R-Type Final
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| R-Type Final | |
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| Developer(s) | Irem |
| Publisher(s) | Irem (JP) Eidos Interactive (NA) Metro3D (EU) |
| Release date(s) |  July 17, 2003 February 2, 2004 March 26, 2004 |
| Genre(s) | Scrolling shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone CERO: 12+ PEGI: 3+ |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | DVD |
R-Type Final is a horizontally-scrolling shooter video game.
R-Type Final is, according to Irem, the last R-Type game that will be made by them. It was released on the PlayStation 2, and expands massively on the earlier games by offering 101 different ships, including altered versions of every single ship appearing in the previous R-Type games, together with many original ones. This forms a complete roadmap, which can be unlocked through the course of the game. Every ship has a different combination of Forces, Wave Cannons, and other features.
Contents |
[edit] Weapons
[edit] Forces
There are 53 Forces with three weapons each, as well as various detached-mode weapons and functions.
Forces have been the prime feature of R-Type series gameplay, excluding R-Type Leo.
- Standard Force
- Standard Force C: This is a slightly modified Standard Force; the Counter-Air Laser and Rebound Laser are replaced with the Shotgun Laser and Search Laser respectively. These weapons were first introduced in R-Type II, in addition to the Force's original three weapons.
- Standard Force K
- Standard Force DX
- Standard Force H: Similar to the Standard Force and Defensive Force in the angular ranges of its weapons, but fires an 'energy honeycomb', which looks like a hexagonal pattern of light.
- Defensive Force: Has basic short-range energy weapons covering the range of angles; a powerful forward Red shot, a twin diagonal Blue shot, and a Yellow 'bomb' which explodes into vertical shots (but is also quite good for a short range frontal attack).
- Defensive Force DX
- Camera Force 1
- Camera Force 2
- Camera Force 3
- Spherical Radial Dome Force
- Spherical Radial Dome Force DX
- Fire Force
- Flame Force
- Leo Force
- Leo Force DX
- Shadow Force: First introduced in R-Type III. The only totally man-made Force, with no Bydo component. It resembles a green spinning egg between a pair of rotating blades. It comes with a pair of bits called Shadow Bits - ghostlike turrets which can be turned by the player's movement and fire blasters or lasers. It also has a high-speed return which brings it back to the player's ship at speed.
- Cyclone Force: First introduced in R-Type III. It is a blue, jelly-like orb orbited by two smaller orbs. When detached, three bolts spin around it at high speed with a wide radius, destroying enemies that touch it. The Force does not have a blaster, but can be moved back and forth at will by the player. (The visual effect of this Force is different to its appearance in R-Type III, which showed only two bolts spinning around the core. This made sense if the two small orbs were supposed to be these bolts - the game listed the Force as having 'Cyclonic bits', but does not identify them. If the bolts and orbs are the same, the three bolts in R-Type Final are hard to explain.)
- Gallop Force
- Gallop Force DX
- OF Force 1
- OF Force 2
- OF Force 3
- OF Force 4
- OF Force 5
- Rodless Force
- Chain Force
- Anchor Force: First introduced in R-Type Delta
- Anchor Force DX: Force with a very high Bydo coefficient: if it is left in contact with an enemy for too long, it will briefly turn into a glowing Bydo creature and attack enemies while being totally outside the player's control.
- Tentacle Force: First introduced in R-Type Delta. It has a pair of thick, metallic tentacles, which flex with the player's movement, allowing the player to control the weapon output. The Red weapon, for example, is a huge pink beam that can be concentrated by bending the tips together, while the Blue weapon is a pair of thinner beams that can be aimed by the tentacles.
- Flexible Force: This is based off the ship in Irem's 1989 shoot 'em up X-Multiply. It is similar to the Tentacle Force in that it has a pair of metallic tentacles, but they are far longer and, as the name suggests, more flexible. In terms of area covered, it is one of the largest Forces in the game.
