odged firmly in the collective memory of arcade veterans, R-Type is famed for its iconic bosses, original weapon design and impenetrable difficulty level; elements that have been successfully captured in this latest re-release of the beloved side-scrolling shooter. R-Type and R-Type II are faithfully reconstructed from their arcade counterparts, allowing R-Type Dimensions to exceed the questionable quality of emulation based releases available on Xbox Live Arcade. The basic mechanics are wholly intact, allowing players to experience the game assured of authenticity, with the all-new High Definition visual modes providing a needed sense of modernity.
Clean lines and a vivid color
palette rejuvenate its unique style.Aside from the strong nostalgic attachment to the game that many players hold, R-Type Dimensions biggest attraction will be the high definition overhaul. On-screen action is clearly visible throughout, with objects and enemy fire easily identifiable. It does lack a certain dazzle, proving to be more functional than flashy, but the clean lines and vivid color palette rejuvenate R-Type's unique art style.
While certain display modes (the pseudo-3D and arcade perspectives in particular) feel superfluous and contrived, the traditional side-scrolling play, rendered as high-definition 3D models or carefully reproduced 2D pixel art, perfectly captures the Biomechanical style that fans remember fondly. Impressively, graphical output can be altered in real time without the need to dive into a menu, allowing players to switch between styles instantly.
Designed to keep the quarters flowing, R-Type features some alarmingly challenging encounters. The fiercely accurate alien swarms are often the least threatening element of a level, with labyrinthine corridors and barriers causing unsuspecting victim's repeated demise.
Players are forced not only to battle the enemy, but also commit the ever-mobile architecture of the game to memory in order to survive. While other high-profile reiterations of classic games such as Bionic Commando: Rearmed feature careful modernization and balancing of gameplay mechanics, R-Type Dimensions purposefully retains the punishing difficulty of Irem's original arcade releases.
While the game's difficulty has clearly been held in reverence by the developers, they astutely recognize the need for accessibility. Infinite Mode allows players to fight through the Bydo horde without fear of running out of continues, or restarting from the sparse mid-level checkpoints of the classic mode of play. Infinite Mode mockingly keeps a running tally of your deaths, broken down level by level, but should keep those who understandably feel intimidated by the game's antagonism interested in the historical experience.
In fact, R-Type Dimensions is best enjoyed with a mindful, retrospective approach. Certain elements have not aged particularly well, with control over your R-9 craft feeling slow and weighed down. More recent games within the genre such as Ikaruga and Soldner-X provide faster paced adrenaline charged experiences, and newcomers may find the sluggish movement unpalatable compared to modern gaming's considerably higher tempo. Sadly, the Xbox 360's directional pad once again fails retro fans, with the spongy, unconvincing inputs of the controller contributing to the slothful feel of your actions.
Take 4,357: action! Some alarmingly
challenging encounters.Despite these unavoidable drawbacks, R-Type features one of the most iconic and entertaining power-ups implemented in a shooter, the Force. A detachable satellite that can be used as a projectile turret, the simple yet devastating weapon adds a new element of tactical play as a counterbalance to the simplistic core action, adding an extra layer of attack perfect for tackling the game's oppressive boss encounters.
Avoiding the temptation to dilute the arcade experience, Southend Games has mined the original code of R-Type and R-Type II, delivering a highly accurate reconstruction that makes no apologies for the game's merciless level design and boss fights, but offers respite for those looking for a less nerve-shredding experience with the introduction of Infinite Mode and a fun co-operative multiplayer feature. Its high price point (1200 Microsoft Points at time of release) will no doubt be a concern for those unfamiliar with the series, but those who recognize the game's historical significance need not feel any hesitance towards this finely constructed and polished representation of an indubitable classic. R-Type Dimensions offers players a chance to discover a true archetype of the shoot-'em-up genre.
