R-Type Leo

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R-Type Leo

Developer(s)	Irem
Publisher(s)	Irem
Release date(s)	1992
Genre(s)	Horizontal scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Platform(s)	Arcade
Input	8-way joystick, 2 buttons
Arcade cabinet	Upright
Arcade system(s)	M-92
Arcade display	Raster,horizontal orientation

R-Type Leo is a horizontally scrolling shooter arcade game. It is the fourth game in the R-Type series.

[edit] Description

Released only in arcades, R-Type Leo deviates from the normal R-Type style by removing the use of both the Force and the Wave Cannon. The new weapons are Force Bits (later identified in R-Type Final as "Psy Bits") which carry similar firepower to the main ship. The ship weapons are:

Red - Claw Laser - a powerful horizontal laser beam
Blue - Mirror Laser - fires multiple, ricocheting lasers.
Green - Search Laser LRG - fires semi-homing lasers that can bend at 90° angles.

Unlike previous Bit Devices, the Psy Bits are capable of firing forward or backwards (the direction is controlled by movement of the ship itself). Finally, the Wave Cannon is replaced by a "Bit Shot", where the Psy Bits detach from the ship and collide with the nearest enemy at high velocity. The Bits can only do this for so long before running out of energy, and must be recalled to the ship to recharge.

The R-Type timeline indicates that the events of R-Type Leo occur before those of all the other games in the series. This could explain why the game lacks a Force, as this is a relatively new invention in R-Type.

R-Type Final has a ship called the R9Leo Leo, which can use the Psy Bits and has a Force (the Leo Force) which has the same weapons as the ship in this game.