by Cybermario

Developer: Tozai Games

Publisher: Tozai, Inc.

Platform: Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Store

Price: $9.99

Release Date: May 20, 2014 (NTSC), May 21, 2014 (PAL)

R-Type is a fantastic shoot ’em up arcade game created by Irem and was originally released in the year 1987. Several ports were made, including home consoles such as the TurboGrafx 16 and unlicensed carts for the Famicom.

Most recently the classic got a massive overhaul thanks to Tozai Games and returned as R-Type Dimensions, first released for the Xbox Live Arcade back in 2009 and now it’s time for the PlayStation Network users to enjoy this fantastic game!

Story

The story begins when… well, which story? We’re talking about the 80’s and all I needed to know was which buttons i had to press to shoot, plus a large bag of quarters to enjoy the game killing alien invaders!

Actually there is a bit of story, you control a combat fighter named R-9a “Arrowhead”. Because Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum are never here when you need them, you are the last line of defense against these vicious aliens beings known as “Bydo”.



Gameplay

R-Type is one of many shoot ’em up arcade games that spawned in the 80’s and is known not only because of intense gameplay, but also for the extreme challenge. Which i’m glad to say remains intact in this remake of the game.

The game offers two game modes, one being Classic and the second is an Infinity Mode. Classic style is pretty much identical to the arcade game everyone knows, every fan of the classic will be delighted with this game mode. Plus you don’t need a bag of quarters this time, believe me, i tried and could not find a way to insert a coin in my PS3.

Infinity mode gives you unlimited lives but the difficulty really steps it up a notch! Someone said challenge? So you can expect to die a lot! Worry not, by pressing L2 you can slowdown the game quite a bit, this is a life saver when you are a in a pinch.

Controls feel nice and responsive, which is a must in a game like this, the tiniest mistake can cost you your last precious life! It is especially frustrating to die due to bad controls.

The graphics are one of the elements to highlight in this version, you can change between 2D and 3D perspectives, both are great. If you do not like the 3D style you can change the perspective right there without having to stop playing, easy peasy, love this feature!The style of the different scenarios, backgrounds and enemy bosses is something every fan of H. R. Giger will love. The artist’s influence in the original game can’t be denied. As a fan of the movies, the Alien dejavu is something that I personally enjoy.From the classic 8 bit sprites to the new 3d graphics, this will please old and newcomers to the R-Type universe.



Sound

The music is great, classic sound with a stereo surround system sounds perfect and this in the classic 8 bit chip tunes mode, when you switch to the new remastered remixed sound with the 3D effect it’s something worth praising.

Downsides

It’s really hard for me to find something wrong with a game like this. Of course the game is not for everyone as difficulty can be something that will discourage and frustrate players looking for a more casual experience.

Although the dedication of Tozai games in the remake is noticeable, I wish they would have added a bit of extra storyline, something that make you feel more immersed in the world of R-Type.

Overall

The guys at Tozai Games have done a great job with this. For the fans of the genre you can’t go wrong with R-Type Dimensions, you get not only a great remake but two games in one including R-Type and R-Type 2 for the same price, that is a steal!

If you never played the game before, this is a really good time to try it, Classic mode remains strong even after all these years and offers hours of challenging fun. Great for old school fans and newcomers alike.

Giving it an 7.5 out of 10!

Pros:

– Awesome gameplay

– Excellent sound

– Is not Flappy Bird (that’s a joke, you dense people)

– Challenging

Cons:

– Can be frustating at times

– Lacks storyline

– Not for casuals