R-Type II
Summary
This game is a follow-up to R-Type, which originally launched as an arcade title in 1987 and left a lasting mark on the shooter genre with its charge shots, distinctive weapons, and bizarre foes. Hudson Soft later adapted the final four stages of the original R-Type for the PC Engine under the name R-Type II, but this version has no connection to the game discussed here. Players take control of a ship known as the R-9C (or R-9 Custom), an upgraded variant of the R-9 from the previous game. The ship’s design has been slightly modified, and the wave cannon now features homing abilities. Two new weapons—the Search Laser and the Shotgun Laser—were introduced, increasing the total number of weapon types to five. An additional anti-ground bomb was also added to the missile arsenal. Although the total number of levels is fewer than in the previous title, the number of enemies, their toughness, and the volume of bullets they fire have all been significantly increased. Enemy movement patterns and terrain layouts are more complex, making the game notably more challenging. The revival system remains the same as before, allowing the player to restart from a checkpoint whenever their ship is destroyed. The controls are largely the same as in R-Type, with an 8-way joystick for movement and a shot button to fire the main beam. The second button is used to activate or deactivate Force, one of the series' most unique features. Holding down the shot button charges the blue beam meter, and releasing it fires a wave beam that travels a distance based on how long the button was pressed. If the blue gauge is fully charged, a red gauge appears and fills quickly. When the red gauge is fully charged and flashes blue and red, releasing the button at that moment unleashes a much stronger beam. Unlike the standard beam, which travels straight, the new Shotgun Laser spreads out in multiple directions after a short distance. This attack can deal massive damage if aimed at a single enemy. However, holding the button after the gauge is flashing reverts the beam to the standard transverse shot (the gauge alternates between flashing and returning to normal while the button is held), so precise timing is needed to land the shot effectively. The other new weapon, the Search Laser, has a semi-homing effect and can curve at angles up to 45 degrees.
