a chain of enemies that have the same color gives higher and higher bonuses as the chain continues. Thus, you'll need to use a variety of attack methods to level up evenly, as well as NOT destroying enemies of other colors so as to not break the chain. (Inter-color chains would not appear until ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'', but is available as an option in the [[UpdatedRerelease XBLA remake]] if you got any achievements in the former's XBLA remake.) Failure to do results in a near {{Unwinnable}} scenario against the FinalBoss, as underleveled weapons are ineffective and rendered useless. Like previous Treasure games, ''Radiant Silvergun'' concentrates heavily on boss battles. The infamous boss warning screen appears about two dozen times and bosses take numerous different forms to try to annihilate the player.

See also ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'', the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Radiant Silvergun''.

The story is rather bleak and depressing: a strange crystalline structure called the Stone-Like is found in an ancient ruined city, and then proceeds to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt kill everyone on Earth]]. The player takes control of a pilot in a small crew that escaped the Stone-Like's blast, helming the eponymous Silvergun and returns to the planet to discover the secrets behind the artifact. [[ItGotWorse Things are just getting worse from this point on]].

* ExcusePlot: Unusually [[AvertedTrope averted]] for a Creator/{{Treasure}} game. It's still mostly in the background, but the plot is far more fleshed out than those in their other games. How else could it be so [[ItGotWorse downright]] [[DownerEnding depressing]]?

* [[ItGotWorse It Got]] '''''[[ItGotWorse Way]]''''' [[ItGotWorse Fucking Worse]]

* NintendoHard: If you're not a hardcore gamer, setting the difficulty to easiest is a must. In most shmups, players tend to use their first continue by the time they reach the second stage. In this game? By the time most players come out of [[AnachronicOrder Stage 3]], the digit in the score that tracks the number of continues used is already maxed out!

* ExcusePlot: Unusually [[AvertedTrope averted]] for a {{Treasure}} game. It's still mostly in the background, but the plot is far more fleshed out than those in their other games. How else could it be so [[ItGotWorse downright]] [[DownerEnding depressing]]?

The gameplay is rather unique, allowing you to use any of seven weapons at any time, as well as a charged attack. Weapons gain in strength as you score points with them, and destroying a chain of enemies that have the same color gives higher and higher bonuses as the chain continues. Thus, you'll need to use a variety of attack methods to level up evenly, as well as NOT destroying enemies of other colors so as to not break the chain. (Inter-color chains would not appear until {{Ikaruga}}, but is available as an option in the [[UpdatedRerelease XBLA remake]] if you got any achievements in the former's XBLA remake.) Failure to do results in a near {{Unwinnable}} scenario against the FinalBoss, as underleveled weapons are ineffective and rendered useless. Like previous {{Treasure}} games, ''Radiant Silvergun'' concentrates heavily on boss battles. The infamous boss warning screen appears about two dozen times and bosses take numerous different forms to try to annihilate the player.

See also ''{{Ikaruga}}'', the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Radiant Silvergun''.

** Among other obvious additions, there was an extra option thrown in for those that had [[{{Ikaruga}} Ikaruga's]] XBLA rerelease and got any achievement in it: The ability to use Ikaruga's multi-color chain system instead of being forced to always hit the same color to sustain a chain, although to compensate, the maximum chain only gives you 25600 points per enemy, as opposed to 100k you can get with the normal chains.

''Radiant Silvergun'' is a vertical scrolling shooter by {{Treasure}}, released in arcades (on the Sega Titan-Video hardware) and on the SegaSaturn in 1998. It was [[UpdatedRerelease ported to]] XBoxLiveArcade on September 14, 2011.