- Needle Force: Formerly called the Bydo Force within TP-2 Pow Armor in R-Type Delta.
- Needle Force DX
- Cube Force
- Drill Force
- Mr. Heli Force
- Shield Force
- Mirror Shield Force
- Beam Saber Force
- Life Force
- Flower Force
- Ivy Force
- Beast Force
- Bydo Force
- Mist Force
- Metallic Force
- Sexy Force
- Love Force
- Scale Force
- Claw Force
- Gold Force
- Platinum Force
- Diamond Force
Every Force Device fundamentally consists of a core, which is the glowing body within the device, and an external, artificial mechanism called the "control rod". The control rod's purpose is to function as an inhibitor for the core. Control rod components can also be equipped with extra cannons similar to the R-series' default weapon. Some Force Devices, such as the Shadow or Cyclone Force, are even equipped with their own Bit Devices. Thrusters within the control rod direct the movement of the Device, and relays connect the device to the control of the R-craft's onboard computer. The computer automatically handles the maneuvers of the Force Device, and detached Devices will perform differently according to their unique programming. Some will attempt to match the altitude of the R-craft, while others will avoid the altitude of the R-craft. While the computer handles these movements, the action of Recalling, Docking with or Releasing the Force Device to or from the R-craft is under the direct decision of the pilot.
The glowing orb in the center of every Force Device hides its terrible secret: This core is essentially a flesh sample of the terrifying Bydo. Bydo flesh has the unique property of being neither matter nor energy, but in a state of constant flux between the two. As such, it becomes a catalytic converter for energy weapons. By concentrating certain wavelengths of energy and subjecting the sample to the beam, new energies are created at wavelengths that are effective against the Bydo. Different energy injection wavelengths are achieved through the use of the colored lenses of the Power-Up Laser Crystals. Essentially, the R-craft is the energy source of the weapon. This energy is refined after passing through an equipped Laser Crystal, and finally, the Force Device, if docked to the R-craft (in most cases) converts the energy into a wavelength that is able to cancel the Bydo molecular structure.
The control rods interface with the organic Force through synaptic roots that extend into the sphere of the core, much like the dendritic extensions of neuron cells. For the Standard Force with four control rods, these roots are hidden beneath the points of attachment of the rods to the Force orb. During the opening sequence of R-Type Final, a synchronization sequence between the control rods and the Force Core was shown. As the dendrites from the control rod made contact with the dendrites offered by the inner nucleus of the Force, %100 synchronization occurred. Without an inhibiting restraining device or control rod, the Force Orb has the capability to mature into a full-fledged Bydo. The orange ball is merely its embryonic form.
The Bydo is a terrifying enemy. It was born from the darkness of mankind as a bio-weapon, and reflects humanity's ugliest and most base potentials. The concept of using the Enemy as part of the solution to eradicating it is a risky and mad prospect. The Force Device, equipped on the single R-series crafts of every game, displays the utter desperation of Earth's will to survive against its own offspring of evil.
Almost every R-Type series involves the crucial detachment and hurling of the Force Device into the final boss. In R-Type and R-Type II, it was optional to launch the Force into the opening and closing walls of the Bydo Womb, holding the final Bydo Embryo. This left the R-9 extremely vulnerable but continually damaged the final boss until their deaths.
In R-Type III, this act was further expanded upon as a mandatory final option: The Ragnarok was escaping the alternate universe of the many-armed final Bydo, which was still in pursuit of the craft even in normal space. The Ragnarok had no choice but to hurl its Force Device into the gaping maw of the Bydo creature, losing it as the portal finally closed, presumably sealing the final Bydo forever within its dimension.
In R-Type Final, the last boss, the Core Bydo, was invulnerable and could create any form of Bydo enemy at will. The Core Bydo as a massive embryonic cell and was identical in appearance to a Force Core. Its last defeat is orchestrated in a twisted turn of events: Only by launching the Force Device into the main body of the Core Bydo, the player craft was able to damage it. As soon as the Force Device made contact with the Core, it immediately began to attempt to assimilate the Device with synaptic tentacles. The player craft then charged and fired a wave cannon shot at the Force Device, destroying it and releasing the great energy contained within in a massive destabilizing explosion.
