We worked hard during 2 years on free time to develop the 2012 version on CPC. So thank you for the praise. I personally converted all the fantastic musics from Masato and it was a difficult job to convert 6 channels musics to the 3 channels of the CPC, especially since having music and SFX simultaneously was important for us. If you play with SFX only, sounds are allocated using stereo depending on the location of the vessels, shots and explosions.

One point. The spectrum verson is seen as one of the best ports the system got. With a library of 10,000 games that shows you how amazing a verson it was. The work that went into it with the colourful graphics is amazing and gameplay.

Thank you very much for your comparative video, and for taking time to speak about some of the extra features include into our CPC version. I hope that you have enjoyed to play it. The goal was to redo a Spectrum port, so the in-game ennemies waves and the display system was based around.

Great remaster Mark, one I voted for! The Master System version has a hidden stage on level 4. My best mate entered the Sega regional contest held in the UK in 1988. He got through to the final witch was shown on Get Fresh with Gaz Top.. he got through by using the secret level which gave him a massive points lead :)

Manfred Trenz is an unparalleled genius as far as C64 goes. He shrunk R-Type in a 1982 machine in matter of weeks. Granted he used much of the code from his own R-Type clone Katakis, whose the litigation about was the reason he was doing the C64 version of R-Type in the first place. Check out his 1992 Enforcer (released under the humble moniker "The Master") for more Trenz shmup awesomeness (really impressive for a C64). It's worth pointing out that the Amiga version also uses two joystick buttons for controls as Factor 5 was always keen on giving Amiga users an arcade/console like experience and they usually delivered really well (except on the Amiga version of Katakis which sucks!). I think there is a recent PC port (R-Type Dimensions EX) that looks pretty much like the 360 version shown here. I had actually no idea it existed on the console.

R-Type SMS was developed by Compile. The classic Compile extra life jingle is accessible via the hidden sound test (rotate the D-Pad clockwise / anticlockwise during the continue screen to insert extra credits / access the sound test (which itself has a hidden section containing the sound effects - just keep button 1 held down to cycle further along)).

Thanks for this remastered video!!!

Correction: Compile did the SMS version, not Natsume. Also: the TG16 version runs at a lower horizontal resolution than the original PCE versions. This was done to reduce flicker.

Great remaster, love the SID chip rendition of R-Type's music!

I have a lot of great memories playing R-Type on the master system as a kid. It was a great port.

Excellent as always. I'm loving these remasters.

Criminal it didn’t get a Saturn compilation. 2, Leo the PC88 version etc. That would be one great pack these days.

*PC Engine and Master System are my favorite versions but love the C64 music to death!* ⭐️ ⭐️

The 2012 CPC port really shows that the machine is capable enough, if only the developers at the time could do the effort

I was first introduced to R-Type by my dad when he bought the R-Types Compilation on ps1 as a kid. I became a hard fan of the series and we used to play both games for hours. I'm hyped for R-Type Final2.

Just ace thanks Mark, a wonderful battle with a side by side comparison at the end that's memorising. I love how this turned out across the systems with so many being decent instead of the cack that was churned out. I couldn't say which is my favourite but I really do like the extra long Amiga title music and that fabulous Sid soundtrack for the C64. Actually it's the Pc engine version which in the day was just amazing.

Fun fact; the US hucard for R-type added some additional (unnecessary) settings that cause additional flicker. The japanese hucards don't have this issue... but when the made the CD version, they took the US hucard settings so it has more flicker than the japanese hucards as well.

I think these remastered "Battle" vids are a great idea, Mark! I'd actually forgotten about the days when your videos featured overlay text only and no sign of your gentle very-slight-hint-of-scouse tones...

Many thanks for the video great game as well

Factor 5/Rainbow Arts made some the best shmups during the 16 bit era. Nice compilation - Thanks.

Just a quick correction; some of the home computer versions did indeed allow 2 button input, at least the Commodore Amiga version did, and you could plug a Master System stick into the A500 hardware to access it. Admittedly I had a cracked version so I don't know if retail was only 1 button, he he. You also missed out that the Master System version has a hidden, unique level. Push up into the gaps on stage 4 to find it. Wonderful little machine the SMS, oh to be young again...!

