List of R-Type video games

Last updated

R-Type is a science-fiction themed horizontally scrolling shooter franchise developed and published by Irem for arcade systems and home game platforms. The first entry in the series was released in 1987, R-Type, followed by several sequels for other platforms. Ten games in total have been released in the series. Other pieces of media, such as plastic-resin model kits, soundtrack albums and literature, were also produced. The series centers on an intergalactic war between humans and the Bydo, a powerful extraterrestrial race that are made from both biological lifeforms and mechanical structures. Most games have the player controlling the R-9 "Arrowhead" star vessel, although other entries have slightly altered versions of the ship instead.

Contents

R-Type video games have been released for multiple home video game consoles, as well as personal computers, handheld systems and mobile phones. Several games in the series were also released for digital distribution services, such as Xbox Live Arcade, alongside dedicated compilation games for other systems. Most entries are horizontal-scrolling shooter games, although a number have expanded into other genres, such as tactical role-playing games. The R-Type series is considered one of the most important video game franchises established in the 1980s; [1] the original is also cited as one of the greatest video games ever made.[ citation needed ]

List of games

Main series

TitleDetails
R-Type

Original release date(s):
  • JP: July 1, 1987
  • NA: 1987
Release years by system:
1987 – Arcade

1988 – Atari ST, Commodore 64, Master System, MSX2, PC-88, TurboGrafx-16, ZX Spectrum
1989 – Amiga, Amstrad CPC, X68000
1991 – Game Boy, PC Engine CD
1998 – PlayStation (R-Types)
1999 – Game Boy Color (R-Type DX) [2]
2002 – Mobile phone [3]
2006 – PlayStation 3 (R-Types), Wii Virtual Console
2009 – Xbox 360 (R-Type Dimensions)
2010 – iOS
2011 – Android
2014 – 3DS Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console
2014 – PlayStation 3 (R-Type Dimensions)
2018 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam (R-Type Dimensions EX)

Notes:
  • The arcade version was published by Nintendo outside Japan. [1]
  • Due to storage space limitations, the PC Engine version was split into two games, R-Type I and R-Type II. [1]
  • Cited as one of the greatest video games ever created.


R-Type II

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 1989
  • NA: 1989
Release years by system:
1989 – Arcade

1991 – Amiga, Atari ST
1991 – SNES (Super R-Type)
1992 – Game Boy
1998 – PlayStation (R-Types)
1999 – Game Boy Color (R-Type DX) [2]
2006 – PlayStation 3 (R-Types)
2008 – Wii Virtual Console (Super R-Type)
2009 – Xbox 360 (R-Type Dimensions)
2014 – Android, iOS
2014 – PlayStation 3 (R-Type Dimensions)
2018 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam (R-Type Dimensions EX)

Notes:
  • A direct arcade sequel.
  • The SNES release is titled Super R-Type , featuring new stages and enemy types.


R-Type III: The Third Lightning

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 10, 1993
  • NA: August 2, 1994
  • EU: 1994
Release years by system:
1993 – SNES

2004 – Game Boy Advance
2006 – Wii Virtual Console

Notes:
  • Released simply as R-Type III in North America, published by Jaleco.


R-Type Delta

Original release date(s): [4]
  • JP: November 19, 1998
  • NA: July 31, 1999
  • EU: 1999
Release years by system:
1998 – PlayStation

2009 – PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Notes:
  • Stylized as R-Type Δ.
  • The first entry in the series to incorporate 3D graphics. [5]


R-Type Final

Original release date(s):
  • JP: July 17, 2003
  • NA: February 2, 2004
  • EU: March 26, 2004
Release years by system:
2003 – PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • Intended to be the final game in the R-Type series. [6]
  • Includes over 100 unlockable playable spaceships. [6]
  • Published in North America by Eidos Interactive.


R-Type Final 2

Original release date(s):
  • JP: April 29, 2021
  • NA: April 30, 2021
  • EU: April 30, 2021
Release years by system:
2021 – Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Notes:
  • A direct sequel to R-Type Final. [7]
  • Developed by Granzella and published by Irem. [8]


R-Type Final 3 Evolved

Original release date(s):
March 2023		Release years by system:
PlayStation 5
Notes:
  • A direct sequel to R-Type Final and R-Type Final 2


Spin-off games

TitleDetails
Armed Police Unit Gallop

Original release date(s):
  • JP: September 1991
  • NA: 1991
Release years by system:
1991 – Arcade
Notes:
  • Also known as Cosmic Cop. [9]


R-Type Leo

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 1992
Release years by system:
1992 – Arcade
Notes:
  • The final R-Type game to be released in arcades.


