In November of 2009, in a still fairly young App Store, it was a pretty big deal when we first learned than an official port of the classic side-scrolling shooter R-Type would be coming to the iPhone. It wouldn’t be until August the following year when it finally did release, but it was worth the wait as the iOS R-Type was a thoughtful port of the original game that worked really well with its various touchscreen control options.
Well, as you may or may not know, that original iOS port of R-Type was developed by DotEmu and published by EA, and at the beginning of the year that publishing deal expired and the game was subsequently pulled from the App Store. DotEmu decided to take that opportunity to polish up the game with a few new features and fixes and re-release it under their own label, which brings us to the R.Type (with a dot, not a dash) that hit international App Stores today and will be available in the US at 11pm EST tonight.
First off, this version of R-Type is extremely similar to the EA-published version before it. Not surprising, considering it’s a port of a 25-year old game, but in terms of features it retains most of what it had before. There is the option for direct touch control or a virtual pad, and in this new version you can place the virtual buttons anywhere you’d like on the screen. The option for tilt controls, however, appears to be absent in the new version.
You also get all the neat video features we’ve come to expect from DotEmu releases. A video filter can be toggled if you prefer sharp edges on your pixels or a more smoothed out look. Also an option for scanlines, if you really want to relive the old arcade days. Finally, there’s an option for a windowed version in its original aspect ratio or running full screen, which fills up the widescreen of the iPhone 5 nicely. Sadly, it looks like the “faux arcade cabinet" option from the first version isn’t present here.
Wrapping things up, this new release of R-Type features Universal iPad support and Game Center integration for leaderboards and achievements. It also features the Normal difficult mode as well as an Unlimited mode which gives you as many lives as you need, which could be a lot as R-Type is notoriously difficult. There’s an unlockable Insane mode too if you’re up to snuff, and once you’ve beaten a level in any mode it becomes unlockable from the stage select screen so you can play through specific levels without going through the whole game.
If you own the original EA-published version of R-Type, the biggest reasons I can think of to re-purchase this new version are for widescreen and iPad support. The handful of other new features are great too, but at the end of the day there’s still the stellar 1987 arcade shooter at the core of both games, so it really depends on what’s most important to you. If you’re interested in picking up R-Type when it hits the US App Store tonight add it to your TouchArcade (Free) Watch List to get a reminder when it’s out, and be sure to see what folks in our forums are saying about this new release.
International App Store Link: R.TYPE, $1.99 (Universal)
What about dead trigger 2 that will come out this month
TA use your charming powers and give us hands on preview or something, at least price and how big game is
"We haven't had our hands on this just yet, so we don't know a ton about it."
Direct quote from the article.
Now think logically. If they don't HAVE a copy of the game (which the above quote states as FACT) then THEY CAN'T DO A HANDS-ON PREVIEW EVEN IF THEY WANT TO.
READING COMPREHENSION: IT'S FOR EVERYONE.
And TA is NOT all-powerful. They do not have the capacity to demand a preview build from a developer just so they could do a hands-on preview article. No journalistic source (not even IGN) has that capacity
/reality-check
Jesus, simmer down.
Yeah, we know they don't have a copy yet. Doesn't mean we can't ask them to request a copy/more info.
It is *possible* that the people who run a top-tier game review site, and do many preview articles, thought to ask HBS for a build. Probably best to be sure. Breathless and sure.
I up voted your comment because it's so funny.
/Over dramatic-check ;)
Wow, overreact much?
Liked for "no journalistic source (not even IGN)". That's some dry, dry wit — are you British mayhap?
Alaskan.
Mush! Mush!
who wants to take bets on how fast MrAlbum's blood pressure problems get the better of him?
man if one internet comment gets him this fired up... whoo
Settle down.
Backed this game many moons ago on Kickstarter, and the previews have been amazing! As a long time Shadowrun fan I can't wait for this to hit my iPad too!
Same here - backed it, love SR. Bummed on 'Steam', but that's how people distribute w/o hardcopy I guess...?
I installed Steam & put in my dload code (even tho game isn't out yet). Worked fine.
Actually, Steam seems to have improved a lot! Now I just hope my laptop can play this game...!
Many moons.What are you...an alien?
oh my goodness! wantwantwant.
Cantgoddamnwait
"That Xbox Syndicate". I recall myself playing it on my PS3. I must have got a bootleg or something.
Eitherway, I enjoyed it. It shouldn't of had the Syndicate named attached but I still enjoyed it for the cheap price I paid for it.
