Seibu Kaihatsu released Raiden II in arcades in 1993 as the sequel to its hugely successful vertical shooter. The alien invaders from the first game return to Earth, and once again the player pilots the Raiden fighter against waves of tanks, battleships, gun emplacements and enormous bosses. The main weapons are the familiar red vulcan spread and blue laser, joined by a new purple plasma laser that locks onto a target and bends across the screen to follow it. Sub-weapons include straight nuclear missiles and homing missiles, and a limited stock of bombs can clear the screen in an emergency. Scoring rewards hunting for hidden medals and fairies tucked into the scenery. The game supports two players at once and is known for its detailed, heavily destructible backgrounds and punchy soundtrack, and it is often ranked among the best entries in the series.