• ID = PS0728
• STYLE = Space Combat Sim
• DEV. = Irem Software Engineering, Inc.
• PUB. = Eidos Interactive
• R-DATE = Feb-06-2004
• ESRB = E / For Everyone
• PLAYERS = 1 player
• LIST PRICE = $29.99
  

It all began in 1987 with a revolutionary arcade shooter called R-Type. Now the classic shooter is back for a final appearance with new features and the same exciting, revolutionary gameplay that started it all. Use the unique Force System to power-up your ship as you choose and send it into battle against the evil Bydo. With over 100 ships to choose from and an almost unlimited amount of customization options, R-Type Final is the definitive shooter on the PlayStation2.

Features: Unlock and customize the weapons and paint jobs of over 100 distinctly different ships. Modify your ship's look and feel with a huge number of weapons, power-ups and colors to match your fighting style. Blast your way through a variety of amazing levels, countless enemies, and enormous bosses. Brand new AI Mode allows custom ships saved on a memory card to battle head-to-head against the computer or your friend's customized machines. Select from multiple game modes and difficulty levels.

• Unlock and customize the weapons and paint jobs of over 100 distinctly different ships.
• Modify your ship's look and feel with a huge number of weapons, power-ups and colors.
• Blast your way through a variety of amazing levels, countless enemies, and enormous bosses.
• Brand new ai mode allows custom ships saved on a memory card to battle head-to-head against the computer or your friend's customized machines.
• Select from multiple game modes and difficulty levels.

Game Informer Review

Irem's R-Type series has been a shooter staple since its launch in arcades way back in 1987. It may not be the greatest-selling title of all time, but it does hold a special place in many gamers' hearts. Which is exactly what publisher Fresh Games (a division of Eidos) is hoping will be the case.

While R-Type Final has all the classic pieces to the puzzle and a number of new innovations, such as AI-controlled head-to-head battles where players can set the parameters of their ship's routine, the game isn't for everyone.

You see, R-Type Final is incredibly hard. While you can knock down the difficulty to make the game easier, doing so basically removes all entertainment from the title. On the easier levels, I usually just died of boredom, on the harder difficulties I swore in anger at the title's merciless assault.

For the hardest of the hardcore, this game has a lot of replay value (including an amazing list of 101 ships that can be unlocked), but for most – myself included – it isn't entertaining enough to even justify purchase (even at its bargain basement price of $29.99).

Concept:
Blast through a horde of enemies to unlock goodies and post high scores.

Graphics:
The art is good, but the levels are fairly bland and certainly not as good as they could be.

Sound:
Typical techno shooter fare. Sometimes it sounds great, sometimes it sounds like a bad porno.

Playability:
The variety of ships is impressive, but the controls haven\'t changed much over all these years.

Entertainment:
Only the hardest of hardcore shooter fans will find something to love here.

Replay: Moderately High
Rated: 6.75 out of 10
Editor: Andy McNamara
Issue: March 2004

2nd Opinion:
R-Type Final has everything I hoped it would: lots of ships, lots of shooting, and no feeble attempts to update the gameplay for a next generation system. It's the classic R-Type formula you know and love, complete with limited continues, huge alien bosses, and ridiculous firepower. It is also extremely difficult, and a must-have for die-hard fans of the genre.

Rated: 8.5 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba

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