Super R-Type
System: SNES
Release Date: September 1991
Developer: Irem
Publisher: Irem
Genre: Shoot ‘em Up
We’re back in space to save the universe in Super R-Type! The Bydo Empire is back once again and looking to take over everyone. You think you took them out the last time you faced them on the Master System or TurboGrafx-16, but you’d be wrong. They’re back and not in pog form. Can you persevere over seven levels of unending enemy barrage?
We’ve got a new R-Type, meaning we’ve got a side scrolling shoot ‘em up. It is not easy and your patience will be tested. Choose your difficulty and get to fighting. The gameplay is exactly what I expect. Enemies show up on either side of the screen and you need to kill or avoid them before they take you down. Even on easy levels, this is not a game to be taken lightly. You can shoot rapid fire by holding the Y Button or fire a single shot with the B Button. Holding the B Button also allows you to charge your weapon for a strong attack. Fill the bar twice for an extra powerful spiral shot, but you must let it go in a small window or it reverts to a normal charge shot.
There are weapon pods that show up when you destroy certain enemies. These pods grant you access to the Force attachment. This is an invincible machine that can float free and fire or attach to the front or the back of your ship. You can detach and reattach it with the A Button. With the Force attached, you get to use the special weapon that you picked up. When attached, I often forget that I need to protect my ship and not the Force attachment and then I run into something and die. The weapons range from a laser that bounces off the walls, flames that run along the floor and ceiling, a circle gun, a spread gun, and the rare, but useful, explosion cannon. There are also two missile pickups you can find that automatically fire missiles as you shoot.
The levels are full of enemies and obstacles. You have to be careful for terrain, because if you touch anything with your ship, you die. The Force absorbs most projectiles, but relying on that will get you killed when something blows through it. Like most shoot ‘em ups, you need to learn when and where things come on screen. That’s the only way you’re going to get ahead, otherwise you’ll be caught off guard plenty. The pit item gives you up to two options that hurt anything they touch and can also shoot if the Force is detached.
Stages end with a boss. These are huge enemies that follow a pattern. If you want to survive, you need to learn what the pattern is. You’ll have to combine smart use of the Force attachment, proper weapon usage, and deft maneuvering. If you die, it’s back to the beginning of the level and you have to use your accumulated knowledge to make it back. Do this through seven stages to save the galaxy once again. Then you can step to the next difficulty level and do it all over again!
Graphics: 2.5
There’s a ton of slow down because there are too many sprites and effects on screen at once, even if the rest of it looks pretty good.
Sound: 2.5
Music is pretty good, but the shooting sound effects can be grating.
Gameplay: 2.5
Slightly above average shoot ‘em up gameplay is on tap, just keep control of your ship.
Difficulty: 1.5
Incredibly difficult even on lower difficulty levels. Lives get lost quickly.
Fun Factor: 1.5
Not my favorite side scrolling shoot ‘em up by any means.
Overall Rating: 2.1
Super R-Type earns a C. I think the first title was better. This one is too Nintendo hard for my liking.