R-Type Final

"R-Type Final is good but not great."

R-type Final is without a doubt a must have for any shooting fan. Besides the pure nostalgia of the R-type mythos the game serves up a decent helping of action as well as a mind boggling amount of extras to be unlocked. That given, it does have some glaring problems that prevent it from being the perfect 10 that the fan boys have seen fit to give it.

The good:

It’s R-type, need I say more?
There are six levels in a game with multiple variations on a few of the levels to enhance replay. Each level’s setting is significantly different and will stave off any boredom typical of shooters with non interactive levels.
Three different endings and the glimmer of a story (if you can read Japanese) should keep you engaged.
99 R-type fighters (that I’ve been able to unlock) to unlock and pilot in future games. Each fighter (again for those who can enjoy it) comes with a short history which really helps to give life to a game that has been without a story for so long. What is really the reason to own this game is that among the 99 fighters there exists a surprising amount of variety. There are a lot of clones, but the idea was that they were earlier models of the same line of research; let’s cut the Irem guys a little slack because the variety that does exist is amazing. R-types of all the past games make their appearance here as well as some imaginative newcomers like a transforming fighter as well as a fighter whose charge beam can be controlled with the right joystick!
The graphics are well done, not amazing, but there are some moments in the game that are awe-inspiring. All in all the colorful palette should keep your eyes happy.
Gameplay faithful to the R-type games, it may be 3d but the same feeling is there. The difficulty is also much much easier, being able to contact walls without dying has made the game incredibly easier, just boot up an old R-type game and I think you’ll remember.
An AI simulation mode where you can program a fighter’s routine and then pit him against other computer AI opponents advancing up an AI league.
Customizable fighters, you pick the paintjob, the type of bit, and missiles.
Boydo Lab where you can view data gathered on enemies.

Now with a game that good what could prevent it from being a 10?
Well let’s look at the bad:

The single most glaring flaw of R-type Final is the atrocious slowdown. Now, a little slowdown is ok, and in a shooter it can be our friend but the severity of the slow down in R-type Final is simply inexcusable. Happening sometimes when there is not a single bullet on the screen! Level 3 has it the worst with a failed attempt at a wonderful idea, but the slow down is apparent whenever things get interesting. The graphics are good but they’re not pushing the PS2 hardware to new heights because of the effects and insane polygon count. No, this is just a result of poor programming, and regardless of the cause we knock off one point for that.

While the 99 fighters that I’ve been able to unlock make me love this game like no other shooter, the requirements for unlocking them are ridiculously high, by the time you finish unlocking everything any fun that the game once offered will have been thoroughly drained. As you build experience in different fighters and unlock their brethren the replay factor gets better as you can try out the new weapons. However while you do get a change in weaponry, (new types and rehashes with a little more kick) the levels do not change as readily. The effort put into the level two variations is commendable however it’s always the same boss and when you’ve considered the amount you will have to replay those levels in order to unlock everything the variation in levels starts to feel more and more lacking. In fact before you unlock half of the fighters the average player will have beaten the game on every difficulty. Trust me once you play the first level for the hundred and fiftieth time you will just want that big crab to just put his feet on the ground so you can start hurting him, it just isn’t impressive anymore you want to move on and get a few more experience points towards your next fighter. I love unlocking stuff but it should never be this painful, knock off another point.

Finally, there are times in the game (especially on the third level.) where you can lay your controller down, get up and get something to drink, come back and continue playing as the next enemy/ hazard has yet to threaten your previously unmanned ship. This should never happen in a shooting game, never. I’m tempted to knock off another point but the game is better than a 7.

So there you have it, a gem of a shooter in the rough, had the frame rate problem been worked out playing those levels a hundred times would be a bit more tolerable, but as it is R-type Final is far from perfect.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/16/03