R-Type – Spectrum 48/128K Cassette 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 starship, 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.

R-Type was commercially successful and celebrated by critics for its graphics and addictive gameplay, but was criticised for its difficulty. It is commonly cited as one of the best shoot ’em up video games, and one of the greatest video games of all time.

Game Awards

The ZX Spectrum version of R-Type was awarded 9/10 in the January 1989 issue of Your Sinclair and was placed at number 6 in their official top 100.

• The Games Machine praised the “incredible use of colour” and that it “blows away almost every other shoot’em up on the Spectrum”.
• Crash congratulated Electric Dreams for “retaining the frenetic arcade feel and producing such a brilliant game”.
• Sinclair User praised the weapons system and difficulty curve. C+VG concluded their review by saying “an excellent shoot’em up that’s both challenging and addictive. An absolute must for Spectrum blasting fanatics”.

The game was runner-up in the category of Best 8-Bit Coin-Op Conversion of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards, behind Operation Wolf.

Gameplay

The game has a generally slower pace than similar shooting games of the time and emphasizes enemy pattern memorization as much as player speed. It is composed of eight levels, with a boss enemy at the end of each. The player controls a small spacecraft and must navigate the terrain and fight enemies using various ship weapons. The player’s spacecraft has, by default, a weak but rapid-firing main gun; and a more powerful gun called the Wave Cannon, which requires the player to hold their fire to build up power for the cannon.

During the game, the player can obtain an auxiliary device called a Force. This resembles a glowing orange ball. The Force can be attached to the front or back of the player’s spacecraft, or detached to fly freely. When attached, the Force provides one of three different powerful weapons, in addition to the main gun and the Wave Cannon.

The weapons

When detached, these weapons cannot be used, but the Force will instead resort to a secondary set of guns, which can be fired by the player even if the Force is at a distance from the spacecraft. The Force has a secondary use as a shield; it is completely indestructible and can block most things fired at it, as well as damage or destroy enemies on contact. Game designer AKIBO mentioned the behavior of dung beetles as an inspiration for the Force.

The R- in the series title stands for “ray”, as in a ray of light, in reference to the many different types of rayed weapons that players use in the series.

R-Type  Spectrum 48/128/+2/+3 Cassette Game The Hit Squad UK

R-Type original cassette (Tested)
Original trifold inlay instructions
Orginial cassette case

Full title: R-Type
Arcade Game: Shoot-em-up
Publisher(s):  The Hit Squad UK (1989)

What’s it like today?
Rarity: Super rare
Typical value: £8.00
Boxed & Mint: £9.99-£50.00

Fun Factor: