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[[File:rayforce.png|frame|Look out below!]]
The "'''''Ray Series'''''" is a trilogy of top-down, vertically-scrolling [[Shoot'Em Up|shooters]] developed by Taito.
The series consists of three games, all of which have "Ray" in the title (at least in their original Japanese names). Each game has you pilot a [[Cool Starship]] that, in addition to being able to fire straight forward, also has special lock-on lasers that can target enemies below its altitude and [[Roboteching|home in on them]].
'''RayForce''' (1995, pictured on right) is the first game, and is set in a future in which the many nations of Earth assemble a supercomputer called "Con-Human" to govern the Earth's natural resources. As a result of an attempt to fuse Con-Human with the mind of a [[Cloning Blues|cloned human]], [[
''RayForce'' uses the Taito F3 hardware and eventually ports to the Sega Saturn, and Windows-based PC; A re-release of the original arcade game was also featured in ''Taito Legends 2'' for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows PC. It uses two-dimensional graphics, but because of the game mechanics, the game uses a lot of Mode 7-like graphics to simulate three dimensions. [[Scenery Porn|It works very, very well.]] A minor quirk of the game, however, lies in its naming; due to [[Executive Meddling|copyright problems]], it has no less than ''four'' different names: ''RayForce'' for the Japanese and American arcade releases, ''Layer Section'' for the Japanese home ports and North American Windows port, ''Galactic Attack'' for the North American Sega Saturn port, and ''Gunlock'' in Europe. On January 13, 2012, an iOS version of ''RayForce'' was released for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, fourth generation iPod Touch, and iPad.
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'''RayStorm''' (1996) is the second game in the series, and is the first to use three-dimensional graphics. Set in [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future|2219 A.D.]] and in a different timeline from ''RayForce'', Earth establishes a group of space colonies known as the Star Federation. But at some point, the colonies decide to mutiny, form an alliance known as the Secilia Federation, and strike <s>back</s> against Earth. The player sets off from Earth in order to defend Earth from the rebellious Secilia Federation.
''RayStorm'' runs on the Taito FX-1B board, and as mentioned, is the first ''Ray'' game in 3D, allowing for more varieties in stage scrolling and enemies. Furthermore, unlike the first game, in which you can only fire your homing lasers at enemies ''below'' you, any on-screen enemy is fair game for your lock-on attacks. If you find yourself in trouble, you can launch a [[Smart Bomb]] that inflicts massive damage to all on-screen enemies. ''RayStorm'' was ported to the [[PlayStation]] in all three major regions, Sega Saturn in Japan (under the name ''Layer Section II''), and finally Windows PC in Japan and Europe. The ports feature extras such as an arranged version of the original soundtrack, an "Extra Mode" with new versions of the stages, and a "[[Thirteen Is Unlucky|13-Plane Mode]]" in which you have thirteen lives, with every three lives (for the first twelve lives) using a different ship and the last life being a weaker prototype ship. The North American PlayStation version, handled by [[Working Designs]], had a contest for $10,000, and a form of [[Easy Mode Mockery]] to discourage players from BS'ing through the game and calling it a day. ''RayStorm'' also got an exclusive PS2 release, via ''Taito Legends 2'', but it's the arcade version and not the enhanced PlayStation version. An [[Video Game Remake|HD remake]], ''RayStorm HD'', has been released for [[Xbox Live Arcade]] and [[Playstation Network]]. The HD remake features the ability to play as two new ships, the R-GRAY 0<ref>(the prototype ship seen in the 13-Plane Mode of previous home ports in playable form, with a design reminiscent to the RVA-818-X-LAY fighter seen in [[Ray Force]])</ref> and the R-GEAR <ref>(a ship that serves as a namesake for the canceled true [[Ray Force]] sequel)</ref>, online leaderboards, and sharable replays. This version loses the [[Easy Mode Mockery]] of it's previous ports, but also makes unlocking [[Cosmetic Award|Achievements and Trophies]] a moot task in the game due to not being difficulty-specific. An iOS port of the game is currently in the works.
'''RayCrisis''' (1998) is the third game in the series, and is a prequel to ''RayForce''. Set just before the events of ''RayForce'', ''RayCrisis'' takes the fight away from space and Earth and instead puts you in the role of a hacker striving to shut down Con-Human by using a computer virus. This being a shmup, said virus takes the form of a ship that flies through an [[Extreme Graphical Representation]] of Con-Human's systems and attempts to destroy it from within. {{spoiler|1=However, you don't completely succeed; by the end of the game, [[Doomed by Canon|the damage has already been done]], necessitating the events of ''RayForce''.}}
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''RayCrisis'' runs on the Taito G-Net arcade hardware and, like its (release) predecessor, ''RayStorm'', uses 3D graphics, and features an "Encroachment Meter" that must be kept reduced by destroying enemies. If it maxes out at 100%, you will, instead of fighting the boss of the current stage, face the [[Final Boss|final bosses]] early and get the [[Downer Ending|worst ending]] of the game. ''RayCrisis'' is the only game in the series not to get a Saturn port, but it still got [[PlayStation]] and Windows ports. The North American PlayStation port of the game, which was also localized by Working Designs, lacks the two-player mode of the arcade game, but includes additional modes that allow you to more freely choose your stage order akin the ''[[Thunder Force]]'' series.
A direct sequel to ''RayForce'' called '''R-GEAR''' was planned, but canceled early in favor of RayStorm.
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* [[2½D]]: Your ship can only move and shoot on one plane, but the enemies can attack from the background and foreground. Good thing you have your lock-on lasers!
** Some of the levels in ''Storm'' has your ship move on a non-linear plane, such as the space fleet stage on Stage 4.
* [[
* [[Battleship Raid]]: Stage 2 in ''RayForce'', as a midboss. ''RayStorm'' has more battleships in Stages 4 and 5, with Stage 4's boss being a huge battleship. [[Darius|It's not approaching fast, though.]]
* [[Beam Spam]]: Your lock-on lasers do this. Some of your foes will use this on you, too.
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* [[Downer Ending]]: {{spoiler|1=''RayStorm's'' Extra Mode ending ''seems'' like it's a [[Bittersweet Ending]], with the enemy forces (and millions of inhabitants) being destroyed by having their capital colony dropped into the sun. While your badly damaged ship moves away into the distance. Then you see the text after the credits:}}
{{quote|{{spoiler|Earth and Secilia have vanished. Likewise, those that developed the "RAY" technology and all evidence of its existence have been wiped away. No record of R-GRAY craft was found, and no R-GRAY craft has ever returned.}}}}
* [[Dynamic Difficulty]]: Survive long enough in ''RayForce'' and the difficulty goes batshit. [[
** In ''RayCrisis'', you have the Encroachment Meter, described in the North American manual as [[Crowning Moment of Funny|"determining the amount of suckage]]". The lower it is, the more enemies will pop up.
* [[Earthshattering Kaboom]]: The goal {{spoiler|and [[Bittersweet Ending|ending]]}} of ''RayForce'', due to Con-Human fucking up Earth beyond all repair.
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