Oh hell yea!!!! Instabuy
Can we pre-order this for PC and Mac?
Edit: 10% discount for pre-orders on Steam.
Everybody is doing tactical shooters these days...
I know! A few years ago it was just Hunters and Aliens v Humans, now they're everywhere. Isn't Space Hulk on its way too? None of them beat Laser Squad on the Amiga though...
That's not a bad thing
It's not a tactical shooter. It's an turn-based tactical RPG like say, Fallout 1/2.
There's a Fallout one-half? Wonder how that would work out....
Hope it won't be like Lion King 1/2.
MISUNDERSTANDING FTW
Hope it looks that good on iOS.
This one looks cool! Is this a "Diablo" -style rpg game?
We didn't see much of the menu stuff in the video :P
First impressions are high!!
Looks more like an isometric Warhammer with more character options.
Count me in.
I was tempted to pick this up on OSX, but now I know an iPad version is coming...I think I'll wait. Looks fantastic!
As a Kickstarter backer, I already received my Steam key for SR (on PC), and unlocked. I have been pumped for this since I heard about it. I didn't know they were working on an iOS version - way cool! Anxious to see how that works out as well. Good for HBS!
iPad only? :(
Nope it says iPhone, so I'm assuming its universal. Also looks like the release date is going to be Thursday. I've fond memories of the original and like everyone else I'm stoked! :)
I asked Harebrained and it is iPad only.
They have specifically talked about tablets and not phones. I wouldn't get my hopes up. I would be surprised if it comes out for the iPhone.
Where did Joystiq get the info that IOS and Android versions are set to launch after July 25th? Everything I've read is that it will be released on the 25th. Apparently SRR has been submitted to both app stores and in all of their official announcements they have said that IOS/Android versions would also be released on the 25th.
Looked around a bit. Polygon says Windows, OS X, iOS and Android versions all come out on July 25th while Linux will come later. The official site isn't exactly clear, heck I've got trouble even finding a mention of platform on there at all.
Double dipping on this one as I have the premium version preordered on Steam and am going to grab the iOS version for my iPad as well come release night! As a long time Shadowrun fan of the P&P tabletop RPG, novels, the SNES and Sega's Genesis game, this has been a long time coming!
Now if only I can have a mini coma until Wednesday night! I swear, I feel like a little kid the week before Christmas with how filled with anticipation I am with this game! I am way too old to be this excited about a game... But I am!
I'm in the same boat, man. I just replayed the SNES and Genesis versions a few weeks ago. I almost never get this stoked for releases anymore.
There are people recreating the entire SNES and Genesis versions for SRR with a level editor. Should only be available on PC but may be released on tablets in the form of DLC
This looks beautiful
It's really awesome to see all of these great Kickstarter games finally make it to fruition!! With an excellent version of Leisure Suit Larry recently released, and now this looming in the immediate future; life for iOS gamers truly is taking a marvelous turn for the better. :D
Hey Brad, you have this tagged as an iPhone release but everything I've read so far has said iPad only. Was that an error or have you heard differently?
anybody have a price on this for the ipad version? the $2 savings for the pre-sale on steam is tempting but i'll skip the pc version if the ipad version is same price i.e. $20.
The PC version gives you access to all the user generated campaigns, missions, and level editor all of which I think will be the best part of this game. They've mentioned that some of the better user created material might appear on tablets in the form of DLC.
This definitely looks to have more prospect than that star commander
TA, this is an rpg not an "top down strategy game" ..lol. Sometimes its funny, when TA trys to handle core games instead of the casual sh....
This is an SRPG. They are strategy games.
This is very good news indeed!
I was unaware it comes for ios
Wonder how faithful it'll be to the original SNES game? Pretty sure it wasn't squad based thou.
It has nothing to do with the SNES game except licensing the same property and one character (Jake Armitage); Shadowrun was a pen and paper RPG years before any video games were made. There was also a (kickass) Genesis Shadowrun game which was quite different from the SNES game, and also a SEGA 32x Shadowrun game, though I think that one only came out in Japanese.
They've mentioned that there is a mission in the campaign that connects the new version to both the SNES and Genesis version. Also there are people at work recreating the original SNES and Genesis game using the level editor. Since the tablet versions don't ship with the level editor, tablet owners won't have access to it unless it gets released as a DLC. That would be sweet, so fingers crossed. I plan on getting this on both on PC and my Nexus 7
This games looks amazing!!!