Some ignorant questions about R-type.

[captain ahar]

I bought Final some time ago and sold it cause i disliked it a lot. But i dug up Super R-type, and while it didn't curl my toes it at least got me intrigued enough to wonder about the others.

-Is Delta my best domestic option (don't want to spend too much to satisfy curiosity)? What R-types were released in the states (no handhelds)?

-As I am used to Gradius, I was rather suprised in Super R-type to start at the beginning of the level each time i died (because I suck at the game ). Are all R-types like this (i.e. no checkpoints)?

-How do force pod upgrades work? Collect several icons of same color?

-Anything else I should know?

Thanks so much. My sincere apologies if I could have gleaned this information from other sources.

[Ord]

Others will answer your questions in greater detail, however the best R-Type games that got a western release, IMO, were "R-TYPES" for the PSOne (Collection of 1&2), "R-type III" for the SNES/Super Famicom and "R-Type Delta" for the PSOne. I quite like Final, horrid slowdown though.
You don't get a stronger weapon by collecting the same coloured orbs multipule times.

[BulletMagnet]

What R-types were released in the states (no handhelds)?

Ord covered the best-known ones, though I'm sure there are more obscure ones I'm forgetting...

-As I am used to Gradius, I was rather suprised in Super R-type to start at the beginning of the level each time i died (because I suck at the game ). Are all R-types like this (i.e. no checkpoints)?

Most R-Types use checkpoints, Super R-Type is infamous for being particularly stingy.

-How do force pod upgrades work? Collect several icons of same color?

At least in the versions I've played, after you collect the initial item to summon the pea-shooter force pod, the first icon you collect gives you the "level 1" weapon of whatever color it is you snagged, and the next item you collect, no matter which color it is, will upgrade your pod to "level 2," though it might change the weapon. After that, you can't power up much more, aside from speed ups and "pit" items.

Hope I got that right...

[Zhon]

Yes, each force device upgrade increases the level by 1 if not already at maximum, and switches the weapon to match the same colour - but the first pickup gives you pod only, no weapon, no matter which colour you grab.

Plus there's also a choice of missiles.

[EvilAkito]

This may be a little late, but oh well.

-Is Delta my best domestic option (don't want to spend too much to satisfy curiosity)? What R-types were released in the states (no handhelds)?

I think R-Type Delta is easily the best shmup on PS1, but it's really hard to find. R-Types (the R-Type 1 & 2 collection for PS1) is a bit more common. Either one will be worthwhile. You also may want to look out for R-Type III for SNES (and avoid the GBA version like the plague).

-As I am used to Gradius, I was rather suprised in Super R-type to start at the beginning of the level each time i died (because I suck at the game ). Are all R-types like this (i.e. no checkpoints)?

No, the other R-Type games have checkpoints. Super R-Type is just an exception.

-How do force pod upgrades work? Collect several icons of same
color?

The first icon you collect gives you the force (it can't shoot, and it'll be the same no matter which color you collect). The second icon will give you an upgraded force (which will shoot a different laser depending on the color you collect). The third icon you collect will give you a maxed out force (it doesn't have to be the same color; you'll still get the upgrade, just with a different weapon).

-Anything else I should know?

R-Type is a more strategy-oriented shooter. Levels that seem impossible at first can become easy if you figure find a good strategy. But keep in mind that the first two R-Type games get ridiculously hard. R-Type III and Delta are still challenging, but aren't extremely cheap.

[raiden]

Imo, R-Type III and Delta are similar in quality. While Delta is better audiovisually and a little more accessible, III has a few more original ideas in level design. Both give you 3 different ships to choose from instead of just one you get in R-Type I and II. Those different ships aren´t as important as the 101 ships of Final might led you to believe, though. The main challenge lies in finding a strategy to deal with the level design, while the different ships just challenge the way certain parts are played slightly.
The Neo Geo also has 2 shmups which play similar to R-Type: Last Resort and Pulstar. Both have no free force, however: in Last Resort, it rotates around your ship, can be fixed with one button and shot in its current direction by using a charge shot. In Pulstar, it is simply fixed in front of the ship.
Another option would be the compilation of Image Fight and X-Multiply. Image Fight is probably the only game that plays (remotely) similar to R-Type and is tate, and X-Multiply has tentacles around your ship instead of a force item.
Any more R-Type style shmups?

