RayForce

2023-02-13T07:03:36Z

ColonelFatso: Correcting laser multiplier table. The previous table was probably just copied from Randorama's ST on shmupsforum, which erroneously cites a x4 jump from the 6th to 7th lasers (among other things). All laser multipliers are exactly twice the previous one.

[[File:rayforce_logo.png|center]]

{{GameInfobox
|bordercolor = #0000d2
|title = RayForce
|background = #f0fdfe
|image = rayforce_title.png
|width = 324px;
|imagecaption = Title screen
|imagescalepx = 180px

|developer = Taito
|
|producer = Yukio Abe
|
|music = Tamayo Kawamoto (Zuntata)
|
|releasedate = February 1994 ('''JP''')

|nextgame = [[Raystorm]]
}}

'''RayForce''' is a vertically scrolling [[shooting game]] developed by [[Taito]] for the Taito F3 arcade hardware and released in Japanese arcades in 1994. The game is notable for it's multi-layer gameplay, requring the player to engage with enemies in both the foreground and background layers simultaneously. It has been released in several regions, and under several different names, including '''Gunlock''', '''Layer Section''', and '''Galactic Attack'''.

__TOC__

== Gameplay Overview ==
RayForce is a 2 button game with 8-way movement. The player pilots the '''RVA-818 X-LAY''' craft across 7 stages to defeat the malevolent Con-Human supercomputer.

=== Controls ===
----
* '''A Button:''' Fire main shot. Hold for autofire.
* '''B Button:''' Fire laser

=== Weapons ===
----

[[File:rayforce_screenshot.png|175px|thumb|right|The X-LAY fires homing lasers at ground targets in stage 3]]

'''Main Shot'''

The main shot is a linear, rapid fire shot that shoots directly forward, and only hits enemies in the foreground layer. The weapon has 6 power levels, and it can be powered up by collecting red or yellow items during stages. Upon death, the power level of the main shot decreases by 1.

'''Lock-on Laser'''

The Lock-on Laser is the central mechanic of RayForce, and is used to destroy or damage enemies in the background layer. By making use of the targeting reticle located directly in front of the player craft, it is possible to lock-on to several enemies at once. Pressing the B button then shoots homing lasers at each of the acquired targets. The player begins with the ability to lock onto 5 enemies at once, but this can be increased to 8 by collecting the appropriate powerups. Upon death, the number of the lasers decreases by 1. If no lasers are fired, lock-ons will expire after 4 seconds.

When locking on to multiple enemies, an escalating score multiplier is applied to each enemy within the lock on, meaning that this mechanic is crucial to both scoring and survival.

== Items ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| [[File:rayforce_red.png|center]] || '''Red Shot Powerup''' Collect 3 to power up the Main Shot by 1 level
|-
| [[File:rayforce_yellow.png|center]] || '''Yellow Shot Powerup''' Collect 1 to immediately power up the Main Shot by 1 level
|-
| [[File:rayforce_laser.png|center]] || '''Laser Powerup''' Collect to increase the number of lock-on lasers by 1
|-
| [[File:rayforce_capsule.png|center]] || '''Recovery Capsule''' Appears after dying. May contain either a Red shot powerup, or a Laser powerup
|}

== Stages ==

Stage 1: "Red Power to Pierce Through" 
Stage 2: "The Gravity of Blue Side" 
Stage 3: "The Phantasm of Silver" 
Stage 4: "The Fissure of Consciousness" 
Stage 5: "Toward the Darkness" 
Stage 6: "The End of Deep Layer" 
Stage 7: "Releasing Infinitely"

== Scoring ==

'''Laser Multiplier'''

When the player locks on to multiple targets, a score multiplier is applied to each enemy, according to the following table:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| '''Laser''' || '''Multiplier'''
|-
| 1st || x1
|-
| 2nd || x2
|-
| 3rd || x4
|-
| 4th || x8
|-
| 5th || x16
|-
| 6th || x32
|-
| 7th || x64
|-
| 8th || x128
|}

Therefore, the player should aim to always lock onto 8 enemies at a time, and the locks should be constructed such that the most valuable enemies (ie. highest base value) are the final targets to be acquired (ideally in the 7th and 8th slots). The maximum score awarded for a single enemy is capped at 99900.

== Extends ==

An extra life is awarded at 1 million points, and then again at 2 million points.

== Video References ==

[[RayForce/Video Index|Video index for RayForce]]

== Legacy ==

RayForce received a sequel, [[RayStorm]], which was released in 1996. This was followed up by a third game in the series, [[RayCrisis]], released 3 years later in 1999. A more direct sequel to RayForce, entitled R-Gear, was also in development at Taito at some point after the release of the original game, but this project was cancelled in favour of RayStorm.

RayForce has inspired a number of other games since its release, such as [[Kamui]], which also utilises a two-layer system, and the Panzer Dragoon series.<ref name="polygon">"[https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/30/17286042/panzer-dragoon-saga-sega-saturn-oral-history Panzer Dragoon Saga: An oral history]" at polygon.com. Retrieved 2022.10.26</ref>

== Ports ==

RayForce was ported to the Sega Saturn as '''Layer Section''' in 1994. In NA and EU territories, the Saturn port was renamed again to '''Galactic Attack''', although the Windows port of the game retained the name Layer Section.<ref name="moby">"[https://www.mobygames.com/game/galactic-attack__ Galactic Attack]" at mobygames.com. Retrieved 2022.10.26</ref>

The entire Ray series is due to be ported to the Nintendo Switch and Sony Playstation 4 consoles in 2023, in a single collection entitled Ray’z Arcade Chronology.<ref name="strictly">"[https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/en-gb/collections/ray-z-arcade-chronology Ray’z Arcade Chronology]" at strictlylimitedgames.com. Retrieved 2022.10.26</ref>

== References ==

Shmups Wiki -- The Digital Library of Shooting Games - User contributions [en]

RayForce