The Bydo Core, having assimilated the form of the Force Device, was adversely affected by the explosion and could now only create clones of the Force Devices, which were fired at the player craft in endless droves. However, the player craft was also affected by the destabilizing explosion and its Wave Cannon underwent a malfunction. It's forward prow began to spark uncontrollably. The glass tube of the Wave Cannon Meter in the player's hud shattered and upon attempting to charge it, the power level suddenly came to a halt, refusing to engage a maximum charge. All appeared seemingly hopeless for the player craft until he or she is persistent in charging the Wave Meter. Although it appeared to stop initially, the charge slowly climbed to the end of the damaged gauge, whilst the player dodged clones of the Force Device. Upon reaching maximum charge, the new Wave Cannon displayed its name: FINAL.
The player craft then released a massive, screen-filling charge which completely obliterated the Bydo Core and ended the threat of the Bydo in the Universe once and for all. Damaged beyond repair and exhausted of all its remaining energy reserves, the player craft tumbled endlessly down the tunnel of the dead husk of the Bydo amidst the debris.
In a way, if the Force Device were not sacrificed and remained, the Bydo would not be completely eradicated. It would have continued to exist as the Force Device.
For their crucial significance to the R-Type series, a dormant Standard Force is seen resting beneath the waves on the R-Type Final Title Screen; its four control rods quietly jutting out of the waters of a vast ocean.
[edit] Wave Cannons
There are 83 wave cannons, ranging from laser beams and explosive blasts to pile driver spikes and acid sprays.
Every wave cannon has a number of 'loops' - a loop is when the beam bar is filled all the way. If more loops are available, continuing to charge the wave cannon will fill the beam bar again, increasing the energy of the wave cannon shot.
The most common number of loops is two, but the number varies from one to seven. The loops are labelled Beam - High - Strong - Great - Special - Devil - Bydo.
[edit] Bit Types
A Bit is a small pod that hovers above or below the fighter. Up to two can be equipped. There are 12 Bit Types:
- Standard Bit: Damages enemies on collision, and with some Forces, provides additional firepower with one of the weapons (normally the Red weapon).
- Shadow Bit: Leaves short trails which damage enemies.
- Camera Bit: Takes pictures and collects data on enemies.
- Shield Bit: Has the same defensive ability as a Force.
- Red Pod: Fires a blaster and can be aimed in any direction by movement of the ship. Can also be thrown ahead at enemies, an attack called the Pod Shot. First appeared in Image Fight in 1988.
- Blue Pod: Similar to the Red Pod, but the blaster can only fire forward. First appeared in Image Fight in 1988.
- Yellow Pod: Has no blasters, but is capable of an extra-powerful Pod Shot.
- Green Pod: Similar to the Red Pod, with an extra blaster that fires the opposite way.
- Psy Bit: Only comes in pairs. Has a blaster that fires forward if the ship is moving backward, and vice versa. While the Force is attached, it fires a supporting weapon with the Force's. If the Wave cannon is fired, the Psy Bits detach and home in on nearby enemies, damaging them with an energetic trail.
- Psy Bit +: An enhanced Psy Bit. Operates in the same way as the Psy Bit, but with enhanced weapons. If the Wave Cannon is charged to two loops and fired, the homing attack is longer.
- Bydo Bit: An organic Bit, compatible with Bydo-based ships.
- Mr Heli Bit: A Bit resembling a miniature helicopter. Only available on the TP-3 Mr Heli. It fires a blaster forward if the ship is moving forward, and vice versa.
[edit] Missile Types
There are 10 kinds of homing missiles and bombs.
- Homing Missile: Two missiles which homes into the enemy and destroys it on impact.
