PLEASE NOTE: There seems to be frame drops in our PC footage where there was none in actual gameplay. There was no indication this was happening when recording or editing, and we're not really sure if this is a Windows Record issues or a Vegas one, but over seven hours of capture was affected. Regardless, the PC version played at an unwavering 60FPS at 1080p even when gathering footage, and we stand by our assertions, even if the footage may not match our descriptions and findings. We apologize for this unforseen hiccup.

That was fantastically thorough! Just got my copy for Xbox, looking forward to trying it out.

Most in depth review of the game yet.

As as fan of R-Type, and playing on PC, I agree with this review, but as a fan of shmups in general I also agree with Mark MSX's (Electric Underground) criticism. My biggest gripe, is the pause on death.

One thing to consider if you're picking up the Switch version: I've lost two runs because the game crashed while loading a checkpoint on one of the final stages twice (7.1). It's the only level I don't have unlocked as a result, but the game does recognize that I saw the enemies on that stage.

Great video. Wouldn't be awesome if they released a physical R-Type collection containing every game in the series, including R-Type tactics. Oh man!!🤗👍

"But that's just how R-Type do." lawl tru

I never buy a shmup until there's a Bullet Heaven review. Great video as always!

One thing I loved so much about R-Type Final was the amazing atmosphere. It was just so unlike any other Shmup in that respect. And then there was all the WTF'ery in it as well. Sad that Final 2 didn't continue that trend.

Nice! This is my first R-Type game I've really gotten into and I like it. The load times inbetween the lives is a bit long for my taste but that just makes me want to die less. I wish there was someway to do local or online coop and share ship designs.

I’m having a blast with it. Hopefully it brings about a resurgence in creative horizontal shooters again.

I'm having a great time with it. Dying a ton yeah, but it's so addictive! Great review, which helps to explain certain nuances and get a better understanding of the game.

Fantastic review. This game needs more love. I swear half hte reviews are reviews from people who don't like it because they don't like R-type or just rage reviewing after this game utterly destroyed and frustrated them with it's difficulty lol.

Never thought R-Type would ever return, so this is a happy surprise. It's a must buy for me.

This was a more positive review than some others I watched and I'm glad to hear your point of view.

Great video. Love the new format changes. Subtle but powerful ;)

Love it. I'm really glad you pointed out the default speed issue. It should be something the player can set in the Options menu. I'm not sure whether R-Type Final had that, but I don't recall having to furiously reset speed after every death in that one. Maybe it defaulted to 3? I don't remember. Despite all its flaws, I am super happy to have another pretty good R-Type to play. I loved Final and I'm liking this very much, too.

Fabulous game..playing it now..🥰

The lack of organics and the naive level design is unforgivable. It is also far too easy.

R-Type Final 2 is just brilliant. I love it.

They missed a trick, should’ve called it R-Type Final Too

Gotta say, this looks extremely slick

R-TYPE is Back! Blast Off and Strike The Evil Bydo Empire!

We also need to talk about the junction in stage 5. Basically there are 4 crystals, 3 of which take you to a different ending, and a 4th one, a gray one, that seems to take you whichever way the game feels like. I've been chatting with the R-Type Discord, and even they seem stumped as to what it does or why it's there. However, your comments about this game feeling unfinished does lend credence to the possibility of a 4th path l being patched in down the line. Maybe something similar to the 'Bonus Stage' in Final 1? If you know, you know.

I hope Thunder Force series return someday.

I really like that you're actually going through the actual mechanics of the different systems in the game. The other two reviews I watched spent most of the time just talking about how it feels as a shmup player, which is fine, but it's nice to see a more distanced, objective review.

Stage 3.0, 6.1, 6.2 and 7.0 give mostly Etherium. Grind/Practice them on score attack may not be a bad idea

Nice review! I still think the low input latency on Switch makes it feel plenty playable, but after getting the full game and playing it, the long load times really stick out like a sore thumb. Still solid as a handheld shooter, but I double-dipped on the Series X version and it plays, looks, runs, & loads like a champ! I was at a party last weekend and chatting with a guy that bought the PS4 version, and he said he likes the game but one thing that was driving him nuts was the flickery rotating lighting effects with the force, which aren't on the Switch version, so I guess for a few select people the less advanced lighting effects are a plus for the Switch version, lmao.

Very good summary. I thought the game needed a bit more polish in certain areas. Something you forgot to mention -- performance on the Series X. This game is optimized for the newer gen Xbox console and useses smart delivery. The overall performance is fast running around a stable 60 fps with little to no texture drawing.

I hate to say it, but the performance issues are unacceptable. A game like this should be able to run flawlessly on a toaster. The use of Unreal with its effect spam is baffling. I'll take a tighter, more focused experience like R-Type III over this every time. Maybe one day they can get back to that design philosophy.

I really like this game. By the way, there is a 1.04 patch on the PS4. Fixed some issues and the framerates got better.

Very good in-depth review Sir. While I never played Delta or the OG R-types. (Started with Super,3 and Final) I've been a fan of the series. So I'm I'm enjoying it very much despite some drawbacks. In regards to stage 3. I see the point others are making but when I first saw it I thought "Thats kinda Retro like" and moved on. Didn't seem to be a big issue or I'm just dense. Haha Will say the R-9F Andromulus Force is extremely OP. Especially maxed out. Just let the fella kill bosses fast.

7:01 Nice Trigun reference with password, Ser. I love that anime too. Great review too. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

On a side note, its surprising (and sad) how much character you lose when you go from pixel graphics to 3D polygon models. The level one boss in this game looks like a squashed plastic toy compared to the iconic screen filled version of the original. Give me pixel art in my shooters, any day!🤔

Really nice and in depth review. I agree that stage 3 looks like you're fighting a child's toy but it's one one the only music track that stands out for me even if it would fit right in on a corporate shareholders video. I'm playing on base ps4 and have not noticed any performance issues, but that may only because I don't have a point of reference with the pc version so anyone thinking about getting PS4 and worried about framerate, it's fine. Are you sure there's 7 dlc stages planned though? I assumed it would be two stages per pack and they were just going to skip out super r type since it's a remix of r type 2.

Thanks for the review! The PS4 demo played great on my PS5 so I’ll be grabbing that version.

Good review!

Great review! I'm having a lot of fun with the game. But yeah, Level 3... is underwhelming to say the least.

I picked up Digital Deluxe (PS4) playing on PS5. I haven’t noticed any of the issues that happen on the PS4 but I’m only on stage 2 so far. Stage 1 is a breeze but stage 2 is kicking my ass 😂. The demo had pop-in at one spot when the camera is zoomed into the ship at first but I didn’t notice it in the full game.

Given how instrumental the force pods are to ship survivability against the bydo forces you would think by now the craft would just ship with them already attached?

I thought R-Type Final was a mediocre game, the series low point (close to Leo which I don't regard as a legit R-Type at all). This one seems similarly plodding and dull, only with most of the dev's energy being spent on shiny visuals. The fact that it's unfinished / DLC-laden seals the deal: No thanks.

I totally agree with you on the DLC cash grab. There is absolutely no reason that these stages couldn't have been included. I'm a sucker for R-type though so, I immediately bought the stage pass. It's turning out to be quite the expensive shmup. Especially since I had to pay customs in the EU because it was shipped from the U.K

My first introduction was R-type master system

I don't like how the game's explosion effects look and sound muted and underwhelming when you destroy enemies. I'm so used to shmups where destroying enemies always felt incredibly visceral and satisfying, but here in comparison it feels very weak. Compare, for instance, the destruction effects in R-Type Final 2 with (say) Crimzon Clover, and you'll see and hear a world of a difference. Perhaps some brief but violent screenshaking (at least for enemy kills when you kill them using charged up attacks) would have helped made the destruction feel better. Missing content aside, the amount of existing content and customization that is in the game looks great, through I do agree the unlock requirements make it an unnecessarily tedious grind. Was unlocking new content this equally tedious in R-Type Final 1? I never played that game. Also, ignore the Nintendo Switch apologists. They will always robotically and mindlessly defend any kind of shitty performance on their handheld tablets as "fine". They do that for every game, and I'm not even exaggerating. It's the reason why you have games like Deadly Premonition 2 being able to get away with shipping on that console with performance that drops it to single digit framerates during combat.

