R-Type DX Game by Irem Software Reviewed by Superguy3000 superguy3000@juno.com Size: ??? Save: Not sure, haven't really cared! Released: 1999 Works with: Black Cart (GBC enhanced, works on any Game Boy) **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: While selling some really bad games that I had ended up with somehow and didn't really care about, I found this game in the used game box at Babbage's. I remembered some big hype about the game from when I was subscribed to Nintendo Power, so I went ahead and shelled out the fif- teen greenbacks for a game which I was sure was good. Getting home, I popped the cart into my Game Boy Color, and I was amazed at the amount of stuff they put into a Game Boy cartridge. This amazement didn't last long, though. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: R-Type DX is a horizontally scrolling shooter, very ge- neric with basic shooting and charge-up shots except for one aspect - there's a unique pod system. Upon shooting certain enemies, a pod will appear. If you fly into the pod, you get a pod or upgrade your own pod. So what do these pods do, you ask? Well, they shoot different ways and make the front of your ship invulnerable to most regular enemies. You can also fire your pod forward and retrieve itlater. While very different, this kind of thing alone doesn't make a game. You need cool looking enemies and onslaught after onslaught of enemies. R-Type DX seems to have these things, but after awhile it's just not fun. I have no desire pick this cartridge up, so it's been sitting in my Game Boy case until today, when I decided to review it. Liked: Pod system Hated: Just not fun **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Most games with both monochrome and color support aren't the best looking ones, but R-Type seems to pull off a very good dual support system. The graphics are very rich in the color version, although there's not a great deal of animation. Sometimes the graphics get a bit dark, making the player squint to see sometimes. Most of the time, though, it's just fine. The black and white version is great; not sloppily put together, not bland (well, maybe a little), and not at all crappy! R-Type is a great looking game, no matter how little fun is involved. Liked: Most everything Hated: Occasional darkness, but that's a minor problem **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: I had to play the game awhile to remember what the audio was like, so that immediately tells you that it's not the most catchy stuff. After playing for awhile, though, the music was great. The music was of the turmoil type, with a lot of different parts to it. The SFX were suitable for a space shooter, mainly pings with resonance, but also some charge-up shot sounds and other things like that. Liked: Everything Hated: It wasn't exactly catchy, but that's okay. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The controls leave nothing to be desired. Just use B to shoot, hold B for a charge-up, use A to shoot and retrieve the pod, and use the D-pad to control your ship. As for game design, there's a lot of stuff in here. You get R-Type I and II, as well as R-Type DX, but that's just the first two stuck together. Each one has a bunch of levels. I've never played through all of them because I just haven't wanted to, but there's enough stuff. You can also unlock a paint mode thing, which I don't know too much about. Liked: Great controls, a bunch of levels Hated: Nothing **************************************************************************** Improve: I'm not really sure how they could improve the gameplay, but they really need to. Maybe they could add more puzzles to the levels or some different ships. Otherwise, leave it the way it is. RIYL: 1942, 1943, Galaga, Galaxian, other R-Type games **************************************************************************** Final Words: R-Type DX is stunning proof that graphics, sound, and content don't make a game. Fun makes a game, and this very important element is absent from R-Type DX. It's really a shame that the makers couldn't focus more on the gameplay than showcasing the GBC's new abilities. Maybe it's just me, because other people seem to like the R-Type series, but I am going strictly on my feelings, so I'll have to give R-Type DX a low score. **************************************************************************** Score (Hmm, it's hard to make ASCII art for this game!) Gameplay: ** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: * Total: 18 *'s Final Score: 72% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Modem's broken, can't look for any. :(