Wikipedia

Super R-Type

Super R-Type[a] is a scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Irem for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan and North America in 1991, Europe in 1992, and Brazil in 1993 by Nintendo. It is a partial port of R-Type II, borrowing stages and enemies, but introducing several of its own. The game has been re-released on the Wii Virtual Console in 2008, and on the Nintendo Classics service in 2024.

Super R-Type
North American cover art
DeveloperIrem
Publishers
ComposersYasuhiro Kawakami
Takushi Hiyamuta
Hiroshi Kimura
SeriesR-Type
PlatformSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
GenreScrolling shooter
ModeSingle-player

Gameplay

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Super R-Type borrows four stages from R-Type II and adds three new ones. The game is known for its high difficulty (even compared to other games in the series), particularly because of its lack of checkpoints, since dying means restarting the level from scratch.[5] Also, this game suffers from slowdown, which was also a problem in many early games for this system. But unlike the others Super R-Type slows down to a virtual standstill when there are many things on-screen.[6] However, this proved useful for players when there were many obstacles on-screen because it was easier to avoid them.[7]

Reception

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According to Famitsu, Super R-Type sold 109,120 copies in its first week on the market and 190,374 copies during its lifetime in Japan.[31] The Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine ranked the game eighth in popularity in its October 1991 issue, and it received a 22.1/30 score in a readers' poll conducted by Super Famicom Magazine.[32][33] It also garnered generally favorable reception from critics.[34][35]

Entertainment Weekly's Bob Strauss picked the game as the second greatest game available in 1991, saying: "The space-shooting R-Type game has been evolving over the last several years; this latest incarnation is the most graphically overpowering yet. Players pilot a ship through the deep cosmos, picking up various supercharged weapons along the way and squaring off against some extraordinarily detailed aliens, which look like illustrations from classic pulp sci-fi magazines of the 1930s".[36] Super Gamer stated that "It looks brilliant and plays well, but while graphical slowdown isn't that bad, going back to the start of the level whenever you die soon becomes tedious".[28]

Re-releases

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On March 14, 2008, the game was released on the Wii Virtual Console service in Europe and Australia.[37] The game was made available on the Virtual Console in North America on March 17, 2008.[38] However, it was removed from the Virtual Console on March 30, 2012, in North America and on March 31, 2012, in Europe. The game was re-released on the Nintendo Classics service on April 12, 2024.[citation needed]

Legacy games company Retro-Bit released a SNES-compatible cartridge including the game alongside R-Type III: The Third Lightning in July 2018.[39]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Japanese: スーパーR-Type, Hepburn: Sūpā Āru Taipu