What an amazing surprise the Amstrad re-release! Wow!

Thanks for the video, it helps these days. R-Type is probably my absolute favorite shoot'em up. I remember when the first images appeared for the PC Engine, it looks amazing (of course, no Italian magazine pointed out that the game was split in two...). Nice on Amiga too, which is rare.

The Playstation version, was the best way to legally play the game for about an entire decade, and they threw in the second game too. The C64 version is infamous, so many liberties taken with the levels and enemy patterns. It's simply not a faithful port of R-Type. Same goes for both Amstrad versions. Where are most of the enemies? Self isolating? The Spectrum has higher enemy counts and retains the arcade level layouts which people appreciated after getting stung by ports like Nemesis so people were probably more willing to overlook everything else. The Atari ST version, it was doing most of the game in software just like the Spectrum version so I wouldn't be too hard on it. I rather like rendition of the main theme on the title screen It has a nice classic chip-tune tone. An Amiga was probably set up at a computer desk so you'd have the bottom row keys right next to your Competition Pro. Two buttons wins hands down every time, but but the space bar was just a few Centimetres away so you could live with it. I never understood the missing background that fades in on on the first stage though, a bug? An oversight? Lack of memory? Only Factor 5 can answer that I guess. If you lived in the UK, this was the way to play R-Type for years unless you were importing overseas systems. For the sake of brevity , let's just skip to the final version. R-Type Dimensions. All the accessibility options are good for people who can't normally see the later levels. Switching to the 3D mode does change the game though, there are subtle changes to object behaviours in that mode that can make a difference to where your force goes versus where it's supposed to go and enemy timings The PS4 only disc version is prohibitively expensive, if you want to actually own the game and aren't too fussed about the 3D mode the PS1 version is still the way to go, though that has started to rocket in price too. Not that long ago it was a $20-30 game, now it's $50 and upwards.

Clearing this game in 1CC once...was something that i will never gonna make it again, but i pratice EVERYDAY because is fantastic when you make it through

The greatest side scroller shooter of all time. The futuristic organic gross theme was beautifully executed.

Awesome show!

Really a super video!!!

Ah thanks for this! I loved this back in the day! I had an Amstrad cpc 464 and that port was shocking!!! Luckily I upgraded to a Master system and was able to play rtype at home finally! Many thanks for the memories!!! Just what I needed to lift my spirits at the moment....nice to forget whats going on in the world even if just for half an hour.

R-Type Complete is my go to, I actually like the redone soundtrack.

That Java version has some pretty good bass on it's music. Felt it through my sub-woofer, and was very surprised.

Surprised the Master System version runs so smoothly. I had the spectrum and amiga versions...both were great for the systems they ran on.

Another excellent BOTP remaster.

There's also an unfinished R-Type "Deluxe" homebrew port on the ST.

The UK press were hideously unfair on the C64 version at the time: 40% in Commodore Format Magazine, 59% Commodore Force, 65% by The Games Machine, 67% Commodore User...

this version 10:28 makes this version 7:35 look good

Why I’m so good at R-Type: learned it on the Spectrum 😂😂🔫

Thanks for this . Stay safe

Correction, Amiga port was done by Rainbow Arts not Factor 5. Also Amiga port by Rainbow Arts was A FORCED port due to the fact that Rainbow Arts published before Katakis a game which was a direct "tribute" to Rtype in so many ways that they lost the lawsuit against activision who owned the rights for the Amiga port. So Rainbow Arts was forced to publish Katakis under a different name later (Denaris) and port Rtype to Amiga. A katakis reference is present in Turrican 2 during the space ship battle levels. Also what an opening theme had the Amiga version by Huelsbeck! Thanks for the great video as usual!

Great game, great video! Love it when you add comments.

MAME saves gamers life, I love your videos. IREM pixel art is still noticeable nowadays.

"Irem did for shoot em ups what Final Fight did for beat em ups" It even sounds like it, though I'll have to give the edge on Final Fight on audio. While I didn't like the switch to PCM sfx on CPS1 games starting with that game, I do like it in Final Fight. R-Type sounds closer to a earlier CPS1 game with the FM sfx, which is fine, but man, they're even louder than the CPS1 games.

