History YMMV / RadiantSilvergun

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: The game is a shmup with many odd mechanics — you start with many sorts of weapons, but is based off what combination of buttons you press. This can be very confusing for both newcomers and shmup veterans, who would likely drop the game long before they can get used to it. The combo system, vital for a high score and to power up your weapons (lest it be nearly impossible to play) can also throw many players off, especially when they have to avoid shooting the majority of enemies and evade them when they can, quite the opposite of what players are used to. The insanely depressing story where all of life on Earth is destroyed at the start and you also die in the end resolving nothing no matter what doesn't help, either. These factors kept it a niche solely on the Sega Saturn and did not leave the country or system until 2011, thirteen years after its initial release. Though as the years passed, the game was more warmly received for its uniqueness in a sea of shmups, as well as being the predecessor to VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}.

While SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'' also has chaining, not only does it allow players to switch color for every successive chain earned, but the lack of weapon level ups means chaining ([[PacifistRun and even firing at all]]) becomes optional, making the game [[SequelDifficultyDrop far easier]].

** To unlock "Ikaruga Mode" in the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 port, players need to have played ''Ikaruga'' and earned at least one achievement under the same account used to play ''Radiant Silvergun''. Unless players have an acquaintance who has the game, this amounts to a $10 DownloadableContent if they don't wish to play ''Ikaruga'' at all or already have another version of it. This is thankfully no longer the case for the Nintendo Switch port, where it unlocks after clearing the game once.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: On the Xbox 360 port of the game, you can no longer use continues on its Story Mode whereas the Sega Saturn version allowed you to use them, which can make playing the Story Mode harder than it should be, especially considering you have to play through both Stages 2 and 4.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: On the Xbox 360 port of the game, you can no longer use continues on its Story Mode whereas the Sega Saturn version allowed you to use them, which can make playing the Story Mode harder than it should be.

** Once you collect enough pink bullets to use the Hyper Sword, pressing the command for the Radiant Sword again will trigger the Hyper Sword, using the entire meter in the process. This can be problematic if you're trying to save the Hyper Sword for a later section (likely to make use of the [[InvulnerableAttack i-frames]]) but you're in a situation where the Radiant Sword is the best weapon to use.

** Once you collect enough pink bullets to use the Hyper Sword, pressing the command for the Radiant Sword again will trigger the Hyper Sword, using the entire meter in the process. This can be problematic if you're trying to save the Hyper Sword for a later section but you're in a situation where the Radiant Sword is the best weapon to use.

** To unlock "Ikaruga Mode" in the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 port, players need to have played ''Ikaruga'' and earned at least one achievement under the same account used to play ''Radiant Silvergun''. Unless players have an acquaintance who has the game, this amounts to a $10 DownloadableContent if they don't wish to play ''Ikaruga'' at all or already have another version of it. This is thankfully no longer the case for the Nintendo Switch port.

** To unlock "Ikaruga Mode" in the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 port, players need to have played ''Ikaruga'' and earned at least one achievement under the same account used to play ''Radiant Silvergun''. Unless players have an acquaintance who has the game, this amounts to a $10 DownloadableContent if they don't wish to play ''Ikaruga'' at all or already have another version of it.

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: The game is a shmup with many odd mechanics — you start with many sorts of weapons, but is based off what combination of buttons you press. This can be very confusing for both newcomers and shmup veterans, who would likely drop the game long before they can get used to it. The combo system, vital for a high score and to power up your weapons (lest it be nearly impossible to play) can also throw many players off, especially when they have to avoid shooting the majority of enemies and evade them when they can, quite the opposite of what players are used to. The insanely depressing story where all of life on Earth is destroyed at the start and you also die in the end resolving nothing no matter what doesn't help, either. These factors kept it a niche solely on the Sega Saturn and did not leave the country or system until 2011, thirteen years after its initial release. Though as the years passed, the game was more warmly received for its uniqueness in a sea of shmups.

2. [[OhCrap Be Praying]]\\

* NightmareFuel: The Stone-Like destroys all life on the planet [[spoiler:and there is '''nothing the heroes are able to do about it'''. They come back to Earth after escaping its destruction, and their entire LastStand was for '''[[ShootTheShaggyDog NOTHING]]'''. Repeat ''[[GroundhogDayLoop ad infinitum]]'' until VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}]].

