R-Type Final 2

If you love shoot ’em ups, especially horizontal shooters, you’ll love R-Type. The franchise is one of the most celebrated of the genre, alongside Gradius, boasting dozens of titles in countless platforms, as well as even some strategy-focused spinoffs. Even though their original developer, Irem, went the way of the dodo several years ago, the franchise lives on thanks to Granzella, formed by actual ex-Irem staff. R-Type Final 2 is their first foray tackling their beloved franchise in man...

The early 2000s was a great time for shmups and we now have a sequel to one of the best from that era with R-Type Final 2.

A successful resurrection of the iconic retro franchise, that wallows in justifiable nostalgia but still tries to keep at least one foot in the present.

Calling all pilots! Strap in for this one. R-Type Final 2 is here to take you on a galactic expedition to an overrun alien planet. It’s got the look of and the feel of an arcade side-scroller classic, just begging for another coin!

R-Type Final 2 is fun in bursts, but makes too many tedious choices to live up to the franchise that came before it.

A game funded by fans for fans, it’s perhaps miraculous that R-Type Final 2 even exists. It’s a shame that Granzella wasn’t a little forward thinking with its development, enticing new players into the fold to ensure the future of the franchise. As it is, R-Type Final 2 feels old-fashioned and punishing to a fault. There are simply better shoot ’em ups available that are faster paced, fairer, better looking and more accessible.

I've played R-Type across many systems since 1987, and Final 2 is not the glorious swan song the series deserves. It's still R-Type, so fans will find some things to like, but it has flat, dull presentation and some odd design choices that diminish the shoot 'em up great.