R-TYPE DX: Music Encore

A solid release and update of R-Type DX, great to see these games revived on Steam. There's actually a bunch of titles here: R-Type DX itself has both R-Type I and II original Game Boy and Game Boy Color versions, along with the "Ultimate Challenge" mode of both games played back-to-back. The Music Encore version (and Hyperdrive speed mode) is the UItimate Challenge mode with enhanced music and Missions (read: achievements). So, you're basically getting three versions of two games apiece, plus the Souza level creator, which is a pretty good deal if you enjoyed the original games when they first released, or are keen to experience R-Type on older platforms. The emulation is solid, the extras are neat to see (even if they had to blank out some parts of it for copyright reasons), and the Music Encore OST is an excellent upgrade of the original Game Boy OST, with some extras thrown in that weren't a part of the first release. It's not quite M2 quality, but that's a very high bar (it would be cool to have more options for background art or sidebars containing stage/item/enemy/boss information like in the Darius collections) and this collection certainly is no worse for missing those i…

Great fun and an R-type people may actually have a chance of beating. The remix soundtrack is fantastic. Also great that you get all the versions both GB and GB color. Looks better in original ratio than widescreen imho ( can change in options).

Neat emulated port of R-Type DX from the Gameboy Color, complete with a mode that contains newly arranged music from the arcade version. Everything from the original R-Type DX is here and accounted for, and everything you expect from an emulated port is here, including save states and rewinding. The emulation quality feels solid and the interface is good. The rearranged music is a banger. If you are an avid R-Type fan, you'll like this release.

A lot of GB/GBC ports of console/arcade games end up sacrificing core parts of their respective games, but R-Type DX does a pretty good job of remaining faithful. There is some missing content, but the bulk of both R-Type I and II is there, with the DX mode combining both into one long shmup fest. The new soundtrack in this re-release ups the quality and brings it closer to the arcade originals. Something that took me by surprise is some nice sprite work and redone stage theming which helps this version stand out. Sure, there are better ways of playing the first two games nowadays but it is a fun experience for those interested in the series history and/or fancy a different experience for such classics.

Look, is this the best version of R-Type? Hahahahahahahahaha GOD NO Are there other versions of R-Type you should play first? Absolutely. But God, I must have played hundreds of hours of this on the GameBoy Color. I brought that sucker to weddings, to family gatherings, absolutely everywhere. And look, the real problem with this game was never the fact that it didn't have the arcade music.. The problem was that it was a bullet hell shmup that was running off the pure, raw, unrestrained power of...the GameBoy Color. But I could never hate this goofy ass game. I think most people will get everything they need off the other R-Type games available on Steam and elsewhere. But this little thing was such a formative part of my childhood that I needed to check it out. If you're playing through all the R-Type games, check it out. It will be at most a curiosity for like 95% of players, but it's still an interesting port go such a....once again, INCREDIBLY powerful system, as the GameBoy Color.

probably the best way to enjoy these games. the game does have some issues such as some button prompts being different than what is displayed and some weird sprite shenanigans at the second part's end boss. achievement tracking between game and steam is also buggy too. the biggest quality-of-life is definitely the increased sprite limit as the original game had massive issues particularly with the stage 10 boss and its disappearing enemy bullets. the bullets are legible in this release. the revamped soundtrack is sooooo much better too (though i suppose it doesn't sound very gameboy-ey anymore). good purchase and easier to clear compared to the arcade version