R-Type
If I ever come across a classic arcade museum, as they appear here and there, there are two games I'm looking to play. Missile Command, and R-Type. I've always enjoyed a good shooter that puts you in control of a spaceship. Since videogames first started to become popular in-home, more than anything I just wanted to fly a spaceship. I had grown up with Star Wars, Star Trek, Flight of the Navigator, Aliens and more sci-fi films and tv shows. I even had a subscription for a while to some NASA magazine for kids. Space really was it. So, naturally R-Type and games like it were just naturally attractive to me and R-Type was especially well designed for a shoot-em-up at the time.
Over the years I've had the opportunity to re-discover R-Type, which absolutely stands the test of time and has thankfully seen a number of sequels and ports over the years, conserving it's history in new and inventive ways. This includes both the R-Type Command tactical game and R-Type Final which features the classic gameplay with new and better graphics.
This also includes a fantastic re-release I have on my Xbox 360 called R-Type Dimensions. This includes both R-Type 1 and 2 in their original glory, plus the option to switch between the original and some redesigned graphics as well as blends of both.
R-Type featured some basic but unique shmup gameplay. Your craft, the R-6 features a basic rapid-fire gun on the front. You can also charge that gun for a giant release which does a lot more damage and can wipe out multiple enemies at once. A key element to R-Type is the Force you can pick up. A weapons created using enemy technology which can either float alongside your ship, firing when you fire, or can be attached to the front or rear of your ship, firing forward or backward. This extra bit of strategy can really save your butt depending on the situation. Be in the level layout or the boss fight you happen to be in.
R-Type, even considering it's age and graphical limitations featured some designs that still stand strong today. Though the Bydo tend to resemble Ridley Scott's Alien a whole awful lot, it still looks great on screen and so do most of it's variations and other Bydo enemy forces. The R-6 and other ship designs are all well known and cult classics amongst gamers, including a long line of model kits for each of the hundred or so variations. (Though very difficult to find over here in North America.)
R-Type is just one of those games. A classic game that isn't lost to the ages due to it's technical limitations graphically or in terms of gameplay and controls. It's simply one of those games that demands my time and quarters if I happen to stumble upon it in those hard to find places that actually house the cabinets. I'm looking forward to playing some at the Classic Arcade Museum for sure when we hit PAX East this upcoming year.
If I ever come across a classic arcade museum, as they appear here and there, there are two games I'm looking to play. Missile Command, and R-Type. I've always enjoyed a good shooter that puts you in control of a spaceship. Since videogames first started to become popular in-home, more than anything I just wanted to fly a spaceship. I had grown up with Star Wars, Star Trek, Flight of the Navigator, Aliens and more sci-fi films and tv shows. I even had a subscription for a while to some NASA magazine for kids. Space really was it. So, naturally R-Type and games like it were just naturally attractive to me and R-Type was especially well designed for a shoot-em-up at the time.Over the years I've had the opportunity to re-discover R-Type, which absolutely stands the test of time and has thankfully seen a number of sequels and ports over the years, conserving it's history in new and inventive ways. This includes both the R-Type Command tactical game and R-Type Final which features the classic gameplay with new and better graphics.
This also includes a fantastic re-release I have on my Xbox 360 called R-Type Dimensions. This includes both R-Type 1 and 2 in their original glory, plus the option to switch between the original and some redesigned graphics as well as blends of both.
R-Type featured some basic but unique shmup gameplay. Your craft, the R-6 features a basic rapid-fire gun on the front. You can also charge that gun for a giant release which does a lot more damage and can wipe out multiple enemies at once. A key element to R-Type is the Force you can pick up. A weapons created using enemy technology which can either float alongside your ship, firing when you fire, or can be attached to the front or rear of your ship, firing forward or backward. This extra bit of strategy can really save your butt depending on the situation. Be in the level layout or the boss fight you happen to be in.
R-Type, even considering it's age and graphical limitations featured some designs that still stand strong today. Though the Bydo tend to resemble Ridley Scott's Alien a whole awful lot, it still looks great on screen and so do most of it's variations and other Bydo enemy forces. The R-6 and other ship designs are all well known and cult classics amongst gamers, including a long line of model kits for each of the hundred or so variations. (Though very difficult to find over here in North America.)
R-Type is just one of those games. A classic game that isn't lost to the ages due to it's technical limitations graphically or in terms of gameplay and controls. It's simply one of those games that demands my time and quarters if I happen to stumble upon it in those hard to find places that actually house the cabinets. I'm looking forward to playing some at the Classic Arcade Museum for sure when we hit PAX East this upcoming year.
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