[Herr Schatten]

Any more R-Type style shmups?

If you own an Amiga, Z-Out is an excellent R-Type clone.

People usually just have a quick glance at it and dismiss it as another uninspired rip-off, but believe me, it's not. Once you start playing it seriously you'll notice that the level design is truly excellent and, like in original R-Type, it is indeed possible to restart from every single checkpoint with minimum weaponry. The graphics in the first four stages have a slightly amateurish look to them, but the ones in the last two stages are nothing short of stunning. The music is nice and humm-able. And Z-Out features some of the most original boss fights I've ever experienced (just thinking of the swimming heart midboss from stage 5 makes me want to play it again). Plus it's the only R-Type style game I know of that has 2P simultanous gameplay.

A very underrated and too often overlooked gem of a game, IMO. Every R-Type fan should love it.


The Katakis games on both Amiga and C64 are somewhat nice R-Type ripoffs, too. The C64 game has some great music, nice gfx and fun gameplay, but very boring bosses.
The Amiga game (which is totally different except in name) is quite nice and definitely has better bosses (though none are too exciting either), but the gfx have aged terribly and there are some cheap situations in the game I dislike. Still quite a bit of fun. You can download the emu file of the Amiga version freely from Factor Five's webpage.

On the C64 there's also Crush by Smash Designs, which is technically impressive, but suffers from severe issues with leveldesign and hit detection.

Then there's Boom, which probably is the rarest C64 shmup in existence. Only 10 copies of it were ever sold. I own one of them. But it's not really worth hunting for, because it's a terrible game. (Cool music, though.)

Katakis II, which most certainly will be an R-Type style game, is in development by Denaris Software (Mannfred Trenz) and Smash Designs, but is in it's very early stages. The homepage states that 5% of the PC version, 4% of the C64 version and nothing of the GBA and DS versions is done yet.

Those are all I can think of at the moment.

[BulletMagnet]

I think R-Type Delta is easily the best shmup on PS1, but it's really hard to find.

I wouldn't say that, there's usually at least one or two copies on eBay, sometimes more. If you keep your eye out for it it'll turn up...I usually see it go for 20-30 dollars.

[Nuke]

http://www.google.com/froogle?q=R-type+ ... ch+Froogle Try and use Froogle. It works about 70% of the time.

[captain ahar]

...

thanks for all this great info Herr Schatten. At some point in the future, I would love to start collecting Commodore 64, Amiga, and MSX shooters. I will very much try to commit this post to memory.

And on the R-type front. Someone in the Trading Forums posted a SNES lot of games, among them R-type III. I am very excited to give this game a try!

[Bydobasher]

I think Delta would be a great way to get into the series. I recommend it very highly. I like III, but I very much prefer Delta and the arcade games. I know that many cite III as their favourite however, so it's worth a try of course.

Regarding checkpoints, their omission in Super R-Type is incomprehensible. Every stage in every R-Type game has checkpoints except for stages 3 and 8 in the first game. (They need to be there, otherwise the fun-factor is badly compromised....)

Herr Schatten's enthusiasm for certain Amiga shmups compelled me to emulate Z-Out a couple of months ago, and it's a very cool game. He's right that it comes off as a rip initially, but play it a bit and its charms present themselves. (Apidya is great too, but that's Gradius, not R-Type.)

raiden mentioned Last Resort, Pulstar, Image Fight, and X Multiply; I think the two Neo games take much from R-Type in terms of their graphics and their level design, but neither one really plays much like R-Type once you know them. Image Fight and (especially) X Multiply feel a little bit more like R-Type to me, perhaps since they were both made by Irem at about the same time as I & II. Irem's Dragon Breed also retains something of that same feeling.

Two other games that merit mention are Konami's Xexex (I recommend the Japanese version however), and East Technology's Gigandes, each of which are among my favourites. Oh, and Allumer's preposterous Rezon, which is the ultimate R-Type rip. (Level design, title screen, ship and enemy design -- all of it is "inspired" by I & II; the name of your ship is actually the SR-91 (!), which never fails to make me laugh....)

[incognoscente]

...
Oh, and Allumer's preposterous Rezon, which is the ultimate R-Type rip. (Level design, title screen, ship and enemy design -- all of it is "inspired" by I & II; the name of your ship is actually the SR-91 (!), which never fails to make me laugh....)

