SNES

Super R-Type

Det här, mina damer och herrar, är ett HÅRT spel. Ett spel som kräver reflexer, uthållighet och en vilja av STÅL.

Bei Super R-Type versagt nicht nur (wie bei Gradius) die Hardware im kläglichen Ruckeln und Zuckeln; auch Irem hat gepatzt, als sie das Spielkonzept für ihren Mega-Knaller ausarbeiteten. Ein hoher Schwierigkeitsgrad, plus regelmäßiges Zurücksetzen zum Levelanfang (nach jedem Exitus), minus Extrawaffenschwemme ergiebt einen mächtigen Frustkoeffizienten und ein rapide ansteigendes "Reset'n'Forget"-Bedürfnis. Nur der schönen und fantasievollen Grafik und dem bombastischen Sound hat das Produkt eine gnädige Wertung zu verdanken: R-Type präsentiert sich zu ansprechend, um von ballernden Super-Famicom-Fans liegengelassen zu werden.

This SNES edition of the popular space shooter is probably best known for its immense difficulty level. This cartridge was very popular when it came out, but mainly because there were few other shooters available for the system. In retrospect however, Super R-Type's flaws are obvious. The graphics are sweet but the level designs aren't very impressive. The bosses tend to be forgettable mechanical monstrosities, and more often than not I found myself asking "where am I supposed to shoot this thing?!" There are some cool power-ups, but they are spread too thin throughout the levels. One technical problem is serious slowdown that occurs when many objects are on the screen - a problem many early SNES titles have in common. Another annoying aspect is how upon losing a ship the game sends you all the way back to the beginning of the stage!! Give me a break - the game is hard enough as it is! Super R-Type gives you unlimited continues, but you might need them all to finish it!

If there was any fun left to be had while playing Super R-Type, after considering the weak sounds, horrid slowdown, and the excessive tedium that the unrewarding difficulty curve creates, it is out the window at this point. Enduring all of those weaknesses in an attempt to appreciate the game's few strengths is made impossible, when you throw in the lack of start back points. Irem must have seen the slowdown coming; but this other error was akin to shooting themselves in the foot. There are far better shooters out there, and if you’re a fan of R-Type shooters in particular, every R-Type game out there is better than this one.