R-Type (1987)
Amiga · Arcade · Atari ST/STE · Commodore C64/128/MAX · MSX · PC-8800 Series · Sharp X68000
3.46 from 123 ratings
306 members have it in their collection · 8 playing now · 61 backlogged · 31 wish listed
How long? · with extras 1h (from 1 logged playthrough)
R-Type is set in the 22nd century, and the player flies a futuristic fighter craft called the R-9a "Arrowhead", named for its shape, and because it is the ninth model in the 'R' series of fighter craft (but it is the first of the series to actually be used in combat; the previous models were all prototypes). The mission is …
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R-Type is set in the 22nd century, and the player flies a futuristic fighter craft called the R-9a "Arrowhead", named for its shape, and because it is the ninth model in the 'R' series of fighter craft (but it is the first of the series to actually be used in combat; the previous models were all prototypes). The mission is to 'blast off and strike the evil Bydo Empire'. The R- in the series title originally stood for "ray", as in a ray of light. It was a reference to the many different types of ray-like weapons in the first R-Type. his was later retconned in R-Type Final to refer specifically to the production code as well as a term of endearment for the player fighter craft, the "Round Canopy".
The original R-Type was well received by most gaming critics. However, it was also infamous for its relentless difficulty. It earned 7th place in IGN's Top 10 most difficult games to beat. The gameplay of R-Type is noticeably distinct among shoot 'em ups. Invariably the player will lose, not because of an inequality in firepower, but because of the design of the levels themselves. There is usually a 'correct' way to get through a level, but players must learn these by experience - i.e. by losing and restarting from earlier in the level. The game innovated with its weapon system compared to contemporary shooters, featuring a chargeable shot (beam-meter), and detachable 'force' pod; levels were designed to require different tactics and ideal weapons (air-air, diagonal, or air-ground laser).
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Details
- Developers
- Irem
- Publishers
- Electric Dreams Software, Irem
- Genres
- Arcade, Shooter
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction
- Franchises
- R-Type
- Series
- R-Type
Release dates
- Jul 01, 1987 (Japan) Arcade
- Oct 1988 (Japan) PC-8800 Series
- 1988 (North_America) Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX
- 1988 (Japan) MSX
- Jun 09, 1989 (Japan) Sharp X68000
- 1989 (North_America) Amiga
Also available on
Related
Bundled in
- Irem Arcade 1 (Dec 2022) · EVER
Remakes
- R-Type (Feb 2009) · PS3, X360
Featured in lists
Rating distribution
5 stars
22
4 stars
30
3 stars
52
2 stars
18
1 star
0
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