Everyone
should know about R-Type by now. The shooter which arguably
pioneered the rock-solid blasterama and controlled game design is
back, and in polygonal format. I can hear the moans and groans of
a thousand retrofreaks shouting profanities in the region of 'what
is this doing in 3D?!'. To be honest, I didn't relish the thought
of playing the greatest and best shooter ever in a blocky setting,
so I forked over my money with apprehension.
Loading
up the disc in my chipped PlayStation, my apprehension was nearly
confirmed. The intro FMV was well...really fuzzy (I think that's
the style Irem wanted to capture, as in amateur home video style
;) and not particularly inspiring, being all story and all. But
then that's the effect Squaresoft have on you in the modern era.
The first level was also lacking in interest (just like the rest
of the R-Type series) with a few non-aggressive enemies floating
into cannon's way.
I
nearly made that mistake of relaxing my way into the game, as halfway
into the first level the difficulty picked WAY up and threw all
sorts of crap my way, which I barely managed to get out of. Huge
screen-filling battleships, the classic walking-missile launcher,
and a MASSIVE polygonal snake made completing level one so much
harder.
And
it gets harder still! Level 2, set in a water-filled cavern a-la
R-Type 2, bunches you up with the classic ziggy-zaggy moving enemies
and lots of protruding obstructions on the floor and ceiling. Level
3...stomping mechs, loads of enemies floating up from behind...
The
graphics miss that certain R-Type feel to the game. The polys, although
crisp and well-shaped, aren't as detailed as the typical hand-drawn
R-Type of old, but still retain enough atmosphere and character
to make it instantly R-Type recognisable. Now it reminds meof something
H.R.Giger would have loved to play, had he ever heard of importing...
The
music takes a turn from the R-Type 3 school of composing and goes
all Einhander-like with Japanese ambient and some interesting
opera inserted here and there. The music is dark and foreboding
enough to make you jump when the tempo picks up and this rather
oversized character appears on-screen. Overall the music, although
not as interesting as R-Type 3's, still adds that final touch
to what is a great whole.
And
there are secrets! Like FreePlay, Stage Select, the Gallery a-la
Einhander, ending theater, and even the chance to play as the POW
Armor! Talk about longevity!
The
only bad things that this game has is the also-classic R-Type difficulty,
which is good in that it makes the game last, but is BAD in that
it can get frustrating, and also you need to have prior knowledge
of the game, or incredible ninja reflexes to get past some areas
(reminds me of Level 6 in R-Type, where the walkers all drop from
the ceiling and fire at a rate of thirty bullets a second...). Also
sometimes enemy shots can get obscured by the player craft's pyrotechnics,
and can lead to the odd shock-kill, and the odd swearing fit.
I
wasn't so sure this game was going to capture my imagination in
the same way as the rest of the R-Type games or Einhander, or the
other ones I like, did, but after easing my way into it I can safely
say that R-Type Delta...best shooter on the PlayStation by a LONG
distance, and most interesting R-Type I've ever got my hands to
in a long while. Get this if you want challenge!
R-Type
Delta - IREM
