Played a demo of R-Type Final today

[Taito]

This is going to end up being the Gran Turismo of shooters. A total shooter unlock-a-thon that allows you to customize your ship's appearance (color editing), shots and secondary attacks. The stellar graphics have a dark, moody, biomechanical look to it. Think Armored Core 2+3 with a little bit of Shattered Soldier thrown in. Shoot environments and debris flies off, fire your charged shot and the screen rumbles and blurs. This game will probably end up being the best-looking 2.5D shooter to date. Only problem is the game looks a little too 'polygonal' at times. Enemy fire and explosions look blocky and angular, sorta like Virtual ON or a Model 2 arcade game.

I don't know if the demo I played is a part of the final game, but it seems like you're only fighting miniboss after miniboss. Not much in the way of regular enemy cannon fodder. The action is slow-paced compared to shooters from other developers (Treasure, Cave, Taito/Grev etc.). Still, the different ships and customizing options alone make this game well worth purchasing. If there's any shooter this generation that has the potential to attract casuals or newcomers to the genre, R-Type Final is the game.

Addendum: control scheme is single-tap fire (hold down to charge your shot up to two levels), rapid fire (just hold it down to fire away), Force (adjust formation of your option) Speed Up and Speed Down. Free-mapping control customizing is available in the Options menu.

[kabuki]

Excellent, thanks!

[BioMechanic]

Originally posted by Taito
biomechanical

Whee!

[sggg]

The game sounds pretty good... plus I am a sucker for customising nonsense. Thanks for the impressions Taito.

[gameoverDude]

Nice impressions, Taito. I'm looking forward even more to RTF now.

[James]

I'm still slightly worried that Eidos will simplify the game for the US audience. AI training so you can watch your ship fight through the levels? Who needs that? -snip-

Admitted, it's probably going to be fine, but I worry anyway.

James

[Bojack]

Heh, I've played the full version. Cuz I have dirty pirate friends. I can't wait till I can buy it in America and read the damn story which seems really interesting as usual. The 1st level is so creepy what with the ruins and all.



---B.j.