I recall reading somewhere that Treasure didn't like shoot em ups much and made Radiant Silvergun as their way of "fixing" something they didn't like. Would that more games were made that way. There is nothing else like this, not even its (equally but in many ways opposingly brilliant spiritual successor Ikaruga.) The apocalyptic final boss (BE PRAYING...) has never been equaled. I've never beaten this without freeplay and probably never will, but that does nothing to diminish the brilliance of this experience.