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R-Type Dimensions drags PS3 into an alien firefight on May 20
Five years after it debuted on the Xbox 360, developer Tozai Games has announced plans to release a PlayStation 3 version of R-Type Dimensions on May 20. Like its Xbox 360 predecessor, the PlayStation 3's R-Type Dimensions is an upgraded compilation featuring both R-Type and R-Type 2, two classic games which stand as pillars of the side-scrolling shoot-em-up genre. While arcade purists can opt to play either game in their original, pixel-pocked forms, R-Type Dimensions also offers new, high-definition, polygonal graphics and remastered sound. Additionally, Tozai has added an Infinite Mode, which grants players an unending supply of ships, as well as a Level Select for those who want to practice their shoot-em-up skills on a specific stage. Most crucially, R-Type Dimensions includes modern network code, allowing players to blast aliens alongside a friend from anywhere in the world. Local co-op is also included, just in case that players happen to be sharing a couch. [Image: Tozai Games]
R-Type 2 coming to iOS and Android soon from Double Dragon Trilogy publisher
French retrogame porting studio DotEmu announced today that it plans to release Irem's classic arcade shoot-'em-up R-Type 2 for iOS and Android devices "soon," following up on its recent launch of the mobile brawler compilation Double Dragon Trilogy. Released in arcades in 1989 (and later semi-adapted for the Super NES in 1991's Super R-Type), R-Type 2 improves on its predecessor's horizontally-scrolling formula with new power-ups, weapons, and screen-filling boss battles. Veterans of 2009's XBLA compilation release R-Type Dimensions can attest that R-Type 2 is a far more difficult game than the original R-Type, and DotEmu's upcoming port is likely to inspire new waves of agony and and teeth-gnashing worldwide. DotEmu plans to offset R-Type 2's difficulty with an optional auto-fire feature, along with an "unlimited" mode that offers players infinite lives. The new mobile port also features unlockable achievements, worldwide leaderboards, and support for Bluetooth controllers.
PSA: Last day to get R-Type games on PSN
Today is the final day to snag R-Type Delta and R-Types from the US PSN store, where they are PS One Classics. All R-Type games are being removed from PSN, following a slew of similar delistings on the Japanese PlayStation Sore in August 2011 and R-Type's removal from the Wii Virtual Console in September 2011.Developer Irem hasn't provided any reason for the delistings.
R-Type being removed from Virtual Console on Sept. 30
Sega recently announced that the Sega Master System versions of R-Type will be removed from the Wii's Virtual Console on September 30. No reason was given for the game's removal, but these things usually involve business mumbo-jumbo surrounding licensing issues. If you have any interest in this milestone of the shmup genre, grab it while you can. Coincidentally, Irem, which developed R-Type, removed several titles from the Japanese PSN back in August, including several R-Type games. No reason was given for those edits either.
R-Type coming to Android September 12
"But wait," some of you youngsters might be thinking. "How can those stickers I'm always seeing on Toyota Celicas and Mitsubishi Eclipses be coming to my phone? Why would I even want that?" Take a seat, junior, you might learn something: Before R-Type adorned the window/bumper of every import with a fat pipe and under lighting, it was the name of one of the most iconic and ground-breaking shooters ever made. And now, retro-game refurbisher DotEmu is bringing Irem's historic xenophobic extermination simulator back to life on September 12, via the Android Marketplace and Amazon's AppStore for Android. All of the items and power-ups from the original are said to be present and accounted for, with touch controls taking over for the obviously absent joystick and buttons. Remakes like this strike us as perfect candidates for the Xperia Play, though no details were given as to whether or not Android devices with buttons will be able to circumvent the touch controls. No price point or Android OS version requirements have been given either, but we'd be surprised if it required anything newer than 2.2.
