R-Type
System: SMS
Release Date: December 1988
Developer: Compile
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Shoot ‘Em Up
IREM programmed the original arcade release of R-Type in 1987. This is our first look at R-Type on home console, and we’ll see another version in a long time for TG-16. R-Type is a horizontal scrolling shoot ‘em up. The evil Bydo Empire is invading and it’s up to you to pilot the super secret R-9 fighter to blast them out of space and back to hell!
Controls are simple. Move around the screen with the d-pad. Shoot your weapons with Button 1. You can mash it for rapid fire or hold the button to charge up a shot that will devastate your enemies. While you’re blasting the enemies on screen, you may destroy some Bydo POW Armor units and find some powerups. Three of the powerups give you a bonus droid that can attach to your ship or be detached with Button 2.
The powerups upgrade the droid when detached. When first acquired, the droid shoots ahead. A second powerup allows the droid to shoot up and down, as well. A third powerup allows a shot in five directions. When attached to the ship, the blue powerup shoots ricocheting lasers in a diagonal fashion. The red powerup shoots a high powered circle beam straight from the droid. The yellow powerup shoots an anti-land laser, that shoots up and down to the screen edge and then moves along the ground and ceiling to destroy enemies. The droid can attach to the front or back of the ship and shoots in the direction it is facing.
There are also S icons, which increase the speed of the ship. These stack and help you get around fast. M icons are twin homing missiles that shoot from the front of the ship. There are also Bit powerups that you can grab that will take residence a little above and then a little below the ship. These can shoot and will destroy enemies that they touch. Powering up and launching your droid is imperative to victory.
Levels run from decently easy, like the first level to frustrating, like the Terrible Mechanical cells of level four. At the end of most levels is a boss fight. These will test your abilities. The immense amount of flickering will also test your patience. Also red bullets on a red background are a recipe for frustration. The speed is just about right and you’re going to have to learn patterns through lots of playing. I cheated my way through this one. Once you finish, you get to start back at the beginning and keep going.
Graphics: 2.5
The flickering takes down an otherwise decent show.
Sound: 2.0
The music is alright and the sound effects are, too.
Gameplay: 3.5
There’s plenty to learn and it’s very sophisticated compared to its peers.
Difficulty: 3.0
You’re going to die a lot until you learn the patterns. The projectiles can blend in with the background, which is unfair difficulty.
Fun Factor: 3.0
I probably would have spent several hours trying to learn everything, but had fun cheating my way through.
Overall Grade: 2.8
R-Type earns a B. This is a solid shoot ‘em up. It looks good and plays well. I would recommend giving it a shot.