- 4-Way Homing Missile: 4 missiles which homes into the enemy and destroys it on impact.
- 6-Way Homing Missile: 6 missiles which homes into the enemy and destroys it on impact.
- Enhanced Homing Missile: Two missiles which it destroys weak enemies without exploding until it hits on stronger enemies with better firepower. First introduced within the secret ship, the TP-2 Pow Armor in R-Type Delta.
- Eyeball Homing Missile: Same as from the Homing Missile except this is used in Bydo type fighter ships.
- Photon Missile: Launches a single missile with semi-homing ability and is more powerful within impact. First introduced in R-Type Delta.
- Anti-Ground Missile: Launches a single missile which crawls and destroys ground enemies within impact.
- Scatter Bomb: Launches a bomb capsule. When in impact, a trail of napalm explosions crawl on the ground. First introduced in R-Type II.
- Vertical Missile: When on ground, the bomb bounces until it explodes on contact. But when dropped on open space, it will shoot out 5 homing missiles in a spreading upward pattern.
- Depth Bomb: Drops bombs with better recovery time.
[edit] Dose Attacks
There are 5 different Dose Attacks, the Nuclear Catastrophe (Fills the screen with electrical fusion), the Negative Corridor (tears open a "sucking" hole distorting the screen), the Solar Corridor (fills the screen with bright light via a ball of solar energy in the middle of the screen), the Hysteric Dawn (tears a dimensional rift of damaging space and time, two laser helixes spin right at the screen momentarily), and the Scorch Ghost Armada (generates plasma-generated Bydo monsters burning everything on the screen).
There is also a VS AI mode, which allows the player to specify attack strategies and pit their ships in a duel with computer-controlled opponent fighters.
[edit] Homages to other Irem games in R-Type Final
As well as featuring many elements of the previous R-Type games, Irem incorporated aspects of and homages to some of their other titles.
[edit] Image Fight
Image Fight was released in the arcades in 1988, a year after R-Type. It is a vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up, and is notable for the feature of aimable, blaster-equipped pods (similar to Bits) which the player can launch at enemies. These Pods are available on ships of the OF series.
The ship from Image Fight (identified as the OF-1 Daedalus) is a playable fighter in R-Type Final. As in the original game, its structure transforms at different speeds, and the exhaust from a speed change can damage enemies.
The OF Forces, too, are all based on Force-like devices from Image Fight. (The most primitive forms of the OF Forces, which look like a spinning square green gem, were originally in fact the power-up container.) All weapons of the OF Forces are taken directly from the Image Fight games.
An enemy from Image Fight (identified as the Photon Dorney) appears several times on stage 5, as does the 'Bat' in stage F-C.
[edit] Gallop: Armed Police Unit
Gallop: Armed Police Unit (also known as Cosmic Cop outside of Japan) is a horizontally-scrolling shoot 'em up, released in the arcades in 1991. The Gallop Force is presumably named for this game. The ship from Gallop (identified as the R-11B Peace Maker) is also a playable fighter. In fact, in the official history of R-Type, Gallop takes place at the same time as R-Type Delta (despite the fact that the game was not related to R-Type originally).
[edit] Mr Heli no Daibouken
Mr Heli no Daibouken, also known simply as Mr Heli, and sometimes as Battle Chopper outside Japan, is a horizontally-scrolling shoot 'em up released in arcades in 1987. The player's vehicle, a round, orange, almost cartoonish-looking helicopter that bears a striking resemblance to the power-up carrying droid from the original R-Type games, is a fighter in R-Type Final - the TP-3 Mr Heli - although it can only be unlocked using a password. It has its own unique wave cannon, Force, Bit, and Missile.
[edit] Tropical Angel
Tropical Angel is a waterskiing game, released in the arcades in 1983. Presumably in homage to this, one of the ships is designated as the R-11S Tropical Angel.
