R-Type Final

"The Wrath Of Dinner Bell"

When it was announced that 'R-Type Final' would be the last R-Type game ever, I had to admit, I was surprised. While classic shooting games haven't been all that popular in recent times, R-Type has always been around in some form, and I have enjoyed just about every installment. While the release of a final R-Type game probably doesn't bode well for the future of the shooter genre, it turned out to be one heck of a game, and a fitting finale for a grand old series.
As always, the chief difference between the latest R-Type game and other space shooters is the little satellite that attaches to the front of rear of your ship. The satellite can absorb shots and even enemy contact, and convert it into energy that you can release in the form of a screen-clearing special attack. The satellite also fires three forms of beam attacks while attached to your ship. You can switch to a specific beam type by collecting the power-up of the appropriate color. The satellite can even be shot from your ship as a weapon, and fire its own guns independently as you pilot your craft. Proper satellite management is often the key to surviving in 'R-Type Final.'
I'm not entirely sure what the story is behind the game, to be quite honest. If I had to guess, I'd say you were fighting for humankind against the evil Bydo Empire. The Bydos are one of those races of evil space fiends that live to destroy humanity, and are found mostly in shooting games. Needless to say, you'll pilot your one lonely craft against their entire armada, and attempt to blow them all to bits and make the world safe for squishy human meatbags.
In the case of 'R-Type Final,' the phrase 'one lonely craft' is probably a bit inaccurate. You start with three ships to choose from, but can unlock about 100 of 'em with diligent playing. I'm not exaggerating... there are literally 100 total craft or so in the game. Sure, some of them are a bit similar to one another, but there's a huge variety in the ships overall. One ship may have an entirely different compliment of beam weapons and missiles from another, and thus your strategy with those two ships will be quite different. Some of the more exotic craft can have some really funky laser types or satellite behavior, providing a whole new flavor to the experience. Many of the ships also have amusing names, which can make unlocking them even more fun. Who can forget such classic ships as the Platonic Love, or the deadly Dinner Bell?
''Hey there. I'm Urbak Galaxyslayer, pilot of the Star-Killer Supernova Extreme. What's your ship called?''
''Er... um... the Diamond Wedding...''
One of the best aspects of 'R-Type Final' is the level variety. The first stage is typical post-apocalyptic urban mayhem; solid stuff, and very 'Einhander'-esque in feel. The second stage is where things get interesting, though. The level has a tropical vibe and seems pretty average at first, but if you shoot one of a couple of specific targets, the climate of the stage will change the next time you play. The level can transform into an arid desert, or all the way back into an underwater ice cavern. Each version of the stage features a different layout, different enemies, and even new musical tracks. The underwater ice cavern level is especially good, with beautiful lighting effects and a lush, relaxing soundtrack. I won't spoil some of the later levels for you, but there are a fair number of alternate paths you can take throughout the game, should you perform certain tasks. My favorite stage (and arguably the artistic highlight of the game) is the Anti-Space level, which takes place in another dimension. The Bydo take on the form of brightly-lit lines and shapes, inside a wireframe-esque backdrop. The stage (and especially the techno-ish soundtrack) made me think of 'Rez,' which is always a good thing. The enjoyment of a shooter essentially boils down to replay value, and the terrific level design in 'R-Type Final' gives it plenty.
The game looks terrific, with impressive ship design and vibrant backgrounds to enjoy. The busy backgrounds occasionally cause some slowdown, but considering how slick they look, I consider it a fair trade. Even in this era of insane graphical power, there's still something cool about watching a small spacecraft fill the screen with gigantic laser blasts.
I'd describe the music in the game as 'quite good;' nothing to buy a soundtrack over, but usually quite nice on the ears. As mentioned earlier, the ice and Anti-Space levels are stand-outs, although each stage suffers a bit from the soundtrack looping many, many times before you reach the end. The sound effects are top-notch as always, with satisfyingly large explosions and searing laser blasts.
If you're in any way a fan of traditional shooters, be sure to add 'R-Type Final to your collection. The game was launched at an attractive budget price, and the varying level paths and 100 ships to unlock will give you plenty to enjoy. And if you're concerned about the difficulty level of the game, well, don't be. There are five difficulty settings in all, from the highly manageable 'baby' and 'kids,' to the brutal 'R-Typer' setting. If this is truly the end of R-Type, the old girl went out with style.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/07/04