Very nice comparison. Just a note: the MSX version also has FM soundtrack (different from the Master System, despite using the same sound chip), but due to some bugs it doesn't work in every configuration.

The downside of the PS1 compilation gamed called "R-Types" costs over $55 dollars secondhand in America. So Raspberry Pi is the alternative.

Amazing video! I really much appreciate for your efforts of putting all existing ports of R-Type. Also, I can see why the SHARP X68000 port's difficulty spikes looked hard than the arcade original. Making the difficulty spikes of the original arcade game more of the kiddy ride, don't you think? I like that remixed R-Type theme at the end of the video.

Oh man...my favorite game and what a remaster. This is fantastic Mark. I hope you and your family are doing well and staying safe? What an insane time huh?

The C64 version was a bit of a controversial hot-potato. It was actually thrown together in a rush, based on the code for Katakis/Denaris. Which was Rainbow Arts' homage to R-Type itself... Imagine if they had given the job of porting the arcade machine to the team with time to make a proper C64veffort! Still, hands down, the funkiest soundtrack of all the ports imo.

Fantastic Video RC! One my all time Fav games..... R-type was the reason I bought the original GameBoy way back in 1991.

The Master System version was made by Compile actually.

You said it yourself. If only they made use of the CPC instead of the crappy spectrum ports. Great vid.

Awesome! I really hope R-Type Final 2 does well. 😎

Wow at the c64 version. That music, tho. Its lit.

The Atari ST is a 16-bit computer, but many in the industry referred to it as a souped up ZX SPECTRUM, great value for money, but relies on it's fast CPU for performance. But having said that, when you look what was achieved with R-Type on the Spectrum, the ST version should of been much better.

I remember when this hit the arcades. There really wasnt anything like it. It was too tough for me to get into though 😊

Awesome I made a video on Rtype not so long ago what a classic

You can play the AMIGA & MSX versions online in your browser: AMIGA: www.file-hunter.com/AMIGA/#R-Type MSX: www.file-hunter.com/MSX/index.php?id=rtype Have fun!

Also the C64 cutted down in various areas. This shows Trenz only had 6 weeks to complete the port. Its a good game, but could do have more polish. The was also a v1 version, that version was newer completed......

The amiga version did support 2 button joystick so u could shoot off the shield without pressing space,made it alot better to play The c64 version was a masterclass on how to program a shoot em up on the hardware.one amazing theme tune followed by some other good tunes

wow that's actually interesting and i really wish you make a battle of the ports for metal gear 1

R-Type is one of those games I really want to love but it’s so impossible that I just end up frustrated and angry after spending 30 minutes trying to beat level 6. Much like Gradius once you’ve died you might as well just give up. The only shooter I’m any good at is Axelay, and that’s a combination of it giving you all your power ups back after you die and the slowdown making it possible to navigate busy screens. Maybe one day someone will do a romhack to R-Type make it easier for scrubs like me. 😉

Wow, you actually liked the Amiga for once!

I remember me and my best mate used to double-up on the Amiga version; one would play, the other would tap the space bar on command! We managed to get to the third or forth level but never further. Great fun though (then I'd kick his arse at "Speedball 1")

I've the Master System one in my collection, but sadly It doesn't sounds like the amazing japanese release. Amazing remaster from the original BotP Mark!

19:51 Now imagine it on the Saturn...... (Thanks for another great video!)

Thanks for making this remake ! Whats in your opinion the most difficult R-Type game ? While I heard from many people its Super R-Type, I'd say its probably the R Type III.

Going to the Game Boy port, it was made by Bits Studios, the team behind the slow but at least playable Super Nintendo port of GunForce.

Wonder why the C64 didn't bother with the iconic rotating enemies on the first level and why they and a couple of others shots move so fast. Great comparison video, that for putting it together.

Amiga version is class, that title screen music is stunning and in-game sound fx are arcade perfect, yes a few colours are missing but all the levels and playability are there,...BUT for the best amiga shmup experience you all need to play Hybris, makes Xenon 2 look like a cheap budget game!