Is there a stage selection in this game, or do you always have to start it from Stage 1? How do you select DLC stages? Are they available only in Score Attack mode? How do you get more credits for play? Or are you stuck with 3? Thanks!

Awesome review. 👍

Great review! I should point out its always available on Xbox physically as well oddly enough.

R-Type Final was Rocky V. This is Rocky Balboa. A welcome return to the essence of what made R-Type so unique back in 1987. If this truly is good-bydo, then it's the send off the series deserves. Agree this isn't the finished product, but the good news is it's not being positioned as such and the devs are working on adding features and improvements based on player feedback - which can be shared with them here: www.granzellagames.com/contact. Thank you for your brilliant review! 🙌

I like R Type Final 2 more than 1. However, it doesn't mean it's perfect. I agree the DLC and all ships should have been included. Right now, it feels like an unfinished game and a cash grab for the DLC. From the Kickstarter goals achieved, I thought they intend on including those stages with the game, so I felt a bit deceived when I found out it was paid DLC. Stage and enemy designs are a bit bland and uninspired, but the visuals are sharp and great. I played it on my PS4 Pro with an SSD and there was no problem with load time (same as PC on an SSD) or performance. The one thing I like most is that the control was spot on, very responsive. Right now, only 54 ships are available to unlock, which I have already done by replaying level 3, yes ugly level 3, on practice difficulty over and over again using the ship Happy Days to one shot the boss and it took me a couple of days to unlock all the ships. I would give the game 7/10. I do enjoy it a lot. I just want more ships so I can unlock and I hope they do not charge money for them either. I don't mind supporting them by paying full price for an unfinished game, only so that they can make another, but milking the players for unfinished ships that were supposed to be in the game is where I take a stand. BTW, Delta is my favorite R Type game and is in my top 3 favorite shmups of all time.

Pretty fair review, the game is flawed and requires polish, but the bones are there. It is brutal if you don’t know your ships perfectly and levels (it took me 300 deaths to clear R-Typer 200 of which was 6.0... it feels like the concert master was almost required) Also here’s a feature you get for buying it now - roadmap says you get Rtype final 3 for free.

The game where I challenge myself in using the worst ship for that particular stage in R-Typer for no good reason other than boredom and hoping one day other players will see the and wonder how, and try to beat it.

It looks sooo goood !!! 😍😍😍

finally a review from an actual r typer

I agree this game needs a couple more updates to truly shine, but I knew you guys "got" what this series has always been & would judge it accordingly. So frustrating seeing this already neglected genre getting slammed by those who claim to know & love shmups. Talking shit like : oh its all trial, error, & memorization, as if most vidoegames arent exactly that " looking at you Bloodbourne bosses & Dead Soul everthings lol" Thank God for hardcore shmup sites, spitting facts at hardcore shmup fans : )

Sorry, stupid question, what are the final number ratings given out of? I assume 5.00 is max but I wasn't sure if it might go up to 6.00, 7.00, 10.00, etc.

Woo hoo!! I am a Superfan! :)

Stage 3 is an image fight reference.

Great review. Why the "88" decal on ships? Is it a reference to something?

The lack of Organics is reprehensible. We are fighting the Bydo for fucks sake.

"Cost to value: good"? You can get both Ginga Force AND Natsuki Chronicles for less and they're better games.

Can the camera tilt up/down be turned off? That is insanely annoying how it shifts the backgrounds too...I cant believe they included that.

PC baby!!

Hi!!! My son is a big fan of R Type Final and asked me to get him the R Type Final 2 on Nintendo switch but not so sure what's the difference between the regular edition and the deluxe edition!? Could you be able to explain the difference to us!? Thanks in advance!!

Love the game but damn it’s hard as hell even in practice mode and my worse stage is 3, what a pain in the damn ass.

This game looks fantastic, I'll definitely be grabbing this for the Xbox later on. It's nice to see more shmups and other unique games being brought to physical media for the Xbox, early on the Xbox got the shaft from 3rd party games most likely due to Microsoft screwing themselves with the original Xbox One reveal.

i feel the stretch goals from the ks were ordered wrong..

