R-Type Final

"Our Type Of Game"

There are 3 things that I learnt as fact while playing R-Type Final...

1. No matter how old a game is, a good game will always be a good game.
2. The art of making a GREAT 2d arcade shooter has not been lost as some may think.
3. I am getting old.

If you spent time hanging out at the local game arcade in 1987 then chances are you dropped some coinage into a shooting game. Back then, arcade shooters consisted of a large percentage of the total games released and for good reason, they were insanely popular! Shooters not only tested the players reflexes, but also their mental endurance as they were pitted against wave after wave of increasingly complex enemy attack patterns. In fact, the shooter genre was partially responsible for the coining of the phrase, ''In the zone''. During long game sessions some players would find themselves in a trance like state totally unaware of what was going on around them. When these moments occured the only thing that existed for them was the game. For most of us, these moments would come as quickly as they went, but the skilled gamer was someone who was so in tune with the game that they were capable of almost God like reflexes and concentration. Witnessing a gamer achieve this level of concentration was a special treat that usually lived on in urban gaming folklore long after the event...

1987 saw an embarrassment of riches for shooter fans as that single 12 month period saw the release of some of the most popular games the genre had ever produced. Twin Cobra, 1943, Flying Shark, Truxton, Darius... maybe there was something in the water back then but developers just seemed to suddenly click with the genre. Out of all these great shooters, the one that stands out the most in peoples minds is usually R-Type from Japan based developer, Irem. R-Type wasn't that different from the other shooters of it's time. You still scrolled across the screen shooting down attacking enemy ships, you were still able to power-up your tiny craft with weapons upgrades and you still had to face large bosses at the end of each stage. So why was it so unique? It was the addition of a single gameplay element that gave R-Type the edge over it's competitors and Irem the love of the fans...

This new feature was called a ''force'' and it was a simple variation on the standard satellite upgrade found in most other shooters. What made it so different from the norm was it's ability to not only block incoming enemy fire, but that it could also detach itself from the front of your ship and be relocated to the rear upon command. This seemingly innocuous addition opened up a world of new strategies and gameplay elements that are still missing from many shooters today. Attacks could now come from any direction at anytime and the player would be forced to adjust his defensive position accordingly. Not to put it too lightly but the ''force'' satellite was a stroke of genius...

Now 15 years and countless sequels later, Irem has released the last installment in the series, R-type Final. After this, there will be NO more R-Type games released, period. There is a silver lining however as fans will be happy to learn that the popular series is being retired on a winner. Almost everything a fan could have wished for has been included in this release thus making R-Type Final the definitive release of the series. There's a veritable treasure trove of bonuses to unlock, a number of different play modes to explore and last but certainly not least, some of the most amazing visuals ever seen in a shooter. This is most obviously a gift from Irem to the fans... a thank you for their years of support.

If you have ever played one of the previous incarnations of R-Type, then you already know what to expect. Beneath the next generation exterior of R-Type Final lies the old school gameplay that made this series what it is. The action takes place on a horizontal scrolling plane with the player in control of a single craft. As progress is made through each level, enemy attacks increase in both density and complexity until the final boss is reached and conquered. If it sounds simple, then you haven't been paying attention as through all of this the player must maximize the usage of the ''force'' satellite for easier passage onto the next level. Do you detach it now and let it float free or should you move it to the rear of your craft for protection from the next attack? These questions have to be answered, all the while dodging incoming enemy fire... to say that it gets intense is an understatement.

Weapons can be upgraded at specific moments during each level once a particular enemy craft is shot down. These upgrades come in three basic styles. The red strength attack, the blue spread attack, and the yellow vertical attacks. Also up for grabs are standard ship upgrades like homing missiles and extra satellites. For the sake of a few seconds' vulnerability the player can deliver a single blast of highly concentrated firepower at a single target by holding down the fire button. This ability comes in handy when fighting the end of level bosses, as you will have only limited windows of opportunity with which to attack in.

