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| R-Type | |
| Developer: | Irem |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Release date: | 1987 |
| Genre: | Shoot 'em up |
| Game modes: | Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Cabinet: | Standard |
| Controls: | Joystick; 2 buttons |
| Monitor | |
| Orientation: | Horizontal |
| Type: | Raster, standard resolution (Used: 384 x 256) |
| Notes | |
| Very influential for the genre; Invented the Force/Satellite | |
R-Type is a side-scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game produced by Irem in 1987.
R-Type is one of the most famous of all scrolling shooters. Its impressive graphics, detailed animation, inventive features and simple yet surprisingly involved gameplay made it a huge success for Irem.
The player flies a futuristic fighter craft called the R9, which is supposedly called because it is, at the time, the ninth model in the 'R' series of fighter craft. The player's mission is to 'blast off and strike the evil Bydo Empire'.
The gameplay of R-Type is noticeably distinct among shoot 'em ups. Invariably the player will lose not because of an inequality in firepower, but because of the design of the levels themselves. There is usually a 'correct' way to get through a level, but players must learn these by experience - ie. by losing and restarting from earlier in the level.
The Force is R-Type 's most famous and unique innovation. Described as "an indestructible living weapon", it is a glowing, spherical pod that can be attached to the player's ship. Players of R-Type also variously refer to this device as a Force Pod, Force Unit, or Force Satellite.
To obtain the Force, the player must collect a weapon power-up. When this is done, the Force arrives onscreen from behind. To attach the Force to the ship, the player simply flies into it. It can be attached either to the front or back, and will fire in whatever direction it is facing.
When the Force is attached, it acts as a weapons system for the player. The weapon it uses depends on what power-up the player has collected. There are three different weapon power-ups:
The Force also, importantly, acts as a shield. It is indestructible and can block normal enemy weapons. It can also damage or destroy enemies by collision.
The player has a single button with which to control the Force. By pressing the button when the Force is attached to the ship, it is rocket-ejected away in whatever direction it is facing.
When detached, the Force can be made to fire, but it uses an array of simple blasters rather than the weapons it supplies to the ship.
By pressing the button again, the Force can be called back to the ship. Because it homes in on the player's ship, the player can control it in a limited manner by moving the ship as it is returning.
The Wave Cannon, also known as the Beam, is a special weapon integrated into the R9 craft. By simply holding the fire button down, the player can build up energy in their ship, drawing in tiny, glowing particles through the ship's nose. A 'BEAM' bar at the bottom of the screen indicates how much energy the ship is charged with. Releasing the fire button then discharges this energy as a destructive beam, which at full power can tear through waves of enemies. This is very reminiscent of anime-style energy attacks, and resembles the Kamehameha Wave attack from the Dragon Ball Z anime.
The Wave Cannon is a powerful attack, but has the disadvantage that the player cannot fire whilst charging the cannon. In addition, it can only fire forwards.
R-Type Final has a total of 83 Wave Cannons, ranging from laser beams and explosive blasts to Pile Driver spikes and acid sprays.
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