[edit] Undercover Cops
Undercover Cops is a police action game, released in the arcades in 1992 and featured Matt Gables as a playable character in the Japanese version of that game. The other versions saw his name being changed to Bubba. The Bydo Lab in R-TYPE FINAL lists Capt. Matt Gables as the former pilot of an enemy ship, being the sixth entry in the list.
[edit] X-Multiply
X-Multiply is a horizontally-scrolling shoot 'em up, released in the arcades in 1989. The Flexible Force is based on the ship from this game. The description of the Flexible Force notes that it was not made by the designers of the similar Tentacle Force - perhaps a subtle credit to the makers of X-Multiply.
[edit] Disaster Report
Disaster Report is a survival action adventure game, released on the PlayStation 2 in 2003, which centres around a natural disaster. (The title of the Europe version is S.O.S. Escape, and the title of the Japan version is Zettaizetsumei Toshi) Presumably in homage to this, one of the ships is designated as the R-9WZ Disaster Report. Appropriately, this ship uses the Cataclysm Wave Cannon, the effects of which are said to be indistinguishable from a natural disaster.
[edit] Dragon Breed
Dragon Breed is a horizontally-scrolling shoot 'em up, released in the arcades in 1989, in which the player flies a large, Chinese-style dragon. The BX-4 Arvanche strongly resembles such a dragon; it is possible, however, that this is merely a coincidence.
[edit] Meanings and significances of fighter names in R-Type Final
- R-9DH Grace Note: In music, a grace note is a kind of ornamental embellishment. The R-9DH is equipped with a Long Irradiation Beam, which produces a distinctive pure, clear tone when fired.
- R-9DP series: The pile-driver fighters seem to be named for geographical features in Japan. The R-9DP Hakusan has the same name as the town in which Irem is located. Its descendant, the R-9DP2 Asanogawa, appears to be named for the Asanogawa Ohashi bridge in Kanazawa. The last ship in the R-9DP series is the R-9DP3 Kenrokuen, which is likely named for the historic Kenrokuen Garden, also in Kanazawa.
- RX-10 Albatross: Albatrosses are large seabirds; the wandering albatross has the longest wingspan of any bird. Like its namesake, the RX-10 has relatively long horizontal wings. This ship was originally found as the R-X Albatross from R-Type Delta.
- OF-1 Daedalus: In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a great artificier. He is said to have invented images; this may be a reference to the fact that the OF-1 comes from the game Image Fight, which is set inside a holographic simulator.
- OFX-2 Valkyrie: The Macross series' main mecha were fighting machines known as VF-1 Valkyries. These fighters could change from fighter jets to robots, and into a form somewhere in between called GERWALK. The transforming nature of the OF-2 is somewhat similar to the Macross fighters of the same name.
- OFX-4 Songoku: Son Goku is the name of a character in the Chinese story Journey to the West.
- OF-5 Kaguya: Princess Kaguya is a character in the Japanese story The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The OF-5's description in the game itself suggests that it was named for her because the shots of the Green Pod (which only the OF-5 can use) look like bamboo. It stresses, however, that this is merely speculation.
- TP-2M Frogman: A frogman is another name for a scuba diver. The TP-2M is designed for amphibious duty and is equipped with flippers and what appear to be air or oxygen tanks.
- TL series: The transforming mecha fighters are all named for figures from Greek mythology. The first, and ancestor of the rest, is the TL-T Chiron. In Greek legend, Chiron was the tutor of Jason, Asclepius, Achilles and Heracles. The four descendants of the Chiron are the TL-1A Iason, TL-1B Asklepios, TL-2A Achilleus and TL-2B Herakles.
- TL-2B2 Hyllas: Hyllus was the son of Heracles. The TL-2B2 is the descendant of the TL-2B Herakles.
- RX-12 Cross the Rubicon: To 'cross the Rubicon' is a phrase meaning 'to commit oneself to a risky course of action'. It originates from Julius Caesar's crossing of the River Rubicon, which was said to be forbidden. The RX-12 is the Bydo Coefficient Test Unit, the ship that was designed to break the limit of energy that could be obtained from Bydo organisms, thus paving the way for Bydo-based fighters.