The boss battles are some of the most well designed encounters in shooter history. Not only do these mammoth meanies look great but they also pack a punch. They are never impossibly difficult but they do often require the player to pay attention and look for openings within the attack with which to strike. As a homage to the original R-Type, the ENTIRE third level is a prolonged battle with a single giant battle cruiser. The only way to beat it is to pick it apart piece by piece over the span of an impressive 10 minutes. It was ideas like this that made the original so popular back in 1987, and while such encounters may be common place today, Irem shows considerable talent in reinventing the wheel.

There are 3 different play modes each offering a different approach to the established gameplay formula. Arcade, AI vs Player and Score Attack all play as they sound. I have a minor complaint with the design of Score Attack in that you are given a full compliment of lives to use each time. Cunning players can willingly sacrifice a life in order to re-play score heavy sections of each stage thereby earning a higher score than was previously possible. Of course this could be seen as a tactic, but I question the value of a score attack mode that gives you more than one attempt. Still, it's a nice variation to the main arcade mode and is a welcome addition to the game...

As previously mentioned, the graphics are truly first class, Irem has spared no cost in making sure this game looks great. Almost every graphical effect you could think of has been put to use making R-Type a visual tour de force. Backgrounds consist of some stunning 3d animations and light sourcing while explosions rock the screen with some of the most impressive pyrotechnics ever seen. Fly too close to the surface of the water and ripples start to appear in the wake of your craft. Debris from destroyed alien craft plummets to earth in full 3d and there's an interesting visual filter in use on the 5th stage that warps the perspective just enough to make it seem like you are battling through hyper-space. Some background objects are even interactive! Detail is everywhere but don't take your eyes off the action for even a second or you'll be toast!

The BGM tracks of R-Type Final are some of the most beautiful I have ever heard in a game. First Person Shooters and RPGs are supposed to have soundtracks of this quality, not simple arcade shooters?! Irem didn't have to go to such extremes when scoring this soundtrack but their efforts have not gone un-noticed. It's unique sound conveys an almost alien-like quality to the game that fits the action perfectly. I would recommend tracking down a copy of the soundtrack so that the full emotional range of the tracks can be experienced without the constant interruption of cannon fire in the background.

Presentation-wise R-Type Final goes above and beyond the call of duty. The opening CGI cinema is awe inspiring to the say the least. Inter-mixed with a series of ship designs, the cinema shows a R-Type Arrowhead ship doing battle around a present day city. It's a high speed action piece which is sure to leave the viewer breathless with excitement. Once past the intro, you will find a wealth of options with which to customize your gaming experience. There are 5 different difficulty levels ranging from ''baby'' all the way through to the hardcore ''R-Typer''. Ship colors are fully customizable, so if you're not happy with the look of your craft, please feel free to alter it. Finally, all the main game options are presented in English making R-Type Final a very import friendly title.

If you're a gamer who enjoys unlocking extras then you're in for a treat. There are over 100 ships to unlock while playing the main arcade mode as well as 38 beautifully hand drawn gallery stills to enjoy. Each of the 100+ ships has a slightly different compliment of weapons upgrades and super weapons, so you'll always have something new to play with or check out. While some of these extra ships are next to useless, others pack such a punch that the game becomes ridiculously easy, even when played on the insane ''R-Typer'' difficulty level. It doesn't matter though as by the time such ships are unlocked, the player has completed the game a number of times already and is only interested in unlocking what's left.

There is just so much enjoyment to be had from R-Type Final that I can't recommend it enough. For old-school gamers and those new to the hobby, R-Type Final is bound to have something for you. Its flawless execution combined with the sheer amount of unlockable features and variety of gameplay makes this the pinnacle of the shooter genre today. A first class game and the perfect swan song for this much loved series... thank you Irem!

Pros
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* Drop dead beautiful graphics
* BGM track has a unique, alien-like quality
* Good variety of ships to choose from
* Impressive firepower upgrades to unleash
* Old school gameplay
* Stylish CGI intro
* An amazing number of bonuses to unlock
* Many, many options to customize your experience with
* Choice of difficulty levels makes the game accessible to anyone

Cons
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* None that I can think of

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/13/03, Updated 09/20/03