Review
R-Type Dimensions Review (Xbox360)
For those of you who are still sitting on the fence wondering whether R-Type Dimensions is worth the 800 Microsoft Points asking price, I say this: caveat emptor. The reason I say buyer beware is not because the games poor, not because the port is lazy and not because there’s not enough hours in the game to justify the price. No, the reason I’m urging you to at least try the demo beforehand is because R-Type’s one and two are hard – very, very, hard.
Now this won’t come as a surprise to many, as the side-scrolling 2D shoot ’em up franchise has never had the reputation for being easy. But for new comers who have been born and raised on the more friendly less controller throwing titles that at the very least hold your hand for the first few hours, R-Type’s immediate difficulty level will come as a shock.
I think I played for about two minutes before a stray bit of plasma fire took me out. I winced and sat up in the chair: now is the time to concentrate. It didn’t help matters much though because as with most of the earlier arcade titles, it’s all about learning the attack patterns.
The game is somewhat forgiving however, as it does allow for continued play, i.e. there are two modes, one that respawns you in the exact same spot where you died and the other, that divides the game up into check points, so even after you’ve successfully navigated your way through a myriad of alien monsters all targeting your behind, one hit, and it’s back to where you came from. Ouch.
One mistake with a game of this nature that often is the case on XBLA is that the achievements are just as hard to get as the game is to play. Achievements should be like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey, but you first need to let the donkey have a taste of the carrot so it knows what it’s missing. I played the game for two hours and unlocked one achievement. Yes, the two hours were pretty fun – if you count dying every other minute and wanting to hurl the controller as far away from you as possible as enjoyment – but I’d actually made my way through about half of the game. You see, if you play the game that just lets you carry on from where you died, you don’t get anything at all; no recognition for your efforts. Being spoon-fed achievements a little at a time gives the player much more incentive to carry on – in this reviewer’s opinion any way.
The upgrade to “3D” graphics is an admirable one. There’s great detail and minor touches everywhere. In fact, it’s fun every now and then just to push the ‘Y’ button and see what the game looked like all those moons ago. The colours are bright and smooth and really add to the experience. It certainly doesn’t look like you’re playing a game nearly 20 years old even if the difficulty suggests otherwise.
One thing that Tozai Games have seemingly and rather strangely omitted from its upgrade ‘to do’ list is remaster the sound. It’s just as tinny as it was back then. I’m sure when the game came out the music sounded like the choir from the Halo games but by today’s standards it’s rather off putting. Being able to switch back and forth between the old midi and a more recent soundtrack as you can with the graphics would have made a nice touch, and the change between the two gametypes would have become more jarring.
If you’re not put off by anything listed above then be my guest and dive right in. Those of you whom are fans of the franchise have most likely got it by now anyway. The old timers like myself who want that nostalgia kick, will find immediate satisfaction in R-Type Dimensions. It’s just as you remember with some nice additions too such as the graphical overhaul and the added bonus of a couple of free gamer pictures for completing a couple of levels.
The only real negative about the game – i.e. although it’s very hard, it’s not going to be marked down because of it – is the price. I would have preferred it if the game was split in two and cost 400 Points a piece. Instead you’re forced to buy two games which are very much the same for double the price. Although the work that has gone into R-Type Dimensions is admirable, the price point is a little off putting so trying before buying on this one really is a necessity.
Top game moment: Actually lasting more than five minutes without dying.
Now this won’t come as a surprise to many, as the side-scrolling 2D shoot ’em up franchise has never had the reputation for being easy. But for new comers who have been born and raised on the more friendly less controller throwing titles that at the very least hold your hand for the first few hours, R-Type’s immediate difficulty level will come as a shock.
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| It gets more difficult here on in. | The 3D overhaul looks very nice. |
I think I played for about two minutes before a stray bit of plasma fire took me out. I winced and sat up in the chair: now is the time to concentrate. It didn’t help matters much though because as with most of the earlier arcade titles, it’s all about learning the attack patterns.
The game is somewhat forgiving however, as it does allow for continued play, i.e. there are two modes, one that respawns you in the exact same spot where you died and the other, that divides the game up into check points, so even after you’ve successfully navigated your way through a myriad of alien monsters all targeting your behind, one hit, and it’s back to where you came from. Ouch.
One mistake with a game of this nature that often is the case on XBLA is that the achievements are just as hard to get as the game is to play. Achievements should be like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey, but you first need to let the donkey have a taste of the carrot so it knows what it’s missing. I played the game for two hours and unlocked one achievement. Yes, the two hours were pretty fun – if you count dying every other minute and wanting to hurl the controller as far away from you as possible as enjoyment – but I’d actually made my way through about half of the game. You see, if you play the game that just lets you carry on from where you died, you don’t get anything at all; no recognition for your efforts. Being spoon-fed achievements a little at a time gives the player much more incentive to carry on – in this reviewer’s opinion any way.
 |
 |
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| Watch out for the tenticles! | Two player's beat one boss. |
The upgrade to “3D” graphics is an admirable one. There’s great detail and minor touches everywhere. In fact, it’s fun every now and then just to push the ‘Y’ button and see what the game looked like all those moons ago. The colours are bright and smooth and really add to the experience. It certainly doesn’t look like you’re playing a game nearly 20 years old even if the difficulty suggests otherwise.
One thing that Tozai Games have seemingly and rather strangely omitted from its upgrade ‘to do’ list is remaster the sound. It’s just as tinny as it was back then. I’m sure when the game came out the music sounded like the choir from the Halo games but by today’s standards it’s rather off putting. Being able to switch back and forth between the old midi and a more recent soundtrack as you can with the graphics would have made a nice touch, and the change between the two gametypes would have become more jarring.
 |
 |
|
| Not much room for manouvre. | A near miss. |
If you’re not put off by anything listed above then be my guest and dive right in. Those of you whom are fans of the franchise have most likely got it by now anyway. The old timers like myself who want that nostalgia kick, will find immediate satisfaction in R-Type Dimensions. It’s just as you remember with some nice additions too such as the graphical overhaul and the added bonus of a couple of free gamer pictures for completing a couple of levels.
The only real negative about the game – i.e. although it’s very hard, it’s not going to be marked down because of it – is the price. I would have preferred it if the game was split in two and cost 400 Points a piece. Instead you’re forced to buy two games which are very much the same for double the price. Although the work that has gone into R-Type Dimensions is admirable, the price point is a little off putting so trying before buying on this one really is a necessity.
Top game moment: Actually lasting more than five minutes without dying.
Comments
By Wowerine (SI Elite) on Mar 03, 2009
By grimreaper (SI Member) on Mar 07, 2009
By homebrewer (SI Newbie) on Mar 11, 2009
By Wowerine (SI Elite) on Mar 11, 2009
