R-Type III is an interesting title in many ways. Firstly, it was a console exclusive, which generated quite a stir when it was first published. Secondly it takes advantage of the Super NES 'Mode 7' graphics to bring rotating backgrounds into play. Thirdly, it's one of the few decent 2D side-scrolling shooters on the Super Nintendo. Most SNES shooters are rife with slowdown, and R-Type III is no exception. Thankfully Irem have coded to the strengths of the SNES and have tried to avoid having too many 'slow-mo' incidents.
Much like the original R-Type you can pick up a drone called ‘The Force’ which is indestructible to assist you in your battle against Bydo. The game lets you choose between three Force types. Each has its own unique ability, such as the 4-way blaster, or a high speed return system, which lets you quickly return the Force to your ship. This becomes integral to survival, for when the Force is detached from your ship, while offering offensive capabilities; they do nothing to physically protect your ship. While attached, however, they provide protection from enemies either in front or behind, depending on which end of your ship you choose to place the drone.
The action is fast and furious, and a seemingly endless stream of relentless attackers is constantly thrust upon you. Holding X emits a rapid fire blaster from the ship, while holding Y lets you charge up for a big blast. By pressing R the power-up mode is changed, allowing for yet another powerful burst, as well as the discharge of rapid fire explosive ammunition. The trade-off with this more powerful attack is that your ship overheats and you lose your charge ability temporarily.
The game can be fairly unforgiving, and this can lead to a good deal of frustration. Your ship only takes one hit to be destroyed, whether it's from a tiny projectile that sneaks up on you from behind, or even you accidentally grazing the top of the screen as you concentrate your fire elsewhere. Further, there is no adjustable difficulty setting; this is perhaps balanced out by the fact that even after losing three ships and the game over screen appears, you can press continue and pick up right where you left off.
R-Type fans will most likely have already played this game, but to those of you who have enjoyed the excellent Turbografx version which is also available on the Virtual Console this is the next logical step.
Report
1. mini_stephen
19 Feb 2007, 21:50 GMT
Great little game but bloomin' hard by today's standards..... when you die you have to replay the whole level again grrrrrr
Report
2. Valtox
28 Feb 2007, 10:29 GMT
Good game but it's not for 2 players as stated in the Wii shop.
You'll play one at a time like in Super Mario World and it's pretty lame I think.
Report
3. Dazza
28 Feb 2007, 10:32 GMT
Naughty Wii Shop. All the same I don't think this game would benefit that much from a 2 player option honestly. You think Super Mario World is lame as it's 1 player? We are wasting our time!!
Report
4. sam
14 Mar 2007, 03:47 GMT
I prefer other R-Type over this version. The hardest thing about this game is avoiding the walls/scenery/rotating objects rather than the enemies. It is no where near as fun as other Rtype games. More enemies would have been appreciated.
Report
5. justsumdude899
18 Mar 2007, 09:16 GMT
What a great game! Like Kirby's Adventure, this is one of those few Virtual Console games that I'd never played before, and for some reason, that makes the buy just that much better. After downloading Super Star Soldier and not liking it (mostly to what I thought was insane/unfair difficulty), I was shying away from shooters on the VC. To me, it didn't feel worth it to play through 2 levels of a game and give up. I avoided R-Type 3 for awhile, but I'm glad I finally gave it a chance.
This is one of my top 3 VC downloads so far. A challenging game, but fair, and it allows you to "continue" endlessly and progress. Well worth the 800 points.
Report
6. Sektor
25 Mar 2007, 22:07 GMT
Ahh! i just completed this game, it is very good, one of the best shooters around by far, if not the best.
the 2-player mode is adverage, but its fun to complete it with all the types of force.
Report
7. Hattes
08 Apr 2007, 18:42 GMT
There never was an "original PAL SNES release"! This is the game that has gotten people's hopes up for Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG and the like.
Report
8. William
10 Apr 2007, 05:04 GMT
How do you guys compare between the R-Type series (majorly or minorly.. doesn't matter) for the SNES and T-GX 16 systems? Thanks. I am comparing the reviews here and there (and the star rating). Hm... might give R-Type a try, I guess!
Report
9. Sam
10 Apr 2007, 18:42 GMT
I just beat the first level and I'm absolutely loving it so far. I also bought Soldier Blade - another great shooter, but R-Type 3 is my favorite of the two.
Report
10. PresidentLeever
22 Apr 2007, 19:00 GMT
R-Type still works pretty well on the SNES as it's pretty slow paced and tactical for a shooter, so if you like the R-Type style of gameplay, you won't be disappointed.
Report
11. Moosa
18 May 2007, 08:38 GMT
This game is superior to the original R-Type in almost every way...
Of course the original is great, and absolutely worth playing, but this game expands on that concept greatly...
A stunning achievement on the SNES, you'll be hard pressed to find a better shooter anywhere!
The R-Type series is extremely technical for its time. It's not hyper-intense, but its dang hard and so cool that any onlookers will be amazed =D
Maybe the best-looking SNES game ever, and the gameplay is truely stellar.
MUST BUY.
Report
12. Jonno
26 Jun 2007, 06:00 GMT
A pretty challenging shmup. Can never get past the 1st level save point!
Report
13. BluePaladin25
21 Jul 2007, 10:08 GMT
If you hate getting stuck on the last level, don't get this game.
IT IS HARD!!!!!!!
If you enjoy a challenge, however, then this is one of the best space shooters out there.
Report
14. Paulymate
30 Jul 2007, 12:24 GMT
Great game, well worth the download.
Also, contrary to Hattes, above, I am afraid there was a PAL release - I certainly had a copy back in the day, and it pops up on Ebay fairly often, at an inflated price.
Sorry, but the presence of this game on the PAL VC is not a good reason to get your hopes up for Euro release of Super Mario RPG or Chrono Trigger, as this game *was* released in Euroland...
Report
15. KhaoShar
08 Sep 2007, 21:23 GMT
Yup, it was, I remember having played it ages ago. It was thrilling and the effects where real eye-candy, but it was un-be-leave-ably hard!!
I think about getting I for VC but I'm telling all the kids out there: this game is nothing for people with a low self conciousness- you have to belive in yourself to see the end of this 8)
Report
16. jackaroo
13 Sep 2007, 15:43 GMT
I have this on GBA. Im tempted to get this version since i cannot do the GBA version. I cry just from looking at the title screen lol oj. But i have NEVER got past the first level and im wondering Has anyone played this and the gba version and is there any chance that one is harder than the other or are they identical in difficulty. Still i do enjoy this game so i think a 4 star rating is good from me too.
Report
17. tovare
26 Sep 2007, 17:20 GMT
Jackaroo, the GBA version has a bad reputation. The first level is quite easy and if you get stuck there's some play-throughs on youtube to get you going again. R-Type III is a really great side-shooter, but I really miss a proper high-score table.
Report
18. darthmix
06 Nov 2007, 17:02 GMT
My all-time favorite "shmup" game. I can't even say what it is, exactly, that puts this game above Gradius III, or Gate of Thunder, or even more recent shmups like Einhander for me. I guess it's that the level design is superb and the force-weapon and power-ups seem to be more thoughtfully designed than any other shmup I've played. It's wonderfully hard, but thanks to supsend points on virtual console you don't even have to beat it in one sitting like you did on the SNES. If you like shooters, this is a no-brainer.
Report
19. Jonno
21 Jan 2008, 05:38 GMT
Ha, this is a really challenging game (just how I like my schmups).
Leave A Comment
Please login to post a comment.