This looks like R-Type of iPhone shmup
It was last November when we first heard that DotEmu was at work porting Irem's classic 1987 arcade shmup R-Type to iPhone. Yesterday, EA Mobile made it official: it'll be publishing the game on the App Store "this summer," but couldn't get more specific due to the unpredictable nature of Apple's app approval process. We had a chance to get our hands on the game at EA yesterday and we've got to say, the port has turned out great, with three control schemes (touch to move and shoot, tilt to move / touch to shoot or an overlaid d-pad and buttons) plus options such as autofire and the ability to switch between full-screen and the original coin-op aspect ratio. Cleverly, DotEmu has created separate on-screen buttons for charged shots and launching the "Force" pod away from the player's R9 fighter. Check out the screens below and we'll let you know when the game hits Apple's virtual store shelves. %Gallery-97919%
Ilomilo adorably (and exclusively) heading to XBLA
Southend Interactive, developer of Lode Runner and R-Type on Xbox Live Arcade, recently announced plans to bring adorable puzzler Ilomilo to Microsoft's digital platform as an "exclusive." The game stars Ilo and Milo, two miniaturized Teletubby-looking creatures exploring "surrealistic and ever changing" environments, forever questing to be reunited. The game's first trailer (seen above) has the pair traversing worlds that evoke Echochrome, only with, well, gobs more color (not to mention tons more charm). No release window is given for the title, but when it does eventually come out, friends can join up online to control one character each and take on the game's four worlds cooperatively. Apparently Ilomilo will also feature "famous cameos from other games" hidden within each level, though given Southend's past titles (based on other companies' IP), we can't possibly imagine what that could mean. Will we find an Arrowhead space ship somewhere in the game? The future is unknown, folks. For now, get your "DAWWWWWW"s ready and check out the smattering of Ilomilo media above and below. %Gallery-92112%[Via Eurogamer]
R-Type to shoot 'em up on iPhone
DotEmu, the developer responsible for the random iPhone port of the Zelda-esque Golvellius, is porting a much more recognizable game to the platform for its next release: IREM's epochal shmup, R-Type. CEO Xavier Liard told Touch Arcade, "We are very pleased to work on R-Type and to start our collaboration with Irem Software Engineering Inc." DotEmu didn't announce which of the many versions of R-Type will be the basis of the port. Having IREM involved seems like a good sign and, while the touch interface is not ideal for shooting games, Space Invaders Infinity Gene proved that it can work, at least better than it does for platforming or run & gun games. Of course, R-Type is really, really difficult, and the iPhone's controls aren't going to make destroying the Bydo Empire any easier.
VC in Brief: Fighting Street (TG16) and R-TYPE (SMS)
This week's Virtual Console releases kind of pale in comparison to last week's stellar offerings; Fighting Street is a crummy game that helped spawn one of gaming's best series, whereas R-TYPE is a great game, though the version offered this week is the lousier port. There's been a way more competent version of the game available since 2006! Fighting Street (TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) R-TYPE (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
Nintendoware Weekly: Sparkle Snapshots, Fighting Street, Carnival King & more
Nintendo actually released a respectable number of downloadable games this week: 8 games across Virtual Console, WiiWare and DSiWare. You may have even heard of some of them! As far as we can tell, the highlights of the week are a DSiWare photo decoration app and the embarrassing parent of the Street Fighter series. Hit the post break and find out if any of the many offerings are what you were looking to drain your Nintendo Points on.
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-MMO genre?
Long before we had the soaring crafts and grand interstellar vistas of EVE Online, most games that involved spaceships were of a very set type. They usually involved one small ship, a horde of other ships, bullets flying everywhere, and a number of lives that were expressly designed to eat up as many quarters as possible. The gaming field has changed quite a bit since then, but scrolling shooters in the vein of Darius or R-Type can still eat up hours on end... much like most MMOs, although without as much emphasis on virtual worlds. And there's little denying that for fans of the genre, they're as effective at reducing stress. Today, we ask our readers: what's your favorite game type that doesn't fall under our header? Do you prefer traditional console RPGs? Do you veer more toward fighting games, or strategy titles, or is it a mishmash of different things that appeal to you? You could argue the elements of Team Fortress 2 or Borderlands, but they generally fall under a different aegis than Champions Online or EverQuest II for most players... so what about you? What do you like to kick back with when you aren't on your MMO of choice?
European Nintendo Downloads: You, Guybrush, and The Darklord
This week's content for European Nintendo fans is quite the bevy of scrumptious content. There's a new chapter in the Tales of Monkey Island franchise to laugh through, as well as some new stuff for your little ne'er-do-well in My Life as a Darklord. If WiiWare isn't your thing, you could always shoot everything in sight in some R-Type on the Virtual Console. See? Totally a bevy. You, Me, and the Cubes (WiiWare, 1 -2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: The Siege of Spinner Cay (WiiWare, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) Sexy Poker (WiiWare, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord - Palom ally add-on (WiiWare, 1 player, 200 Wii Points) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord - Living Room Set add-on (WiiWare, 1 player, 400 Wii Points) R-Type (Sega Master System, 1 - 2 players, 500 Wii Points) Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam (DSiWare, 500 DSi Points)
R-Type finally comes down to a reasonable price for deal of the week
Xbox Live gold members can pick up R-Type Dimensions for the reduced price of 800 ($10) this week. How is that reduced, you ask? Well, for some strange reason, the side-scrolling shmup is normally a tad on the expensive side at 1200 ($15).At present, though, its probably best to spend those Microsoft space bucks on the excellent 'Splosion Man or wait a couple weeks until Shadow Complex releases. However, if you gotta have the R-Type, at least you'll get a deal on the game this week. Add R-Type Dimensions to your queue %Gallery-34074%
Get your first taste of R-Type's Bitter Chocolate
Who knew Irem had such a sweet tooth? The team is working on a sequel to its first PSP game, R-Type Tactics, awkwardly titled Operation Bitter Chocolate. Unlike previous R-Type games, the Tactics series strays far from its shmup origins, offering Advance Wars-esque turn-based strategy in its stead.The debut trailer for Operation Bitter Chocolate is stylish, but we're still not entirely sure what inspired its candied name. Perhaps it's solely to bundle chocolate replicas of the franchise's iconic Arrowhead with each copy of the game. Yum.%Gallery-69290%[Via PSP Hyper]
Famitsu: IREM offering R-Type Command fans some Bitter Chocolate
According to IGN, the latest issue of Famitsu reveals plans for a sequel to IREM's PSP hexagonal strategy game, R-Type Command. The sequel, which has the bizarrely great title R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate, will include twice as many units as the original shmup spinoff, along with new commands and a branching storyline. Bitter Chocolate will also offer downloadable missions.When the sequel launches on October 29, it will be released both on UMD (with a bonus soundtrack disc) and as a cheaper download, which is kind of a good idea, considering that the PSP Go will be out in Japan on November 1.%Gallery-3448%
VC Tuesday: Cyber Deer Hunt
This week, the lone WiiWare release is a deer hunting game from Arc System Works. We would have expected such a game to come from an American publisher first, so we're a bit surprised to see ASW premiere it in Japan. Not surprised enough to pay that much attention.Our attention is fixed, instead, firmly on the Virtual Console. Between the proto-strategy game Famicom Wars and Namco's arcade arena combat game Cyber Sled, it's a pretty awesome week to have a Wii in Japan. Even if we're pretty sure the Virtual Console Arcade version of Cyber Sled can't have multiplayer (since the arcade game used separate cabinets for each player).Virtual Console: Ninja-kun: Ashura no Shou (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Famicom Wars (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) R-TYPE (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Cyber Sled (Arcade, 800 Wii Points) WiiWare: Shikagari (Hunting) (1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) [Image via The Arcade Flyer Archive]
Final Fantasy available on Japanese Virtual Console in May
May's Virtual Console lineup in Japan may be small in number -- just six games -- but it's packed with quality. Most notably, Square Enix's GDC-announced plan to release vintage Final Fantasies on VC starts next month with the obvious choice for the starting point: the first Final Fantasy. Also very, very cool: SimEarth plus a samurai-themed River City Ransom sequel and the first game in the series that we would come to know as Advance Wars. This one's called Famicom Wars because, you know, it's on the Famicom. Famicom Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zenin Shugou Ninja-kun Ashura no Shou Final Fantasy Famicom Wars Master System R-Type PC Engine SimEarth
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: R-Type Dimensions
This week on XBLA in Brief, we take a look at R-Type Dimensions, a new compilation of R-Type and R-Type 2 in one fancy Arcade package. You want 2D graphics? You got 'em. Remixed 3D graphics? Those are in there too. Crazy 2D and 3D camera options? Oh yeah. About the only thing it doesn't have is an attractive price: It's 1200 points. Still, hardcore shooter fans should take notice.Download the trial version of R-Type Dimensions[iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly (Zune Marketplace link coming soon).[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[M4V] Download the M4V directly.
R-Type Dimensions laser-blasts Xbox Live Arcade
Newly available for purchase (or trial) from the Xbox Live Marketplace is Tozai's highly anticipated, coin-op-tastic R-Type Dimensions. The 1200 download takes up roughly 149MB of hard drive space, but in return, gives you hours and hours of R-type (and R-Type II) shooter fun. Now go! Go strike that evil Bydo Empire with nothing but your finely honed shmup skills.%Gallery-34074%
This Wednesday: R-Type Dimensions blasts XBLA
Microsoft just sent official word that the Xbox Live Arcade will receive Tazai's R-Type Dimensions this Wednesday, February 4th. Dimensions is a remake of classics R-Type and R-Type II, both mashed together in 2D and 3D flavors that can be switched between at will. With 14 stages, cooperative play, a new camera mode, plenty of game stats and the inclusion of checkpoint saves (woohoo!), R-Type Dimensions looks to be a winner. But before you commit to an XBLA purchase, know that Dimensions will cost you 1200. We're sure that will deter a few.
