Best R-Type game?

[Sugar Rush Games]

What's the general consensus as to which R-Type game is the best?

My personal favourite is R-Type III, followed closely by Delta.

[Pretas]

R-Type III's fourth stage is pure hellish rote memorization of the worst kind. Combined with the overly long and boring first stage, I'm not too fond of the game, though the selection of force pods is nice.

[Vyxx]

I believe the general consensus is that the original R-Type is the best.

Although for that series I like R-Type II the best.

And for the best R-Type "themed" Shmup (if that is the correct word) I would say Xexex expanded on the idea and did it way better.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Upon calling the San Francisco based Japan Video Games store back in October of 1998, I wanted to buy the SPS port of DoDonpachi to play on my PSX but was told that they were all sold out & wouldn't be able to backorder it. So I was recommended the hot new PSX import by the name of R-Type Delta from Irem for $70.00 USD + tax + S&H tacked on as usual. Decided to buy it on a whim and it was mailed out that same day. A couple of days later, it arrived in the mail as promised. Upon booting it up for the first time, it truly made excellent usage of the Dual Shock controller's rumble effects to accentuate each stage perfectly. I was blown away by how solid the gameplay of it was.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sugar Rush Games]

R-Type III's fourth stage is pure hellish rote memorization of the worst kind. Combined with the overly long and boring first stage, I'm not too fond of the game, though the selection of force pods is nice.

The fourth stage can get pretty intense; though memorization is what R-Type games are all about.

[Ed Oscuro]

X-Multiply will multiply your per-machine income threefold! (It's also fun most of the time.)

[Kobayashi]

In this order:

1) R-Type Delta (Playstation)
2) R-Type (Arcade/R-Types Collection)
3) R-Type III (SNES)
4) R-Type Final (Playstation 2)
5) R-Type II (Arcade/R-Types Collection)
6) Super R-Type (SNES)
7) R-Type Leo (Arcade)

[Edmond Dantes]

X-Multiply will multiply your per-machine income threefold! (It's also fun most of the time.)

I love you ^__^

Personally I feel like the first R-Type is the best. I also have a slight soft-spot for Leo.

[Herr Schatten]

R-Type >>> R-Type Delta >> R-Type III > R-Type Final > R-Type II

Leo is R-Type in name only. Nice game, though. Can't comment on Super R-Type. I never had the SNES cart and I got bored and shut it off before the end of the first stage, when I tried it in emulation.

And for the best R-Type "themed" Shmup (if that is the correct word) I would say Xexex expanded on the idea and did it way better.

That is grotesquely wrong. The levels of the better R-Type games are fine-tuned to the point of perfection, Xexex's can be quite a bit of a mess at times. And while the force usually shows hints of artificial intelligence or at least moves somewhat predictably when detached, the flint only displays some kind of artificial dumbness and moves straight into nearby walls.

[zaphod]

I also believe original is best, with delta a very close second.

The original has a very well tune difficulty curve, and while it's very helpful, memorization isn't completely required. It never throw a cheap shot at you. Good reflexes and smart play will see you through a stage the first time. R-Type II is much more difficult, an rtype II is really cheap with the memorization bits (but that can be forgiven somewhat because it's home only). death is never unavoidable because of lack of knowledge (but it can b had to avoid without it)

[kathy]

the original is something very special imho

[cools]

The original has a very well tune difficulty curve, and while it's very helpful, memorization isn't completely required. It never throw a cheap shot at you. Good reflexes and smart play will see you through a stage the first time.

I was stuck on stage 4 back in the day for a long time, where a single death makes it very difficult to recover due to the loss of speedups. But once I finally cleared that stage (a random run 2 years ago I think) I made it all the way to the last level with no knowledge of them.

[Wonderbanana]

R-Type for me.

[ThEmperorIsDead]

Same here, the original.

[NzzpNzzp]

Delta's the best because there's no horrible unfun level like R-Type stage 6 or R-Type III stage 4. Even once you do work out a proper route those levels are still boring as hell.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Pulstar. I love all the R-Type games but this one has the best graphics, shitloads of very well designed stages, and breathtaking music.

[near_miss]

Delta (most empowering + balanced IMO - revisit this the most by far)
final (even w slowdown such a hypnotizingly pretty game)
original (still so solid...)

for me-- music is a big factor, r-type's eerie atmosphere and bizarre bosses are what bring me back to experience them again. Not much of a skillful/score player, but I find this series so absorbing.

[Kollision]

I've yet to play III, Delta, Leo and Final, but from what I've seen and tasted so far Delta is the most acomplished one in the series.

[SuperDeadite]

1. R-Type
2. Leo
3. Last Resort

I'd also put Gallop really high on the list, but I think most wouldn't include it based on gameplay.

