In R-Type the game is composed of several sequential levels, with a boss enemy at the end of each. The player controls a small spacecraft and must navigate terrain and fight enemies using the various ship weapons. The player’s spacecraft has, by default, a weak but rapid-firing main gun; and a more powerful gun called a wave cannon, which requires the player to hold their fire to build up power for the cannon.
During the game, the player can obtain an auxiliary device called a Force. This resembles a glowing orange ball. The Force can be attached to the front or back of the player’s spacecraft, or detached to fly freely. When attached, the Force provides one of three different powerful weapons, in addition to the main gun and the wave cannon. When detached, these weapons cannot be used, but the Force will instead resort to a secondary set of guns, which can be fired by the player even if the Force is at a distance from the spacecraft. The Force has a secondary use as a shield; it is completely indestructible and can block most things fired at it, as well as damage or destroy enemies on contact.
The gameplay of R-Type is noticeably distinct among shoot ’em ups. Invariably the player will lose, not because of an inequality in firepower, but because of the design of the levels themselves. There is usually a ‘correct’ way to get through a level, but players must learn these by experience – i.e. by losing and restarting from earlier in the level. The game innovated with its weapon system compared to contemporary shooters, featuring a chargeable shot (“beam-meter”), and detachable ‘force’ pod; levels were designed to require different tactics and ideal weapons (air-to-air, diagonal bouncing lasers, or air-to-ground laser).
The ZX Spectrum version was an excellent shoot em up, arguably the best one on the home computer
Cheats
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Absolute Invincibility(?!) – 37362,201 This allows to go past Everybody and Everything… 🙂 POKE 37362,201 + POKE 38240,0 + POKE 38241,0 = Immortality The next set of POKEs is a bit more useful. It provides you with an extra key, W. When pressed your ship is provided with a complete complement of attachments along with the ripple laser for extra firepower.
Followed by: POKE 34388,0 and POKE 34389,91 |
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Note: Stop your R-Type tape when the border flashes. Restart the tape when the border goes black. 1 FOR a=23296 TO 65535 2 READ f: IF f=999 THEN RANDOMIZE USR 23296 3 POKE a,f: NEXT a 4 REM R-Type Infy lives and Attempts 5 REM It's a Complete Mystery To Turbo As Well Crash 10 DATA 243,62,255,55,221 11 DATA 33,203,92,17,195 12 DATA 11,205,86,5,48 13 DATA 241,175,50,35,93 14 DATA 205,22,93,30,119 15 DATA 33,147,243,1,85 16 DATA 11,52,11,35,120 17 DATA 177,32,249,29,123 18 DATA 211,254,32,237,62 19 DATA 202,50,123,251,205 20 DATA 109,251,33,68,91 21 DATA 175,50,43,252,34 22 DATA 22,254,49,0,0 23 DATA 195,222,254,62,201 24 DATA 50,80,254,205,64 25 DATA 254,33,90,91,17 26 DATA 22,106,1,10,0 27 DATA 237,176,195,0,106 28 DATA 175,50,254,145,50 29 DATA 149,146,195,253,133 30 DATA 999 |
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