At least they started with two good ships:
R-9 +
SR-71
-------
SR-91

Doesn't look at all like its mother.

[gs68]

What R-types were released in the states (no handhelds)?

R-Type Leo, released in 1992 IIRC. But most people don't count it as an R-Type title because 1. since it got no home or U.S. release it's not too well-known and 2. it doesn't follow traditional R-Type gameplay (no Force Pods, instant respawn).

[FatalError]

The only other thing you may need to know about R-Type is basic strategy. The only advice on R-Type is this:

Be at the right place, at the right time, all the time.

[Bydobasher]

At least they started with two good ships:
R-9 +
SR-71
-------
SR-91

Doesn't look at all like its mother.

The Blackbird!

Wow, I didn't make that connection at all; thanks for pointing it out. I used to be fascinated by aircraft and spacecraft when I was little, but the interest has waned in recent years, so I forgot all about that particular airplane.

I gotta admit, now that name seems pretty cool to me.

(It doesn't change the fact that Rezon's developers should be ashamed of themselves....)

[incognoscente]

Manabu Namiki was so ashamed of doing graphics design in Rezon that he stopped doing graphics and started making music for NMK, then Raizing, then Cave.

:)

[Frogacuda]

This may be a little late, but oh well.

-Is Delta my best domestic option (don't want to spend too much to satisfy curiosity)? What R-types were released in the states (no handhelds)?

I think R-Type Delta is easily the best shmup on PS1, but it's really hard to find.

Dude, you can still get them new from Agetec's site.

[Nei First]

One question, how would you rate R-type final against R-type Delta and the rest?

[captain ahar]

just got R-type III. i can't get anywhere (to level 2 boss). but it is awesome (and pretty ). i am very happy that i didn't go for the GBA version, as it probably would have made me distance myself further from the series.
i might have to pick up Final again (eventually), since my view will be different.

same thing happened with Gradius, i used to hate the series until Gradius V renewed my interest. thanks for all the comments!

[Kiken]

Manabu Namiki was so ashamed of doing graphics design in Rezon that he stopped doing graphics and started making music for NMK, then Raizing, then Cave.

He worked at NMK? Did he happened to work on the soundtrack to Operation Ragnarok (aka Zed Blade) for the Neo Geo?

[SheSaidDutch]

I've found R-Type Delta in my local for £10.

R-Types I haven't come across yet.

[llaoyllakcuf]

Did he happened to work on the soundtrack to Operation Ragnarok (aka Zed Blade) for the Neo Geo?

in fact he did:

CocoeBiz's webpage

[nullstar]

No one's mentioned the Rayxanber series (well, II and III...haven't played I) as games in the R-Type vein. I wasn't terribly keen on either (though I preferred III). Basically: if R-Type II (generally regarded, I think, as the most difficult, unforgiving game in the series) just doesn't challenge the limits of your motor memory, you need to start playing the Rayxanber games.

[captain ahar]

Rayxanber III will be in my collection as soon as i can afford to spend some money. my Duo is getting lonely with my lack of selection. if things were as they should be, my Duo would be playing a different game every night (the trollop).

[tehkao]

Didn't Whip Rush have some sort of force pod that worked like the one in R-Type?

[overdrive]

To put it simply, the R-Type series is godly. I'm a player who is not blessed with great reflexes, so the overly manic shmups tend to freak me out. A game like this is almost like a shooter/chess hybrid. You are rewarded for being able to memorize things and for being patient enough to endure death after death until you figure out exactly where to be and when to be there.

It's not a test of how quick you can jiggle your joystick — it's a test of how smart you are; how cunning you are and how willing you are to persevere over a system that's designed to weed out players who rely on being able to outshoot the opposition.

I've played prettier games, games with more weaponry, games with cooler bosses and games that do virtually any aspect better — but I've never played a shmup that stimulated me quite like R-Type.

[tehkao]

It is arguable that even after 15 years later, R-Type is still one of the best looking shmups around with the best designed bosses.

[BrianC]

Didn't Whip Rush have some sort of force pod that worked like the one in R-Type?

Not that I know of. It gets compared to R-Type becuase of the look of the ship, but it's really much different.