The PC Engine Hu Card version isn't just the best port... it's the best game on this list, arcade included.

llllll R-Type was a very good idea. Well done! |>

I'm just sad that we never got the TRUE and PROPER R-type sequel... named S-type😂🤣😆

R-Type Dimensions is also on the Switch.

GJ!

The FULL C64 R-Type story: www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/rtype-v1/

A series about the different games in a series like rtype might be pretty interesting. Although, they would probably be pretty long videos...

“Sound of a flatulent pig” 😂

You’re not gonna believe me buy I was paying R-Type Dimensions today on my PS3 and wondering if you made a video comparing all the different versions of R-Type. Thanks for posting this exactly today!

I’d say the Turbografx 16 verison is still the king, it took all the way until PlayStation to get anything as close. The Xbox 360 version is probably now the definitive way to play based off the arcade, but I’d still say TG16 is the champ

Strange there was not a Mega Drive port

The arcade graphics hold up pretty well for a 33 years old game, but the music is quite timeless in this game.

Bought the snes on release in the uk and for the first few months only about 4 games were in the shops so I ended up buying r type which I normally never would have done. Loved the soundtrack more than the game, level one has a tune too long for the level, you needed the sound test to hear the best part. Then converters appeared for the console and I suddenly had access to a big library of games from japan and never touched r type again

This was great on the C64, but Katakis (done by the same team I believe) was even better. If I remember correctly, it got banned after Irem complained it was too similar to RType, and they had to modify it and re-release it as Denaris... I'm old now though and might not be remembering 100% correctly.

I always wondering how R-Type PC engine Japan get split in 2 card while US not ? I mean I don't feel any different between 2 of them except Japan version need get swap.

My Rank of best port of R-Type 🥇1st TurboGrafx-16 🥈2nd GameBoy 🥉3rd MSX

All hail the amiga version! 😃👍

Did you know that the PS4 Version of R-Type (Found in R-Type Dimensions DX) has a arranged soundtrack??? It's a pretty good port in my opinion!!!!! Not only that there's a typo on the script for the PS1 Port part of the video!!!!! At 19:43 to 19:45 you meant a video for R-Type Delta WHICH of course is a PS1 Exclusive!!!!!

fun fat: the amiga version was dun by factor 5 (the turicon/roge squadren guys) under contract, as part of a cort settlement over their clone katacus. the story goes that when Activision got wind of this, they delivered an ultimatem: either make the amiga version, or we'll sue. Of course, factor 5 chose the former.

Dimensions version FTW

The X68000 version actually has a fairly annoying issue: the music is out of tune. It seems they ported the arcade music data over without compensating for the fact that the X68000 clocks its YM2151 faster than the original arcade board.

Love the gameboy port

Great vid. Doesnt R-Types have both games running way faster than the arcade versions though?

i played it first on tg16 and there is an extra boss from what i was told could be wrong

Good to know there is more R-Type love coming this year friends!

The game boy part is missing a sound channel, the game does have percussion.

How do you sort the order of ports? Best to worst? Worst to best? Most to least interesting. Order of release? I have to know.

I actually prefer the C64 soundtrack to the arcade version

Wait a video of R-Type Alpha? Where do I find it?

Shame there was no port for the Megadrive! I looked up a couple things and few reasons people have come to agreement on relate to Irem not really making games for the system and also because many Master System games didn't get rereleases on the system. Possibility that PC-Engine had exclusivity at the time too? I did wonder about a possible Super Famicom port too but that got Super R-Type which is somewhat of a port of 2 I think? But with extra content or stages or something..

I couldn't help but notice ya said R-Type Alpha rather than Delta. Different Greek letter, lol

I can still remember seeing the R-Type cabinet back in the day. The thing that REALLY stood out was the Nintendo logo. This convinced me that the NES and probably the SNES too. Even the arcade cabinet looked liked like Nintendo cabinet except this one was black. As I waited R-Type was on everything except Nintendo. It was a show piece for Amiga at computer stores. I would see a released for the Sega Master System and the Turbo Graphics 16. Then the SNES got a Super R-Type, but it wasn't the same.