** To unlock "Ikaruga Mode" in the Xbox 360 port, players need to have played ''Ikaruga'' and earned at least one achievement under the same account used to play ''Radiant Silvergun''. Unless players have an acquaintance who has the game, this amounts to a $10 DownloadableContent if they don't wish to play ''Ikaruga'' at all or already have another version of it.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fact that [[ShootTheShaggyDog nothing good ever comes out of the story]]. The game already starts with [[KillEmAll all of mankind being wiped out]] and the heroes going on a hopeless LastStand against the Stone-Like, which eventually results in [[spoiler:the characters being killed in the process and the whole world being doomed in a GroundhogDayLoop, until VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}]].

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fact that [[ShootTheShaggyDog nothing good ever comes out of the story]]. The game already starts with [[KillEmAll all of mankind being wiped out]] and the heroes going on a hopeless LastStand against the Stone-Like, which eventually results in [[spoiler:the characters being killed in the process and the whole world being doomed in a GroundhogDayLoop, until VideoGame/Ikaruga]].

* NightmareFuel: The Stone-Like destroys all life on the planet [[spoiler:and there is '''nothing the heroes are able to do about it'''. They come back to Earth after escaping its destruction, and their entire LastStand was for '''[[ShootTheShaggyDog NOTHING]]'''. Repeat ''[[GroundhogDayLoop ad infinitum]]'' until VideoGame/Ikaruga]].

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fact that [[ShootTheShaggyDog nothing good ever comes out of the story]]. The game already starts with [[KillEmAll all of mankind being wiped out]] and the heroes going on a hopeless LastStand against the Stone-Like, which eventually results in [[spoiler:the characters being killed in the process and the whole world being doomed in a GroundhogDayLoop]].

* NightmareFuel: The Stone-Like destroys all life on the planet [[spoiler:and there is '''nothing the heroes are able to do about it'''. They come back to Earth after escaping its destruction, and their entire LastStand was for '''[[ShootTheShaggyDog NOTHING]]'''. Repeat ''[[GroundhogDayLoop ad infinitum]]'']].

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fact that [[ShootTheShaggyDog nothing ever comes good out of the story]]. The game already starts with [[KillEmAll all of mankind being wiped out]] and the heroes going on a hopeless LastStand against the Stone-Like, which eventually results in [[spoiler:the characters being killed in the process and the whole world being doomed in a GroundhogDayLoop.]]

** The UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade port, while far from a PortingDisaster, has an issue with aspect ratio: the game runs in a 4:3 window pillarboxed into a 16:9 screen. This layout is then letterboxed if players are using a screen with an aspect ratio taller than 16:9. This is practically an insult to those who wish to play on a 4:3 screen, particularly CRT screens like with the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and ST-V versions.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fact that [[ShootTheShaggyDog nothing ever comes good out of the story]]. The game already starts with [[KillEmAll all of mankind being wiped out]] and the heroes going on a hopeless LastStand against the Stone-Like, which eventually results in [[spoiler:the characters being killed in the process and the whole world is doomed in a GroundhogDayLoop.]]

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fact that [[ShootTheShaggyDog nothing ever comes good out of the story]]. The game already starts with [[KillEmAll all of mankind being wiped out]] and the heroes going on a hopeless LastStand against the Stone-Like, which eventually results in the characters being killed in the process and the whole world is doomed in a GroundhogDayLoop.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: On the Xbox 360 port of the game, you can longer use continues on its Story Mode whereas the Sega Saturn version allowed you to use them, which can make playing the Story Mode harder than it should be.

** The XboxLiveArcade port, while far from a PortingDisaster, has an issue with aspect ratio: the game runs in a 4:3 window pillarboxed into a 16:9 screen. This layout is then letterboxed if players are using a screen with an aspect ratio taller than 16:9. This is practically an insult to those who wish to play on a 4:3 screen, particularly CRT screens like with the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and ST-V versions.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The entire soundtrack, as composed by Creator/HitoshiSakimoto. Some examples are songs like "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cue-OP0iE7Q Debris]]" and "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9aCnQcM_EI Return]]".