[Obiwanshinobi]

The first R-Type might be my favourite R-Type game, but Delta (ugly as it is; I tend to like PSX textured polygons, but graphically Delta is a missed opportunity) is probably the best shmup of many buttons and one of the very best console-exclusive shmups.
Bear in mind it's a PSX game not just for the heck of it; makes even more sense played with the PlayStation pad than III made played with the SNES one.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Shit, I completely forgot about Delta. Haven't played that one yet; does it still sell for insane sums on EBay etc.?

[BIL]

No idea about NTSCU or PAL, but in NTSCJ the original print (black cover w/Dobkeratops) is considerably rarer and pricier than the later "R's Best" budget reprint (red wireframe POW Armor cover). Same goes for R-Types, just get the R's Best if you're not bothered about the print. edit: R-Types' reprint is missing the R-Type Delta demo movie, iirc, but the games themselves are 100% untouched. You get a neat trading card too, haha.

I like Delta the best. Consistently entertaining stage designs with no III/Final dead spots, the Image Fight-style speed control allows more flexibility than previous games', and the x2 bonus for killing stuff with a bomb-ready Force (along with the lack of extends) makes going for personal bests more appealing. Also has immense atmosphere and cinematic flair at zero compromise to pacing, and a formidable soundtrack. Textbook cinematic shooter.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

No idea about NTSCU or PAL, but in NTSCJ the original print (black cover w/Dobkeratops) is considerably rarer and pricier than the later "R's Best" budget reprint (red wireframe POW Armor cover). Same goes for R-Types, just get the R's Best if you're not bothered about the print. edit: R-Types' reprint is missing the R-Type Delta demo movie, iirc, but the games themselves are 100% untouched. You get a neat trading card too, haha.

I like Delta the best. Consistently entertaining stage designs with no III/Final dead spots, the Image Fight-style speed control allows more flexibility than previous games', and the x2 bonus for killing stuff with a bomb-ready Force (along with the lack of extends) makes going for personal bests more appealing. Also has immense atmosphere and cinematic flair at zero compromise to pacing, and a formidable soundtrack. Textbook cinematic shooter.

Thanks for the info! Time to get he ole PS1 emulator going to see if I need to get an official copy.

[Violent Ken]

Pulstar is in my opinion a really great tribute to R-Type! So many similarities but not just a simple clone!

Why so many people hate Leo? It's an awesome game even if it's the most particular of the series...

[Pretas]

I think the biggest reason Leo isn't well liked is because it's too easy.

[Kiken]

In this order:

1) R-Type Delta (Playstation)
2) R-Type (Arcade/R-Types Collection)
3) R-Type III (SNES)
4) R-Type Final (Playstation 2)
5) R-Type II (Arcade/R-Types Collection)
6) Super R-Type (SNES)
7) R-Type Leo (Arcade)

I concur.

Delta got rid of extends entirely (no more check-point milking), removed the annoying second loop and delivered 4 craft which were powerful but not broken. It used a dark palette to great effect (which helped off-set the PSX polys) and merged it well with the eerie music (Crazy Machine is still easily the best 1st stage R-Type theme) maintaining fantastic atmosphere throughout. The game has a solid difficulty curve and appeals to a variety of play styles without collapsing into nonsense (see most of R-Type Final's ship roster).

[system11]

Delta, easily.

[alamone]

1 > 2 > Delta > 3 > Leo > Super > Final
would be my ordering.

[ciox]

There's many nice games in the series but just R-Type for me.

[null1024]

R-Type >>> R-Type Delta >> R-Type III > R-Type Final > R-Type II

Leo is R-Type in name only. Nice game, though. Can't comment on Super R-Type. I never had the SNES cart and I got bored and shut it off before the end of the first stage, when I tried it in emulation.

And for the best R-Type "themed" Shmup (if that is the correct word) I would say Xexex expanded on the idea and did it way better.

That is grotesquely wrong. The levels of the better R-Type games are fine-tuned to the point of perfection, Xexex's can be quite a bit of a mess at times. And while the force usually shows hints of artificial intelligence or at least moves somewhat predictably when detached, the flint only displays some kind of artificial dumbness and moves straight into nearby walls.

The PSP version fixes that in Xexex, I think. It's not as dumb as I remember it being when I played it in MAME.
The Force is still smarter with movement though.

As for best R-Type, 1 is my favorite, then Delta, 2, 3.
Never played Final, so I can't comment on it.
Fuck Super R-Type.
Leo is great, but it's definitely not R-Type.

R-Type III's fourth stage is pure hellish rote memorization of the worst kind. Combined with the overly long and boring first stage, I'm not too fond of the game, though the selection of force pods is nice.

This, although I like the game to an extent.