R-Type Tactics

Original release date(s):
  • JP: September 20, 2007
  • NA: May 6, 2008
  • EU: September 26, 2008
Release years by system:
2007 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in North America as R-Type Command, published by Atlus.
  • Tactical role-playing game intermixed with elements from the R-Type series.


R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate

Original release date(s): [10]
  • JP: October 27, 2009
Release years by system:
2009 – PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • A sequel to R-Type Tactics.
  • Plans were made to release the game as R-Type Command II in North America, however, it was never released. [11]


R-Type: Flash of the Void

Original release date(s): [12]
  • JP: October 28, 2009
Release years by system:
2009 – PlayStation Home
Notes:

Compilations

TitleDetails
R-Types

Original release date(s): [13]
  • JP: February 5, 1998
  • EU: October 1998
  • NA: March 1999
Release years by system:
1998 – PlayStation

2006 – PlayStation 3

Notes:
  • A compilation of both R-Type and R-Type II.
  • Later digitally re-released through the PlayStation Network under the PSOne Classics moniker.


R-Type DX

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 21, 1999
  • NA: June 28, 1999 [14]
  • EU: July 20, 1999
Release years by system:
1999 – Game Boy Color
Notes:
  • A compilation of both R-Type and R-Type II.
  • Includes a "DX Mode" that merges both titles into one game.


R-Type Dimensions

Original release date(s): [15]
X360
  • WW: February 4, 2009
PS3
  • JP: May 20, 2014
Steam
  • WW: November 28, 2018
Switch
  • WW: December 13, 2018
PS4
  • WW: December 19, 2018
[16] 		Release years by system:
2009 – Xbox 360

2014 – PlayStation 3 [15]

2018 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam

Notes:
  • Developed by Tozai Games.
  • A compilation of both R-Type and R-Type II, alongside 3D remakes for both games.
  • The Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Steam releases are titled R-Type Dimensions EX.


R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos

Original release date(s):
2025 [17] [18] 		Release years by system:
2025 - Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Notes:
  • A compilation of both R-Type Tactics and R-Type Tactics II, and a remake using Unreal Engine 5 for both games.
  • R-Type Tactics II will have its first official western release.
  • Releasing in North America, published by NIS America

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Kalata, Kurt (5 October 2004). "R-Type". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 Sy, Dexter (23 October 1999). "R-Type DX". IGN. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "『イース』『R-TYPE』などがiアプリに！「ゲームの殿堂!!!」が11月5日にオープン". Dengeki. 22 October 2002. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "R-TYPE DELTA". Irem. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "R-Type Delta Developer Interview". GSLA. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 Kalata, Kurt (8 December 2016). "R-Type Final". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Martin (3 April 2019). "R-Type Final 2 is real and very much not a joke". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Granzella Confirms R-Type Final 2 Is The Real Deal". Siliconera. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  9. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (10 December 2016). "Cosmic Cop". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  10. ↑ Spencer (31 July 2009). "A Taste Of R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "R-Type Command II Coming To North America In A Bittersweet Way". Siliconera. June 24, 2010. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Spencer (28 October 2009). "3D R-Type Shooter Coming To PlayStation Home". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  13. ↑ "R-TYPES". Irem. Archived from the original on 21 February 1999. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "pocket.ign.com: Nintendo Release Schedule". 2000-08-24. Archived from the original on 2000-08-24. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  15. 1 2 Bruno, David (2014-05-20). "R-Type Dimensions Out Today on PS3". blog.us.playstation.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  16. ↑ Romano, Sal (12 December 2018). "R-Type Dimensions EX coming to PS4 on December 19". Gematsu. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  17. ↑ Romano, Sal (26 October 2022). "R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos announced for PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  18. ↑ Sal, Romano (September 6, 2024). "R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos delayed to 2025". Gematsu. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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