• Intense 2D shooter action as you blast through space, taking out deadly man-made aliens with the most unique weapons system ever

• Choose from 100 distinctly different ship, each with their own abilities and ratings

• Use your planning skills to plan the right power-ups and support craft position for each level -- then use your reflexes to take out every Bydo you see

• Amazing, huge enemies -- bigger bosses and countless enemies to keep the challenge high

• Multiple difficulty levels, from Easy to full-on R-Type hard

One of the most lauded side-scrolling shooter series in history has reached its last chapter. Irem's appropriately named R-Type Final has come to the PS2 thanks to Eidos' Fresh Games label, and it is a bittersweet occurrence. On one hand, Irem has said that this game marks the end of the venerable R-Type series. On the other, it's more than a fitting curtain call for the franchise.

The basic gameplay hasn't really changed much throughout the series. RTF is not a manic, reflex-frying bullet-dodger like last year's Gamecube masterpiece, Ikaruga. It's a more methodically paced, strategic game that feels different from most shooters. For one thing, R-Type has always been less about score and more about simple survival. Enemies approach from all sides, from waves of drones to screen-filling bosses. You won't dodge incoming fire as much as plan your progress, find and take advantage of tiny safe zones, discover weak spots, and time your counterattacks. R-Type tests your memory, reflexes, and anticipation, and can be demanding. You will have to learn attack patterns, measure to the pixel where to wedge your ship, and learn to manipulate the infamous Force Module (the ubiquitous detachable satellite that is immune to enemy fire). There is a measure of trial-and-error here, but the reward of reaching a new level or taking out a troublesome boss always makes the effort worthwhile. R-Type Final sticks to these well-worn conventions, but this is more than a simple case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

One major improvement is in the technical department. The last installment in the series, R-Type Delta (PSone), was a fantastically realized creation that sported some incredible level and creature design, some of which were updated versions of bosses and enemies from the original R-Type. RTF continues this tradition. There is a level that consists entirely of travelling along one huge spacecraft, taking it apart piece by piece. Fans will recognize this, and love it. Bydo mutants appear on all sides, and you'll battle mechanical, organic, and cyborg foes, all amidst a beautiful shower of effects and scenery. While there's no doubt that this is the best-looking R-Type, it still retains the details that identify the series. And don't worry - the occasional slowdown can actually be a help. Delta's speed control also returns, and the game has five difficulty levels. The easier levels will drag a bit for the shooter veteran, but jack it up to the insane "R-Typer" to experience the game as Irem intended.

There are, however, a new feature or two that must be mentioned. The first is branching levels. Depending on your performance within levels, you may visit one of several different sequences. It doesn't feel added on or superfluous, keeping the levels flowing like nothing happened. But it is a welcome addition, especially when considering the other, more drastic new feature.

R-Type Final has around a hundred ships to fly. That's right: 100. Quite a difference from Delta's mere four! The ships vary wildly, from recon versions to transforming fighters, each with their own unique weapons. New craft are unlocked by performing various in-game tasks, like total flight time with specific ships or completing branching paths. This gives the game quite a bit of replay value, as unlocking all of them will take many hours. Some of the ships aren't nearly as cool as others, and some verge on being overpowered, but the constant reward process keeps you motivated.

You can now also customize your ships. Before you fly, you can pick ship & canopy color, missile type, bit type, etc. This helps you stick to your own style of play, and keeps the game fresh and interesting. How you equip your ship can have a lot of influence on how the game plays.

Yet another new feature is the A.I. Battle mode. Rather than being a head-to-head two-person battle, this lets you pit your ships against a friend's (or the game's A.I.) in computer controlled combat. It's fun to fool around with, but you'll more than likely be done with it quickly.

Irem says R-Type Final is the ultimate installment in the series, a "Thank You" to R-Type fans everywhere. It's hard to argue either point. While there will undoubtedly be those who question the new additions to the formula, in the end, RTF stands as a brilliant modern dedication to one of the premiere side-scrollers. It is sad to see the series end, but what a wicked way to go out, indeed.

Thank YOU, Irem.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:


Speed Settings are Key  Feb 15, 2004
I'm a newbie to the Type R game series.
Nevertheless, the game itself is very easy to pick up, and more importantly, is very fun to play. The gameplay hearkens back to the early '90's side -scroller space shooters. But this game is fully up-to-date. Colored lighting, support weapons, speed settings, and weapons charging, this game is truly the one of the best space shooters I have ever played.

The nifty things about the game for me are:
-Speed settings. You adjust the speed of your ship on the fly. Proper speed settings are critical to some boss fights.
-101 fighter chassis's to use. You start with 3, but as you fight & advance more chassis's are unlocked.
-Customization of Fighters: Being able to select the missile types, support bit types, and even the color of your fighter is very addictive. Getting stomped by a end level boss? Switch your support bits, or missiles. Or change your ship color to stand out on the screen more.
-AI battles. You setup AI preferences & fighters, and kick off battles. It's cool to see how different fighters fight, and how different tactics work.
-The Bydo Museum: Gameplay history, enemy library, vechile hanger, tutorials. All well implemented & greatly add to the game.

Try the game out. Trust me, you'll be addicted to gameplay very fast. There's nothing like fighting in a pimplike bright purple fighter unleashing hell on your enemies. It truly has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

7 of 9 found the following review helpful:


The Return of R-Type?  Sep 07, 2004 By Strategos "The Guardian of Time"
My experience with R-Type is limited, but I LOVE side-scrolling and top-down shooters. I have played the original R-Types (just a bit), as well as the excellent freeware G-Type (a combination of R-Type and Gradius). As much as I was wishing for the second coming of the only shooter that can maybe rival Gradius in the category of old-school cool, this game just ain't that great.

First of all, the graphics are nice. Not mind-blowing ala Ikaruga or Dodanpochi, but nice. The music is so-so. Not all that catchy or mind-blowing. The levels.... are quite bland. And more than that, the enemies are not all that interesting and the bosses are quite a bit less than mind-blowing.

The unlockable ships is undoubtedly the coolest part of the game, as they all are unique and some have really cool looking weapons.

Ultimately, I'd suggest renting this one if you love shooters. Otherwise, you'd be better off getting Raiden Project, Einhander, or Ikaruga. A disappointment overall. But perhaps Gravius V...

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


Swaim  Mar 15, 2011 By Swaim
Great ps2 game, definitely showcases the ps2's graphical capabilities. The game itself hold true to the R-type series, lots of enemies, a tonne of ships and customization, and crippling difficulty!

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


Great Shooter  Feb 05, 2006 By death gleamer
Great shooter game. Great graphics. 100+ ship variation. This game is five dollars at Toys R Us.

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