R-Type Final

Last updated
R-Type Final
R-typeFinalbox.jpg
North American box art
Developer(s) Irem
Publisher(s)
Producer(s) Kazuma Kujo
Designer(s) Kazuma Kujo
Composer(s) Yuki Iwai
Series R-Type
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: July 17, 2003
  • NA: February 3, 2004 [1]
  • EU: March 26, 2004
Genre(s) Shoot 'em up
Mode(s) Single player

R-Type Final [lower-alpha 1] is a horizontal shooter video game by Irem for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was planned to be the last mainline game in the R-Type series. However, R-Type Tactics was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, and the direct sequel R-Type Final 2 was announced on March 30, 2019, [2] and was released on April 29, 2021.

Contents

Story

Final takes place after several long wars against the Bydo, the main antagonist in the R-Type series. The player's first mission is to investigate a mysterious enemy inside a crashed space colony, the remnants of a large battle codenamed Operation Last Dance, a previous attempt to wipe out the Bydo once and for all. This investigative theme is incorporated throughout the game as each level is considered 'research' on the Bydo and unlocks a gallery of in-universe artwork and additional playable ships. Levels are prefaced with hints of the R-Type universe in the form of poetry.

Eventually the player is tasked with finishing where Operation Last Dance left off, and their success with their task is determined by which route the player takes. The primary route sees the player confront the heart of the Bydo, sacrificing themselves and their ship to destroy it in a last stand. One of the alternate routes turns the player ship into a Bydo, and pits the player against their former allies. The final alternate route sees the player taken to the future to fight against an unrelenting wave of Bydo forces with no way to continue once they die.

Gameplay

Final provides 101 playable ships, including altered versions of ships appearing in previous R-Type games, together with many original ones. They are unlocked through a branching system accessed via the R Museum, which was originally featured in R-Types. The PlayStation 2's internal clock is incorporated into each ship's development history (shown through a commemorative plaque) when certain in-game tasks are completed. For example, ships unlocked in 2008 will be seen in the game as having been rolled out in 2168.[ citation needed ]

Reception

R-Type Final received "generally favorable" reviews, according to a review aggregator website Metacritic. [3]

In a special edition of Edge magazine, listing their 100 top videogames of all-time, R-Type Final was the only horizontal shooter on the list. [4]

Notes

  1. Japanese: アールタイプファイナル, Hepburn: Āru Taipu Fainaru

Related Research Articles

<i>R-Type</i> 1987 video game

R-Type is a horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and released by Irem in 1987 and the first game in the R-Type series. The player controls a star ship, the R-9 "Arrowhead", in its efforts to destroy the Bydo, a powerful alien race bent on wiping out all of mankind. The R-9 can acquire a glowing orbicular device called a "Force", protecting it from enemy fire and providing additional firepower. The arcade version was distributed by Nintendo in North America; it is the last arcade title Nintendo distributed.

Ace Combat is an arcade-style combat flight simulation video game series by Project Aces, an internal development team of Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. Debuting in 1995 with Air Combat for the PlayStation, the series includes eight mainline installments, multiple spin-offs, and other forms of media, such as novels, model kits, and soundtrack albums. Since 2012, the series has been developed primarily by Bandai Namco Studios through its internal development group, Project Aces.

<i>Soulcalibur II</i> 2002 video game

Soulcalibur II is a 2002 fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco and the third installment in the Soulcalibur series of weapon-based fighting games. It is the sequel to Soulcalibur, which was released in July 1998. Originally intended to be released on Sega's NAOMI board, the game was released on the Namco System 246 arcade board before being ported to the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox in 2003.

<i>R-Type Delta</i> 1998 video game

R-Type Delta is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Irem and released for the PlayStation console in 1998. It is the fourth game in the R-Type series and the first to feature 3D graphics. The game received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>R-Type II</i> 1989 video game

R-Type II is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed and published by Irem. It was released in arcades in 1989. It is the sequel to R-Type, and the second game in the R-Type series.

<i>Digimon Rumble Arena</i> 2001 video game

Digimon Rumble Arena is a 2001 fighting video game developed and published by Bandai. It is part of a video game series connected to the Digimon franchise and showcases the titular creatures within the context of a fighting video game. The player controls one of several Digimon and engages in combat with other Digimon within a variety of settings. Apart from the central fighting gameplay, a trio of mini-games are available upon the single-player campaign's completion.