- R-13 series: These are also named for Greek mythological figures. In Greek legend, Echidna is the mother of Cerberus, and Cerberus was the guardian of Hades. The R-13T Echidna is the prototype for the R-13A Cerberus, which is the ancestor of the R-13A2 Hades. The R-13A Cerberus originally appeared as the R-13 Cerberus in R-Type Delta. The R-13's ending in that game is perhaps the darkest of the three endings: It shows the R-13, trapped in the Bydo forest. This captured R-13 appears in R-Type Final, as the boss of the hidden Stage 3.5 (Forest Watchdog). The pre-mission text reads "What evil keeps him leashed here?"
- B-1 Digitalius and descendants: These ships all resemble plants. Digitalis is the scientific name for the plant genus of foxgloves.
- BX-2 Platonic Love: Platonic love is a philosophical term for mutual love of a non-sexual nature. The BX-2 Platonic Love has a distinct heart theme, and it is suggested that it somehow utilises the power of love.
- R-9Ø Ragnarok: In Norse mythology, Ragnarok is the name of the battle that is predicted to take place at the end of the world. There is a Ragnarok variant, the R-9Ø2 Ragnarok II, which contains the so-called 'Final Wave Cannon'; a weapon capable of destroying any enemy (including bosses) in a single shot when fully charged. Perhaps also in keeping with the Norse theme, the ship's designation contains the character Ø, a letter of the Norwegian alphabet. This ship, along with the R-9S Strike Bomber and the R-9Ø2 Ragnarok II, is derived from the R-90 from R-Type III: The Third Lightning.
- R-9F Andromalius: This ship was named for a demon described in the Lesser Key of Solomon. Andromalius, the last of the 72 spirits described, is described there as manifesting as a man carrying a great snake, which would match with the R-9F's long beams on the top and bottom, and possibly also its yellow weapon, Tentacle Laser. In an alternative interpretation, the R-9F was the experimental test-bed fighter used to manually hold Force Devices that have yet to be stabilized on their own. In a way, the "great snake" is the true nature of a Force Core: An inhibited Bydo Embryo.
- BX-T Dantalion: This ship was also named for a demon described in the Lesser Key of Solomon. Dantalion is the 71st listed (i.e. a little higher up than Andromalius by some reckonings), and it is his name that is given to the first ship that used Bydo tissue for parts of the ship itself, rather than just the Force. To the humans besieged by the Bydo, this really would seem to be a kind of demon-ship.
- R-9Sk Principalities and R-9Sk2 Dominions: According to Pseudo-Dionysius, the Principalities and Dominions are two of the nine choirs into which the angels are ordered. This is probably in connection with the ships' charge shot, a beam of flame, which could suggest the flaming sword that is often regarded as an angelic weapon (e.g. the sword held by the angel who protects Eden).
- R-99 Last Dancer , R-100 Curtain Call , and R-101 Grand Finale: R-Type Final is the swan song of the R-Type series, and these three ships personify the end of the R-Type franchise. As such, each of these three ships bears the name of the last things seen in a typical theater or ballet production: the last performers of the production, the curtain call where all of the performers appear to the audience one last time, and the grand finale that ties everything together and ends the show. The R-99, R-100, and the R-101 are the last ships earned in the game (unless you meet certain requirements, in which case the R-100 can be acquired early), and each has a role in the storyline with a distinct air of finality, that of the R-Type series of fighters finally ending. The R-99 is the last ship slated to be used in widespread production, the R-100 was to serve as a machine built so future generations can learn from it and its technology, and the R-101 is the final masterpiece that the R-Type development team made before disbanding. The fact that the development team of the story and the Irem staff on hand to make the R-Type games have the same organization name, "R-TYPE", strongly symbolizes that after this, no more R-Types will be made. So it is both in the game's world and in the real world: R-Type has made its final bow.