*** 1. [[FinalBoss Be Praying]]\\

* SoCoolItsAwesome: Along with ''Ikaruga'', ''Radiant Silvergun'' game is considered by many to be one of the best {{Shoot Em Up}}s of all time.

** To unlock "Ikaruga Mode" in the Xbox port, players need to have played ''Ikaruga'' and earned at least one achievement under the same account used to play ''Radiant Silvergun''. Unless players have an acquaintance who has the game, this amounts to a $10 DownloadableContent if they don't wish to play ''Ikaruga'' at all or already have another version of it.

** For those who want to get large chains (and probably a necessity for players, regardless, since is a point where weapon levels should be as high as possible), part one of Stage 5A "Victim" is the most challenging, as it also takes place during a boss fight. There are tons of drones flying around when players must navigate inside the boss as wall turrets line the surrounding and firing at the player's position. Periodically, the walls will close in, forcing players to take cover as a missile flies through. Eventually, girders slide through the corridor, all the while the turrets keep firing. Later, kamikaze ships appear and home in to players, all the while the boss starts rotating. The likelihood of hitting a wrong enemy and resetting the chain is certain during this sequence, even at lower difficulties. Finally, since this is still a boss fight, time is of the essence, and not destroying the boss in part one prevents the second part (Saturn/Story Mode exclusive) from happening, making players lose the point bonus that can be acquired to help level up weapons.

** [[BossWarningSiren WARNING! NO REFUGE!]] [[GratuitousEnglish Data install. Encountered an assailant.]] ''[[BossSubtitles x]]'' [[{{Engrish}} Be Attitude For Gains...]][[note]]The nonsensical advice regarding the best strategy when facing the next boss is not only absurd but is ridiculously {{Narm}}y[[/note]]

3. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Be Praying]][[note]]The one "strategy" against a boss in the entire game that most players have memorized because of its inherent nature of a FinalBoss[[/note]]

* BreatherBoss: Nasu in Stage 2 is relatively easier after fighting the Golets and before the Daikai10 which transforms into a cross.

** '''Chaining''': to elaborate, points are racked up by shooting down enemies of the same color, and for every three consecutive same-colored enemies destroyed, a chain bonus is achieved. Successive chains yield larger bonuses, upwards to 100,000 points, yet this isa source of headaches for many and makes the game [[NintendoHard extremely difficult even on Very Easy]], because...
*** Roughly 2/3 of enemies in every stage must be left intact, and enemies will often be firing at players or presenting itself as [[CollisionDamage collision hazards]].
*** Destroying so much as one enemy of the wrong color and the entire chain resets.
*** Weapon levels are tied to the score, and it's a requirement to level up weapons to prevent later boss fights from taking too long. Therefore, mastering the scoring for the game is mandatory to survival. \\

** To unlock "''Ikaruga'' Mode" in the Xbox port, players need to have played ''Ikaruga'' and earned at least one achievement under the same account used to play ''Radiant Silvergun''. Unless players have an acquaintance who has the game, this amounts to a $10 DownloadableContent if they don't wish to player ''Ikaruga'' at all or or already have another version of it.
* SoCoolItsAwesome: Along with ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'', ''Radiant Silvergun'' game is considered by many to be one of the best {{Shoot Em Up}}s of all time.

** Third boss of Stage 3 "Return", Gallop, who doubles as a WakeUpCallBoss due to players being forced to effectively utilize the other weapons in the Silvergun's arsenal[[note]]The "vulcan" weapon is ineffective when the Gallop's "[[ShoutOut force]] [[VideoGame/RType unit]]" blocks all shots[[/note]]. Gallop also packs an assortment of attacks the previously bosses don't have and likely to throw off first-time players.
** Daikai10 in Stage 2 transforms into a cross shape and back, filling one of the two corridors it creates with a laser beam while rotating. At higher difficulties, the beams shoot at the same time down both corridors and rotation speed increases; once it changes forms, it shoots bouncing fireballs that will fill the screen.

** The XboxLiveArcade port, while far from a PortingDisaster, has an issue with aspect ratio: the game runs in a 4:3 window pillarboxed into a 16:9 screen. This layout is then letterboxed if players are using a screen with an aspect ratio taller than 16:9. This is practically an insult to those who wish to play on a 4:3 screen, particularly CRT screens like with the SegaSaturn and ST-V versions.