
Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys
1993 Role-Playing
Rayxanber II drops you into a fast‑paced, horizontally scrolling shooter that feels like a love letter to R‑Type while adding its own twists. You pilot the Eliminate Scanner AD, swapping between red fire, green lightning and blue multi‑directional lasers by grabbing the matching color drops, each upgrade also summons a pair of rotating satellite pods that fire in sync with the weapon’s orientation. Holding the fire button charges a powerful blast, and a quick dash lets you weave through dense enemy patterns or dodge sudden obstacles, all while the screen scrolls relentlessly toward a looming boss.
The game’s CD‑quality soundtrack, composed by Yasuhito Saito, rides over crisp, detailed pixel art that still holds up for modern eyes, and the checkpoint system with unlimited continues keeps the challenge fair despite its notorious difficulty spikes. Though it debuted as an "instant success" in Japan and impressed crowds at the 1991 Tokyo Toy Show, critics abroad have been split—praising its audiovisual flair and innovative controls while lamenting the steep learning curve and occasional presentation quirks.
In Rayxanber II for the TurboGrafx‑CD, you take the helm of the Eliminate Scanner AD, a high‑tech fighter craft. Your mission is to defend Earth from a renewed onslaught by the Zoul Empire, which has returned to threaten humanity.
Edited by Maya Carter

1993 Role-Playing

1990 Shooter

1994 Beat 'em Up

1994 Puzzle