Great review! Many reviews just seem to dump on this game like it sucks. It’s has issues, but it’s still good. Speaking of oddly sexual things in this series, level 7.2 has space dragons flying around while mating and making whale noises.

Great review as always, but really is anyone sharing...?

Fix texture and element popping on the PC version. \Users\(username)\Saved Games\RTypefinal\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor Open Engine.ini with Notepad or some other text editor and paste the following to the end of the file: [consolevariables] r.TextureStreaming=1 r.Streaming.FullyLoadUsedTextures=1 r.Streaming.PoolSize=0 r.Streaming.HLODStrategy=2 r.Streaming.FramesForFullUpdate=0

*skips ad* *sees length* O_O

I would have loved to pick this one up for my Switch but the presence of DLC and choppiness pushed me towards the PC version. I only buy Physical on Switch if I can get a near complete version.

DLC is Pretty cool but too bad it's not available in all countries including my country on PlayStation.

It's great to see PC ports of Japanese games are no longer second class citizens. Finale 2 plays great on my 12 core gaming rig and Intel Iris powered laptop.

I remember being a bit perplexed about your view that Final was the best of the series and that Delta was a bit claustrophobic. Surely that's the whole point of the R-Type games? Along with them being sadistic.

No wonder I don't like R-Type. 3 was the only one I ever played.

Why isn't there an ultimate R TYPE COLLECTION?!

Wait, R-Type games have always had those awkward enemies and crap? I've only played Super R-Type III (I think)....you know...the one with what I call the "Sperm Boss"? xD

If you still have drift problems (Do you have them anyway?) you should definitively patch your Joy-Cons. I own a Day-One Switch. I had Drift Issues, but the many patches did fix it. Esspecially at the point of game release and date of review...

Bullet Heaven, Why Irem game company is no longer interested in making more video games like r type, Disaster Report and etc?

This game would have looked just like this and been around 1GB 20 years ago, minus some lighting effects. but at 15.6GB, it is not worth the space lol

It’s one of those “it got better with updates” kinds of games. which Is honestly painful for today’s gaming

Pity you can't play/unlock R.Type Final

Does the game support Ultrawide ?

It lets me down on controls because I use a Wico leaf switch and they only programmed digital in the release. Frankly unforgivable given the amount of people who played the game in the 80’s. True analogue would have been better given the lineage of the title.

I agree stage 3 was weird flat and felt unfinish

I found stage 3 final it was nicey done and has a retro feel to it and dont think the n64 good do this stage and justice

Sorry but this is a 40 € Game... and for a 40 € Game there are too many Problems... Bullets lost in Explosions, Bullets that not register... Empty Sections... thump fiddling... Plays more like a Puzzle Game... (Level Design)... 1st Day DLC FOR A SHMUP?!? A Stage Pass? No Thank you... Natsuki Chronicles is at 20€ and it's a Full Package... Back to Leo & Delta

I don't like it at all, it's fun to unlock new ships and so on, but you're left with the same tedious levels to grind through, which are no fun whatsoever. The art is not great until nearly the end of the game and it all just feels hollow and low effort.

I always like enemies the best when they're ships taken over by the bydo, the biomechanical horror doesn't do anything for me

THIS GAME COULD HAVE BEEN EPIC UNDER THE RIGHT DEVELOPERS! THAT REDUX GAME THATS LIKE R TYPE PUTS R TYPE FINAL 2 TO SHAME! GRAPHICALLY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE USED THE UNREAL ENGINE! IT IS NOT HOW R TYPE GAMES HAVE LOOKED IN THE PAST

Didn't this game have $500 backer-only ships?

I wonder, XSX vs PS5?

I’m just happy we got a new one!! It’s amazing!! Final was not really better

Awesome review. A comment for the algorith.

R-Type Final seems cool albeit very different, but Final 2 just looks kinda mid idk.

Its on series x too enchanced

R-Type Final *2* as a title makes no sense.

This game is average and gradius 5 is a thousand times better on the ps2. Looks rubbish for a next gen game.

My only gripe is the Leo not playing like in its game