Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra :: Raiden II (as half of The Raiden Project) was a PS1 launch title in '95.

[quote name="You're thinking of Raiden III."]The <a href="http://hardcoregaming101.net/raiden/raiden.htm">whole series</a> is good, but the first two games were fairly traditional overhead shooters, while the latter two (made more than a decade later by different developers) are much closer to modern bullet hell. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for a fun, "casual" experience try the original, the first sequel (which introduced the toothpaste laser), and/or the sequel's super-deluxe import-only director's cut (Raiden DX) before diving head-first into parts III or IV.[/quote]