References

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  1. ↑ "スーパーR-TYPE (SFC)の関連情報 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  2. ↑ Harris, Steve (September 1991). "The Games of September 1991.. Appearing in Local Stores Now!". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 26. Sendai Publications. p. 26. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Game Companies - Nintendo". gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Playtronic lança 20 títulos para Supernintendo". O Estado de S. Paulo. November 22, 1993. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Lucas M. (March 28, 2008). "Super R-Type Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  6. ↑ Scullion, Chris (March 14, 2008). "Virtual Console Review: Super R Type". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  7. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (February 6, 2009). "R-Type Retrospective". IGN. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  8. ↑ Whitta, Gary (September 1991). "Computer Screentest: Super R-Type (Super Famicom)". ACE. No. 48. EMAP. p. 72.
  9. ↑ Rand, Paul; Boone, Tim (September 1991). "Review: Super R-Type (Famicom)". Computer and Video Games. No. 118. EMAP. pp. 16–19.
  10. ↑ Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Sushi-X (September 1991). "Review Crew: Super R-Type (Super NES)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 26. Sendai Publishing. p. 18.
  11. ↑ "New Games Cross Review: R-Type III (スーパーファミコンカートリッジ)". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 136. ASCII Corporation. July 26, 1991. (Transcription by Famitsu.com. Archived 2015-06-12 at the Wayback Machine).
  12. ↑ "Classic GI: Retro Reviews". Game Informer. No. 141. GameStop. January 2005. p. 159.
  13. ↑ "Console Connexions: Super R-Type (Super Famicom)". Games-X. No. 15. Europress. August 1–7, 1991. p. 38.
  14. ↑ Ellis, Les (October 1991). "Review: Super R-Type (Super Famicom)". Raze. No. 12. Newsfield. p. 38.
  15. ↑ Davies, Jonathan (November 1992). "UK Review: Available Now!". Super Play. No. 1. Future Publishing. pp. 69–76.
  16. ↑ Jarratt, Steve (June 1992). "SNES Reviews: Super R-Type". Total!. No. 6. United Kingdom: Future Publishing. pp. 24–25.
  17. ↑ Hellwig, Thomas (October 1996). "SNES Classic: Super R-Type". Total! (in German). No. 40. Germany: X-Plain-Verlag. p. 71.
  18. ↑ Wilson, David (October 1991). "Console Review: Super R-Type (Super Famicom)". Zero. No. 35. Dennis Publishing. p. 87.
  19. ↑ "SNES Out of Control". Control (supplement). No. 1. Maverick Magazines. September 1992. pp. 1–16.
  20. ↑ "The・New・Soft・Review: スーパーRタイプ". Game Boy (in Japanese). Vol. 6, no. 8. Tokuma Shoten. August 1991. pp. 24–25.
  21. ↑ McCandless, David (June 1992). "Console Review: Super R-Type (Super NES)". Game Zone. No. 8. Dennis Publishing. pp. 52–53.
  22. ↑ Ishino, Michiho (August 4, 1991). "TV Game Broad-Way SFC: スーパーR-Type". Hippon Super! (in Japanese). Vol. 6, no. 8. JICC Publishing Bureau. p. 74.
  23. ↑ Leadbetter, Richard; Rignall, Julian (September 1991). "Famicom Review: Super R•Type". Mean Machines. No. 12. EMAP. pp. 92–94.
  24. ↑ Rice, Chris; Roberts, Nick (July 1992). "Reviewed! Best of British". N-Force. No. 1. Impact Magazines. pp. 76–81.
  25. ↑ "Guide Directory Enquiries". SNES Force. No. 1. Impact Magazines. July 1993. pp. 92–97.
  26. ↑ "Crusty Library". Super Action. No. 5. Europress. February 1993. pp. 104–113.
  27. ↑ "ザ・テストプレイ: スーパーR•Type". The Super Famicom [ja] (in Japanese). Vol. 2, no. 14. SoftBank Creative. July 26, 1991. p. 6.
  28. 1 2 "A-Z of Games - Nintendo Games Index: Super NES". Super Gamer. No. 1. Paragon Publishing. April 1994. pp. 122–124.
  29. ↑ "A-Z of Official Games: Super R-Type". Super Pro. No. 1. Paragon Publishing. December 1992. p. 82.
  30. ↑ "Feature: Shooting Stars". Super Pro. No. 5. Paragon Publishing. April 1993. pp. 40–47.
  31. ↑ "Game Search". Game Data Library. Archived from the original on May 18, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  32. ↑ Tezuka, Ichirō (October 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information: Super Famicom". Micom BASIC Magazine [ja] (in Japanese). No. 112. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation [ja]. p. 250.
  33. ↑ "超絶 大技林 '98年春版". PlayStation Magazine [ja] (Special) (in Japanese). Vol. 42. Tokuma Shoten Intermedia. April 15, 1998. p. 242.
  34. ↑ Mr. Dynamo (November 1991). "Super NES Pro Review: Super R-Type". GamePro. No. 28. IDG. p. 60.
  35. ↑ "Console Crazy: The Super Games Line Up". CPC Attack!. No. 2. HHL Publishing. July 1992. pp. 22–23.
  36. ↑ Strauss, Bob (November 22, 1991). "Video Games Guide". Entertainment Weekly. No. 93. Time Inc. (Transcription Archived 2015-02-27 at the Wayback Machine).
  37. ↑ East, Tom (March 14, 2008). "Super R-Type and Operation Wolf Blast Onto Virtual Console". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  38. ↑ Bozon, Mark (March 17, 2008). "VC Monday: 3/17/08". IGN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  39. ↑ Shive, Chris (June 1, 2018). "R-Type Returns Collector's Edition Available For Pre-Order". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
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