Software:R-Type II

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Short description: 1989 video game
R-Type II
Sales flyer
Developer(s)Irem
Publisher(s)
  • WW: Irem
Artist(s)Akio[1]
SeriesR-Type
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemM82, M84

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed and published by Irem. It was released in arcades in 1989. It is the sequel to R-Type, and the second game in the R-Type series.

Gameplay

Arcade screenshot, the R-9C approaches the level 1 Boss

The player controls a ship called the R-9C, which is an improved version of its predecessor game's ship, the R-9. The ship's design was changed slightly, and the Wave Cannon is given a new charge level. Two new types of weapons (the Search Laser and Shotgun Laser) were added, bringing the total number of weapon types up to five. A new anti-ground unit bomb was added to the missile inventory.

Though the number of levels was decreased from the previous game, the number of enemies, their durability, and the number of bullets they shoot were greatly increased. Enemy movements and terrain were also made trickier, bringing the game's difficulty up considerably. The same revival system is used as in R-Type, where the player is brought back to a checkpoint whenever their ship is destroyed.

The game consists of six levels. Though an ending screen is displayed after the player finishes all of the levels once through, the game's true ending is only displayed after the player completes the levels a second time under increased difficulty. The game starts off in a ruined Bydo base, and continues through a giant cave where waterfalls can prevent the ship from progressing. The player battles several huge battleships in the third level, and the terrain constantly shifts around during the fourth and fifth levels. The final level takes place on the Bydo home planet, where the alien organisms are cloned and mass-produced.

Ports

R-Type II did not receive any home console ports until 1998, after it had become a retro game; R-Type II for the PC Engine is actually the second half of the original R-Type,[5] while Super R-Type, released in 1991 for the Super Famicom, is only a semi-port of R-Type II. About half of the levels in Super R-Type were newly created, but some are arranged versions of the levels in R-Type II. The game was released for the Wii Virtual Console on January 29, 2008.

R-Type II for the Amiga is a downgraded though faithful conversion of the original arcade game. It was positively received by magazine critics of the time garnering praise for its accuracy.[citation needed] It was converted by Arc Developments and the graphics were hand-created pixel-by-pixel by in-house graphic artist Jon Harrison.[citation needed] It is missing all the new weapons (search laser, shotgun laser, scatter bomb) and the helper bits have no firing capability. The same goes for the Atari ST version, which misses much gfx and any parallax, but the gameplay and level design remain as faithful to the original as the Amiga version.

The game was also ported to the Game Boy, but the limitations of the hardware caused the content to be changed considerably. The Game Boy version contains only 5 levels, and some of the boss names were changed as well.

The game is coupled with its forerunner in R-Types, which was released for the PlayStation in 1998. This was followed by downloadable releases for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 over the PlayStation Network. R-Types includes a new opening and ending movie animation, along with "R's Library", which documents some of the game's design settings. A promotional movie for R-Type Delta is included in this release.[5]

Tozai Games ported R-Type II, along with the original R-Type, to the Xbox 360's downloadable service Xbox Live Arcade as R-Type Dimensions in 2009. It is also playable on the Xbox One via backwards compatibility. The title was ported to the PlayStation 3 in 2014. Tozai Games returned in 2018 and issued the collection digitally as R-Type Dimensions EX, on Steam, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.[6] Strictly Limited Games released physical copies of the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions in February 2019. These were limited to 2,000 and 3,000 copies respectively.[7] Collector's Edition variants were issued which contained a hardcover artbook, dog tags, stickers and cards, once again limited to 1,000 on the PlayStation 4 and 2,000 on the Nintendo Switch.[8][9]

Reception

Arcade reviews
Review scores
PublicationScore
CrashPositive[10]
CVG92%[11]
Your Sinclair93%[12]
Zzap!64Positive[14]
Commodore User86%[2]
Award
PublicationAward
Gamest AwardsBest Graphics[15]

The arcade game was successful in Japan,[16] where Game Machine listed R-Type II on their January 1, 1990 issue as being the second most-successful table arcade game at the time.[17]

The arcade game was critically acclaimed. Commodore User reviewed the arcade game, giving it an 86% score.[2]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "R-TYPE ORIGINAL SOUND BOX". Clarice Shop. City Connection. 2021. https://clrc.myshopify.com/products/m_r-type. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Arcades". Commodore User (76 (January 1990)): 110–5. 20 December 1989. https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/287/269. Retrieved 2021-10-10. 
  3. ↑ Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006) (in ja). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 14. ISBN 978-4990251215. https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n15/mode/2up?view=theater. 
  4. ↑ Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006) (in ja). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 121. ISBN 978-4990251215. https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n121/mode/2up?view=theater. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "PlayStation Previews: R-Types". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (103): 64. February 1998. 
  6. ↑ "R-Type Dimensions EX | Tozai Games". http://www.tozaigames.com/r-type-dimensions/index.html. 
  7. ↑ "R-Type Dimensions EX". https://www.strictlylimitedgames.com/releases-2/rtype-dimensions-ex/. 
  8. ↑ "R-Type Dimensions EX Collector's Edition (PS4) - Preorder". https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/products/r-type-dimensions-ex-collectors-edition-ps4. 
  9. ↑ "R-Type Dimensions EX Collector's Edition (Nintendo Switch) - Preorder". https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/products/r-type-dimensions-ex-collectors-edition-nintendo-switch. 
  10. ↑ "R-Type II review". Crash. February 1990. https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/83/269. Retrieved 25 February 2021. 
  11. ↑ "Arcade Action: R-Type II". Computer & Video Games: 66. February 1990. https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-099/CVG_099_Feb_1990#page/n65/mode/1up. 
  12. ↑ Matt Bielby (March 1990). "Slots of Fun: R-Type II". Your Sinclair: 84. https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-51/YourSinclair_51_Mar_1990#page/n83/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ Matt Bielby (February 1990). "Dosh Eaters: R-Type II". Zero: 90. https://archive.org/stream/zero-magazine-04/Zero_04_Feb_1990#page/n89/mode/1up. 
  14. ↑ "R-Type II review". Zzap!64. March 1990. https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/98/269. Retrieved 25 February 2021. 
  15. ↑ "第４回ゲーメスト大賞" (in ja). Gamest 54 (February 1991): 6–24. December 27, 1990. https://archive.org/details/gamest0054/page/7.  alternate url
  16. ↑ "ACME: New Product Review". RePlay 15 (7): 50–70. April 1990. https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-14-issue-no.-7-april-1990-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2014%2C%20Issue%20No.%207%20-%20April%201990/page/50/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (371): 29. 1 January 1990. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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