Post by soop on Sept 24, 2018 8:54:48 GMT
I hadn't realised initially that R-Type was released in the US as one game, which changes my opinion somewhat. In Japan, the game was released on two separate HuCards - for reasons I'm unaware of. Still, R-type was a hugely important game for the PC Engine. It demonstrated that one of the most popular arcade games of the time could be ported almost flawlessly on the system, and was a real head turner compared to every other system, even as an early release. Heck, even Super R-Type (again an early release) on the ostensibly more powerful Super Nintendo struggled mightily to render the game without significant slowdown (though in fairness, the excellent and later R-Type III would indicate that this was down to familiarity with the machine aside from anything else). So historically, R-type has given us a lot to be thankful for, including tropes that have persisted to this day, like the invincible Force Bit (Option), the use of which is key to mastering the game. Personally, I admire a lot about the original R-type, but I'm not enthralled with its plodding pace, or its difficulty. I think it's one of those titles that suffers too much from being the type of arcade games that's great for munching quarters, and also a very appealing thing to play in the arcade for a few minutes, but it lacks a lot of things that makes a great home title that you want to spend £40 and get your moneys worth. Still, it does get points for the nearness to the original.
Galaga is perhaps the pinnacle of the single screen shooters progenated by Space invaders, and this is a great port of one of the definitive versions of Galaga. Varied enemies with their different attack patterns, and even fancy moves, such as two aliens morphing into a tougher foe, or splitting into a swarm of smaller enemies. The single screen stages are punctuated by bonus rounds, or even some scrolling sections, but that's about it. It's an enjoyable shooter, but of the bare-bones hi-score type arcade machines of the 80's and nice though it is, it doesn't really push the PC Engine.
Galaga is perhaps the pinnacle of the single screen shooters progenated by Space invaders, and this is a great port of one of the definitive versions of Galaga. Varied enemies with their different attack patterns, and even fancy moves, such as two aliens morphing into a tougher foe, or splitting into a swarm of smaller enemies. The single screen stages are punctuated by bonus rounds, or even some scrolling sections, but that's about it. It's an enjoyable shooter, but of the bare-bones hi-score type arcade machines of the 80's and nice though it is, it doesn't really push the PC Engine.