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R-TYPE FINAL 2 (PS4)
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Publisher: NIS America.
Developer: Granzella. Released: April 2021. Genre: Horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up. Other versions: XSX; X360; SWI; PC. Posted 19th May 2021. By Chris Weatherley © 2021 |
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When Irem unleashed the original R-Type back in 1987, it was a landmark moment for scrolling shoot ‘em ups. The art style, soundtrack, gameplay and difficulty became hallmarks of a quality shooter and many games that proceeded it attempted to emulate the format. But nothing could beat the original. Several sequels and a supposedly ‘Final’ instalment released on the PlayStation 2 back in 2004, and we all thought the R9 Arrowhead head flown its last mission. However, a surprise teaser trailer released on April 1st 2019 gave fans hope that the series was to make a return. Inevitably, the date of the announcement made people suspicious it was an April Fools gag, but no, developers Granzilla were deadly serious. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, R-Type Final 2 would make a much-anticipated appearance in April 2021. The Bydo are back!
It's fair to say that the last entry in the series prior was one of the weaker ones, veering away from the tried and trusted blueprint a little too much. The original R-Type Final was very story-driven, with a shift in the gameplay seeing more exploration than destruction, fully 3D environments which felt ‘off’ and a lot of plodding cut-scenes. It was okay, but not the send-off R-Type deserved. R-TF2 brings things back to basics while boasting new elements that feel right and add to the structure of the game.
R-Type Final 2 is as tough as you'd expect. It's also a big improvement on its immediate predecessor.
The level designs are significantly better than the previous game, feeling a more organic evolution of the earlier titles, but not too much like a re-skin of things seen before. 3D is used to great effect this time and doesn’t become as disorientating as it did in the original RTF. It does however use foreground/background sprite effects which can trick you into thinking an enemy will hit the ship, or not in some cases. This is not a new phenomenon, as this has been seen way back in R-Type III. It’s something you learn to recognise as you play, and you will find yourself playing it a lot.
The visuals are the finest I think I have ever seen from an R-Type game. Quite a statement, given the bar was set so high from the start in 1987. RTF felt too drab, dark and unappealing at times, but R-Type Final 2 brings a much more vibrant look to the table, while embracing the original Giger-esque styles that made the Bydo antagonists appear so terrifying. This balance is achieved by some spectacular lighting properties and manic explosions offsetting the morbid mutations of the cybernetic enemies. Some of the sequences are glorious to behold and have a real wow-factor, while also feeling recognisable to the series. I would say that given the nature of the precise gameplay and memory reliance, these fantastic graphical effects can cause fatal distractions, and even a slight moment of taking your eye off the prize usually results in death.
The visuals are the finest I think I have ever seen from an R-Type game. Quite a statement, given the bar was set so high from the start in 1987. RTF felt too drab, dark and unappealing at times, but R-Type Final 2 brings a much more vibrant look to the table, while embracing the original Giger-esque styles that made the Bydo antagonists appear so terrifying. This balance is achieved by some spectacular lighting properties and manic explosions offsetting the morbid mutations of the cybernetic enemies. Some of the sequences are glorious to behold and have a real wow-factor, while also feeling recognisable to the series. I would say that given the nature of the precise gameplay and memory reliance, these fantastic graphical effects can cause fatal distractions, and even a slight moment of taking your eye off the prize usually results in death.
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And that leads to the difficulty. This would not be R-Type without some insane moments that feel impossible, or at worst, unfair. Thankfully, difficulty can be adjusted but more importantly, the die/retry trope of the first game is back with a vengeance. Memorising the attack patterns and behaviours of certain enemies was always the hook with R-Type, so you will find yourself perishing repeatedly, but this is key to the game giving you more and forcing you to learn and try different strategies. Gameplay life is further extended by unlockable levels after the first seven missions, customisable and unlockable ships, new and old weapon systems, a score attack mode and, according to Granzilla, more downloadable content to follow soon.
I would also not be doing this game justice if I didn’t mention the soundtrack. While not as instantly catchy as some of the more famous BGM in the R-Type library, the retro-techno audio is very fitting, adding to the nostalgia factor whilst also appearing new and fresh. R-Type fans will appreciate this, as they will with the call-backs to past backgrounds, bosses and enemies within the levels. New players to the franchise will not be put off, I feel. This has a lot to offer the generic ‘shmup’ devotee.
I would also not be doing this game justice if I didn’t mention the soundtrack. While not as instantly catchy as some of the more famous BGM in the R-Type library, the retro-techno audio is very fitting, adding to the nostalgia factor whilst also appearing new and fresh. R-Type fans will appreciate this, as they will with the call-backs to past backgrounds, bosses and enemies within the levels. New players to the franchise will not be put off, I feel. This has a lot to offer the generic ‘shmup’ devotee.
So, is this potentially ‘Final’ game in the R-Type arsenal the curtain call it deserved? It could very well be. It gets things more right than wrong the majority of the time. Small gripes would be the brevity of the excellent cut-scenes, the storyline has taken a backseat also, so you could treat this at least in story terms as a reboot. But these are piffling matters which don’t take anything away from the glorious graphics, the great soundtrack and importantly a return to the addictive gameplay which made the series such a success in the first place. A happy and satisfying ending to the endless fight against the Bydo. Finally.
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VERDICT
"...glorious graphics, a great soundtrack and a return to the addictive gameplay which made the series such a success in the first place. Small gripes aside, a happy and satisfying ending to the fight against the Bydo." OVERALL: 8/10 |