R-Type Final
{{Short description|2003 PS2 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = R-Type Final
| image = r-typeFinalbox.jpg
| caption = North American box art
| developer = Irem
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Irem|NA|Eidos Interactive|EU|Metro3D}}
| director =
| producer = Kazuma Kujo
| designer = Kazuma Kujo
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer = Yuki Iwai
| series = R-Type
| platforms = PlayStation 2
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|July 17, 2003|NA|February 3, 2004{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/14/r-type-final-official-trailer|title=R-Type Final Official Trailer|last=Dunham|first=Jeremy|date=January 14, 2004|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515191439/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/14/r-type-final-official-trailer|archive-date=May 15, 2024|url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2024}}|EU|March 26, 2004}}
| genre = Shoot 'em up
| modes = Single player
}}
{{nihongo foot|R-Type Final|アールタイプファイナル|Āru Taipu Fainaru|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a horizontal shooter video game by Irem for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was planned to be the last mainline game in the R-Type series. However, R-Type Tactics was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, and the direct sequel R-Type Final 2 was announced on March 30, 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2019/03/r-type-final-2-announced-for-ps4|title=R-Type Final 2 announced for PS4|last=Romano|first=Sal|date=March 31, 2019|website=Gematsu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324151433/https://www.gematsu.com/2019/03/r-type-final-2-announced-for-ps4|archive-date=March 24, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2024}} and was released on April 29, 2021.
Story
Final takes place after several long wars against the Bydo, the main antagonist in the R-Type series. The player's first mission is to investigate a mysterious enemy inside a crashed space colony, the remnants of a large battle codenamed Operation Last Dance, a previous attempt to wipe out the Bydo once and for all. This investigative theme is incorporated throughout the game as each level is considered 'research' on the Bydo and unlocks a gallery of in-universe artwork and additional playable ships. Levels are prefaced with hints of the R-Type universe in the form of poetry.
Eventually the player is tasked with finishing where Operation Last Dance left off, and their success with their task is determined by which route the player takes. The primary route sees the player confront the heart of the Bydo, sacrificing themselves and their ship to destroy it in a last stand. One of the alternate routes turns the player ship into a Bydo, and pits the player against their former allies. The final alternate route sees the player taken to the future to fight against an unrelenting wave of Bydo forces with no way to continue once they die.
Gameplay
Final provides 101 playable ships, including altered versions of ships appearing in previous R-Type games, together with many original ones. They are unlocked through a branching system accessed via the R Museum, which was originally featured in R-Types. The PlayStation 2's internal clock is incorporated into each ship's development history (shown through a commemorative plaque) when certain in-game tasks are completed. For example, ships unlocked in 2008 will be seen in the game as having been rolled out in 2168.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/r-type-final/|title=R-Type Final|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103235228/https://www.metacritic.com/game/r-type-final/|archive-date=January 3, 2024|url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2024}}
| Edge = 8/10{{cite magazine|title=R-Type Final [JP Import]|author=Edge staff|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=128|date=October 2003|page=94}}
| EGM = 8.17/10{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e7/EGM_US_176.pdf|title=R-Type Final|last1=MacDonald|first1=Mark|last2=Dudlak|first2=Jonathan|last3=Ricciardi|first3=John|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=176|date=March 2004|page=119|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040327213849/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1486610,00.asp|archive-date=March 27, 2004|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2024}}{{efn|Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 8.5/10, and the other gave it 8/10.}}
| Fam = 33/40{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1476&redirect=no|title=R-TYPE FINAL|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Enterbrain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815015450/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1476&redirect=no|archive-date=August 15, 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=November 2, 2024}}
| GI = 6.75/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-131-march-2004/page/106/mode/2up|title=R-Type Final|last=McNamara|first=Andy|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|issue=131|date=March 2004|page=107|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418145204/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/D343EA38-E9D4-4DF6-B58D-1896738D03F0.htm|archive-date=April 18, 2008|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2024}}
| GameRev = B{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33478-r-type-final-review|title=R-Type Final Review|last=Gee|first=Brian|date=February 23, 2004|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911161250/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/r-type-final|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2024}}
| GSpot = 8.1/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/r-type-final-review/1900-6087240/|title=R-Type Final Review|last=Shoemaker|first=Brad|date=January 30, 2004|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802200726/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/r-type-final-review/1900-6087240/|archive-date=August 2, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2024}}
| GSpy = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/r-type-final/491333p1.html|title=GameSpy: R-Type Final|last=Turner|first=Benjamin|date=February 2, 2004|website=GameSpy|publisher=IGN Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104114833/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/r-type-final/491333p1.html|archive-date=January 4, 2007|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2024}}
| OPM = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-78-march-2004/page/98/mode/2up|title=R-Type Final|last=Varanini|first=Giancarlo|magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=78|date=March 2004|page=99|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414053316/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1488877,00.asp|archive-date=April 14, 2004|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2024}}
| XPlay = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0%2C24330%2C3603836%2C00.html|title='R-Type Final' (PS2) Review|last=Steinberg|first=Scott|date=February 10, 2004|website=X-Play|publisher=TechTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040211053456/http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3603836,00.html|archive-date=February 11, 2004|url-status=dead|access-date=November 3, 2024}}
| rev1 = The Village Voice
| rev1Score = 8/10{{cite news|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/an-arcade-classic-updated-for-insatiable-hardcore-heads/|title=An arcade classic, updated for insatiable hardcore heads|last=Catucci|first=Nick|date=February 10, 2004|newspaper=The Village Voice|publisher=Village Voice, LLC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040302081248/http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0407/joysticks.php|archive-date=March 2, 2004|url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2024}}
}}
The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40. GamePro said of the game, "For fans of the genre who thought 2D shooters were phased out to extinction, R-Type Final is a sweet reminder that some types of tried-and-true gameplay never go out of style."{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/81/GamePro_US_187.pdf|title=R-Type Final|last=Weigand|first=Michael "Major Mike"|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|issue=187|date=April 2004|page=75|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212134411/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/33336.shtml|archive-date=February 12, 2005|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2024}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game three 4/5 scores for graphics, sound, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for control.}}
In a special edition of Edge, listing their 100 top videogames of all-time, the game was the only horizontal shooter on the list.{{cite magazine|author=Edge staff|title=The 100 Greatest video games|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future Publishing|page=32}}
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Notes
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/15759/r-type-final/}}
- [http://www.uvlist.net/game-103896-R+Type+Final R Type Final screenshots and reviews]
{{R-Type series}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Eidos Interactive games
Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters
Category:PlayStation 2-only games
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Single-player video games