<i>RayStorm</i> 1996 video game

RayStorm is a 1996 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Taito. It has been ported to several consoles, including the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Xbox 360. Players control a starship, the R-Gray, in its mission to destroy the Secilia Federation before it destroys Earth.

<i>Muppets Party Cruise</i> 2003 The Muppets party video game

Muppets Party Cruise is a party video game developed by Mass Media for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube and released in November 2003. The currency is party favors that are accrued by unlocking additional party games from the menu, but during gameplay, players use cruise credits.

<i>R-Type Tactics</i> 2007 video game

R-Type Tactics, known in North America as R-Type Command, is a turn-based strategy/tactical role-playing game released in 2007 in Japan, and 2008 in North America and Europe for PlayStation Portable. The main part of the game consists of two consecutive campaigns, in which the player controls first the forces of Earth, then the Bydo Empire. The gameplay is structured as a typical mission-based tactical role-playing game, but retains many of the specific traits of the R-Type series. The game also supports multiplayer combat via Wi-Fi.

<i>Cosmic Cop</i> 1991 video game

Cosmic Cop is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game produced by Irem in 1991. It is part of the popular R-Type video game series.

<i>Everyday Shooter</i> 2006 video game

Everyday Shooter is a multidirectional shooter developed by Jessica Mak and released for Microsoft Windows in 2006.

<i>Thunder Force VI</i> 2008 shoot em up game

Thunder Force VI is a 2008 horizontal-scrolling shooter video game developed and published for the PlayStation 2 by Sega. The game places the player in the role of a starship that must eradicate the Orn Faust empire before they destroy all of Earth. The player must complete each stage by shooting down enemies and avoiding collisions with them and their projectiles, using an arsenal of powerful weapons to destroy them. It is the sixth and final entry in the long-running Thunder Force video game franchise, and the only one to not be developed by series creator Technosoft.

<i>The Punisher: No Mercy</i> 2009 video game

The Punisher: No Mercy is a first-person shooter video game that was released on July 2, 2009, on the PSN Store. It also shares fonts and models from the 2008 film Punisher: War Zone, though doesn't share continuity with it. The game was pulled from PSN as of 2011 due to licensing expiring between Marvel and Zen Studios, although Marvel continued working with Zen Studios on Marvel Pinball.

<i>R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate</i> 2009 video game

R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate is a turn-based strategy tactical role-playing game released in 2009 in Japan for the PlayStation Portable game console. It is the sequel to 2007's R-Type Tactics. The main part of the game consists of three campaigns, in which the player controls two human factions, then the Bydo Empire.

<i>WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011</i> 2010 professional wrestling video game

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for PlayStation 2 (PS2), PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation Portable (PSP), Xbox 360, and Wii systems. The game was released worldwide in October 2010, with the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions for Japan in February 2011.

<i>Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City</i> 2012 video game

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is a squad-based third-person shooter video game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, co-developed by Slant Six Games and Capcom. It was released on March 20, 2012 in North America, March 22, 2012 in Australia, March 23, 2012 in Europe and April 26, 2012 in Japan.

<i>Call of Duty: Ghosts</i> 2013 first-person shooter video game

Call of Duty: Ghosts is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. It is the tenth major installment in the Call of Duty series and the sixth developed by Infinity Ward. It was released for PlayStation 3, Wii U, Windows, and Xbox 360, on November 5, 2013. The game was released with the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

<i>Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse</i> 2012 video game

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse is an action-adventure third-person shooter video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by Activision. The game is based on the American animated television series Family Guy, primarily the episode "Road to the Multiverse", as well as the episode "The Big Bang Theory". The game was released in North America on November 20, 2012, in Australia on November 21, 2012, and in Europe on November 23, 2012, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Versions for Nintendo 3DS and Wii were planned but canceled. It was the first Family Guy console game since Family Guy Video Game! in 2006.

Strafe is a first-person shooter video game developed by Pixel Titans and published by Devolver Digital. The game is an homage to 1990s first-person shooter video games, such as Doom and Quake, advertised as to have "bleeding edge graphics and gameplay", citing the year 1996. It was released worldwide on May 9, 2017.

References

  1. Dunham, Jeremy (January 14, 2004). "R-Type Final Official Trailer". IGN . Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. "R-Type Final 2 announced for PS4". Gematsu. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  3. 1 2 "R-Type Final for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  4. The 100 Greatest video games, Edge special edition, Future Publishing, page 32