Playtesting Eighting's R&D Title "Project RAIZIN" - A Look at the Exhilarating Action and Beautiful Graphics Created with UE5. #TGS2024!

This is a bit out of the blue, but what do you think of when you hear the word "Hokkaido"?
Perhaps some of you have some TOKIMEKI memories of Disappearing in the Okhotsk, buying a "Warpshoot" at a mysterious shop, or fighting a killer brown bear to protect a girl and being saved by a righteous matagi hunter.
For those of you who are familiar with the gaming industry, you might associate Hokkaido with the fact that various game developers have set up shop in Sapporo, and that numerous great games are being sent out to the world from Sapporo.
That's right, Sapporo, Hokkaido is a game developer's paradise!
We visited the "SAPPORO GAME CAMP" booth, where game development companies based in Sapporo were exhibiting at Tokyo Game Show 2024.

Eighting's R&D Title "Project RAIZIN"

Saiga NAK

One of the booths that really caught our eye was for "Project RAIZIN" by Eighting Co. Ltd.
It is an action game made with Unreal Engine 5, but it was created for research and development purposes and has no plans for a release.

The version exhibited at Tokyo Game Show allows you to play through the first stage and defeat the giant enemy "RAIZIN" waiting at the very end.

When you play it, you'll notice that the controls are very basic.
You move with the left stick, adjust the camera with the right stick, and fight by combining the action buttons for attack, jump, and dash.

Yep. Although there are many buttons, their layout isn't strangely eccentric, so even a first-time player could intuitively control it. That's a relief!

Responsive and Exhilarating Gameplay

By combining the melee attack button, which swings a laser blade, and the ranged attack button, which sends out slashes, you can unleash a variety of exhilarating combos, such as a "rotating cross slash combo" and a "triple-slash shot."

Mmm, the quality of the motions and effects is as impressive as you would expect!
The effects of sparks flying and robots exploding are magnificent, and there seems to be a slight hitstop with each hit, giving it a moderate sense of weightiness while still being speedy. It feels great!

The system that I recommend the most is the high-speed movement called "Boost Step," which is activated by pressing RB.

Not only can you use it as a general-purpose step on its own, but when activated after an attack, it has the characteristic of being able to cancel the cooldown after a move and connect to another attack.
Furthermore, if you activate it at the exact moment an enemy's attack hits, you can dodge it without taking any damage, meaning it has three uses: for general purpose, for attacks, and for evading.
In other words, it is a "jack-of-all-trades button" that is irresistible to action game lovers.

Even though it's an R&D title, it's very much like Eighting, a giant in the action game world, to include a button for technical plays.
...What a scary company. (This is a compliment, of course.)

The Boss Battle Is Also Meticulously Crafted

When you reach the end of the stage, the background changes completely.
The huge boss enemy "RAIZIN," who controls lightning, finally makes an appearance.

Wow, the contrast between blue and white is so beautiful... and just as I was thinking that,
a spectacular bolt of lightning strikes!

I was at a loss for how to deal with RAIZIN's attacks, which accurately targeted the player.
After getting a few game overs, I received some advice from a staff member.

Upon closer observation, a faint white premonition effect runs across the ground before lightning strikes.
I see, so I have to aim for a perfect dodge at that exact timing!
I successfully defeated the boss by making full use of the "Boost Step" mentioned above.

By the way...

...And here I suddenly realized something.
RAIZIN (雷神), which means "thunder god," is probably the origin of the name.

Hmm, I know of a game company with a similar name...!
It's the "RAIZING" company, a sister company that merged with Eighting in 2000 and is famous for its masterpiece shooting games "Battle Garegga" and "Terra Diver."

As you may know, RAIZING is still captivating vertical shooting fans with its sharp game design that refined the sense of speed and exhilaration.

In fact, that know-how has been passed down and is now taking on a new form as "Project RAIZIN," a sharp game design that combines speed and exhilaration with the latest technology.
Is it too much to think that this name also has such a meaning?

Eighting's Technical Prowess and Inquisitiveness Conveyed Through the R&D Title

The "Project RAIZIN" I got to play this time.
Although it is a mock-up (prototype) created for research and development purposes with no release planned at this time, it is a work that already shows Eighting's high level of technical skill. This is evident in the high-quality demo scenes, the smooth and carefully crafted camera work, and the stress-free controls.
I was very satisfied and had fun playing it from start to finish, which is impressive for a prototype title.

Eighting Co. Ltd., which continues to conduct research and development tirelessly every day, is a company to keep an eye on.

▼Photo & Written by Masked Kiwi
An anonymous masked writer.
The first game he ever played was "Mystery of Convoy."