Lost In Translation/R-Type

This page is a stub for arcade games that are part of the Lost In Translation series using information based on MAME (version 0.113u2).
For an example of preferred content and layout please refer to Out Run or The Ninja Warriors.

R-Type
Manufacturer	Irem
Released	1987
Control Method	8-way Joystick 4 Button(s)
Main CPU	V30 (@ 8.000 MHz) Z80 (@ 3.580 MHz)
Sound CPU	Stereo YM2151 (@ 3.580 MHz)
Video Details	Raster (Horizontal) 384 x 256 pixels 55.00 Hz 512 Palette colours
Screens	1
ROM Info	20 ROMs 917,504 bytes (896.00 KiB)
MAME ID	rtype · rtypepj · rtypeu

About The Game

R-Type is an horizontally scrolling arcade video game shoot-em-up that revolutionized the genre.

R-Type is an incredibly difficult game but, due to the superb graphics, breath-taking level design and never-before-seen game-play, the game was a huge success, and is still regarded as being the finest of its genre.

R-type's real stroke of genius was in the innovative weapon system the game introduced. The first is the beam weapon : when the player presses and holds the fire button, a beam 'power meter' starts to charge up, once the meter was full, releasing the fire button unleashed a very powerful 'plasma burst', capable of destroying most of R-type's enemy ships. The trade-off was that charging the weapon took up valuable seconds, giving the Bydo ships time to attack.

The second and perhaps most significant innovation was R-type's now-legendary 'Force Pod'. This takes the form of an invincible, detachable laser-firing pod that can be attached to either the front or rear of the player's ship, or can be detached completely and sent forth into the enemy ships. The pod laser was a stroke of true genius and, coupled with the superb level design, gave the world its first 'strategic' shoot-em-up.

Trivia

Released in July 1987.

Licensed to Nintendo for US manufacture and distribution.

R-Type is one of the most famous of all scrolling shooters. Its impressive graphics, detailed animation, inventive features and simple yet surprisingly involved game-play made it a huge success for Irem.

The first boss, as well as some of the stages, seem inspired by the artistic works of H. R. Giger (of 'Aliens' fame). He makes a brief cameo in the TV sets in "Undercover Cops".

Alfa Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (R-Type : Irem Game Music - 28XA-199) on 25/01/1988.

Updates

At the title screen, the prototype version says 'Play and enjoy the game' instead of 'Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!', as it does in the final version.

Series

1. R-Type (1987)
2. R-Type II (1989)
3. R-Type Leo (1992)
4. R-Type III - The 3rd Lightning (1994, Nintendo Super Famicom)
5. R-Type Delta (1999, Sony PlayStation)
6. R-Type Final (2004, Sony PlayStation 2)
7. R-Type Tactics (2007, Sony PSP)

Cabinet and Artwork

• 

  R-Type arcade cabinet.

• 

  R-Type flyer.

• 

  Back of the R-Type flyer.

• 

  Nintendo's R-Type flyer.

• 

  Inside of Nintendo's R-Type flyer.

• 

  Inside of Nintendo's R-Type flyer.

• 

  Back of Nintendo's R-Type flyer.

Ports

Box art for the Electric Dreams port of R-Type.

Consoles

NEC PC-Engine (1988)

Sega Master System (1988)

NEC PC-Engine Super CD-ROM2 (1991, "R-Type Complete CD")

Nintendo Game Boy (1991)

Nintendo Game Boy Color ("R-type DX")

Sony PlayStation (1998, "R-Types")

Computers

Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988)

Commodore C64 (1988)

Amstrad CPC (1988)

Commodore Amiga ("R-Type", 1988, Electric Dreams)

MSX (1988)

Atari ST (1988)

Sharp X68000 (1989)

Soundtrack Releases

Album Name	Catalogue No.	Released	Publisher	Comments
R-Type IREM Game Music	28XA-199	1988-01-25	Alfa Records	CD version.
R-Type IREM Game Music	ALC-22921	1988-01-25	Alfa Records	Cassette version.
R-Type IREM Game Music	ALR-22921	1988-01-25	Alfa Records	Vinyl version.
STORM! - SHOOTING GAME SOUND OMNIBUS Vol.2	KDSD-00023	2004-01-07	Team Entertainment	CD version.
R-TYPE SPECIAL	VICL-8077	1993-09-22	Victor Entertainment Inc.	CD version.
Beep Special Project - BEST GAME MUSIC SELECTION	N/A	1987-11-01	Softbank Publishing	Vinyl version.
R-TYPE Complete CD	ICCD 1001	1991-12-20	IREM	CD version.
R-TYPE Your Best, Our Best SOUND TRACK	N/A	2009-10-29	IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING	CD version.

External Links

• Sinclair ZX Spectrum version of R-Type at the World of Spectrum

References

The contents of this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
The sources used include MAME (version 0.113u2) and history.dat (revision 1.28 - 2008-10-18).
Please see http://www.arcade-history.com for credits.