PixlBit

When R-Type showed up on the arcade scene in 1987, it was a force to be reckoned with. Thanks to its razor-sharp graphics and techno-organic alien atmosphere, the game quickly became considered to be one of the best shoot 'em ups (SHMUPs) of its time, rivaling the popularity of the Gradius series. With this arcade gem's success, it was only logical that it should be ported to every major home console, right? In theory, yes, but in reality, it saw a release on only two video game systems compared to being ported to at least eight personal computer systems at the time. Of the scarce home console releases, the Sega Master System saw a port of R-Type in 1988. Although faithful to the arcade version in terms of content, the game takes a nosedive when the action gets heavy.

You pilot the R-9 “arrowhead” on a mission to save humanity from the grip of the alien Bydo Empire. That’s the story in a nutshell. Your weaponry comes in a few forms. First and foremost, your ship comes equipped with the Wave Cannon. Holding down the fire button charges the cannon, which you can use to blast through waves of enemies (hence the name).

You also have the Force unit- the real star of the R-Type series. For the uninitiated, it’s an indestructible energy pod that can be attached to the front or back of your ship. Besides enhancing your firepower, you can detach it and have it fight alongside your craft. Force units allow you to use various strategies to defeat hordes of enemies where firepower alone won’t cut it. You can also use the Force drone as sort of a battering ram against weaker ships or fling it at the weak points of boss enemies. It’s an ingenious way to even the playing field, so to speak, without making the game too easy.

Additionally, you have a few other weapons available to you by collecting a fallen enemy's gem. The power-ups come in three flavors- the reflecting laser (blue gem), the anti-air laser (red gem), and the anti-land laser (yellow gem). My personal favorite is the reflecting laser- a three-way beam that ricochets off walls and other objects. I found that it gave me the most flexibility to fend off enemies from all sides. As is the case with most shooters, each weapon has its strengths and weakness, but all of them can be quite helpful depending on where you are in the game.

There’s no throwaway weapon to speak of. Rounding out your arsenal, you can obtain a homing missile and two small satellites called "bits", which give you added physical protection and can fire additional shots when used in conjunction with the anti-air laser. If all of this sounds like overkill, it isn’t. You’ll need all the firepower you can muster for the opposition ahead.

R-Type is known for its punishing difficulty in the arcade, and such is the case on the Master System- but for the wrong reason. More dangerous than the swarm of enemy bullets and gigantic bosses is the heavy flickering that plague each stage. With the number of objects continually filling the screen, the game has a hard time keeping up with it all. And when the action starts flickering, it becomes far too easy to get clipped by an invisible bullet. This happened to me time and again- especially on the fifth stage, where the enemy bullets blend in with the background. None of this rendered the game unplayable, but it does get in the way of an otherwise beautiful game.

It’s a shame because, when it isn’t bogged down with flicker galore, the game’s visual quality is nothing short of gorgeous- as evidenced in the first stage. The background nicely fades from the infinite starfield into the alien base, complete with blinking lights and rotating sentries encircling your ship. Without question, an effort was made to mimic its arcade equivalent; it’s just hard to appreciate the further you advance in the game because of the flickering.

If you enjoyed the musical score in the arcades, you'd be happy to know that it remains intact as best as possible on the home front. The audio quality shows through in both the soundtrack as well as the sound effects. It all stayed true to the arcade version, as much as could be expected from an 8-bit console anyway.

Overall, R-Type is a serviceable port on the Master System. The unique weapons, colossal alien bosses, and Force unit made R-Type the series the classic it is today. However, the flickering action throughout the game makes this a hard sell to anyone unwilling to grin and bear it, even for the series' fans. The bottom line is, when you consider the fact that it’s much easier to get an arcade-perfect port of this game nowadays, it makes this version even less worthwhile. Unless you’re an R-Type fan or Master System enthusiast, there isn’t much to like with this one. Your money can be better spent elsewhere.