Which SNES R-Type Games Are Worth Playing Today? - SNESdrunk

Super R-Type not so much, but R-Type III...
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[@Dnasaur1]

The stage select in super r-type helps with trying to finish the game, here's how to acces it: On the title screen, Hold R and press Up 9 times, you'll here a confirmation jingle. At any time you can now pause during gameplay and press R, L, A and select at the same time. In the lower left corner you'll see what stage you're selecting, press start to enter that level.

[@godvandamme9921]

I remember that from when I was a wee lad

[@sharpester7277]

The stage select in the Japanese Version of R-Type 3 is accessible by pressing R 10 times than tap the L button a certain amount of times at the game over screen, the amount of times the L button is pressed determines which level is selected then press A to skip to the level selected.

[@Sockmonkey5600]

I’ve had this game since I was a kid and never knew this Thanks

[@eightcoins4401]

Especially since it lets you skip the mindnumbingly boring first stage. Bold of them to put the worst stage in the whole game series as the first stage.

[@TravisHansenForPresident]

You're officially my authority on SNES games. I love what you do. Seems I'm a bit late (no pun intended) but SNES games are a huge bonding thing for me and my son. Thanks for being awesome.

[@SNESdrunk]

Thanks for watching Travis

[@RM2011ish]

I'm a shump/R-Type nut and I love both Super and III. And the thing hanging in front of your ship is the Force Pod.

[@McD_James]

R-Type 3 is just incredible.

[@mcgibs]

That little intro with your ship's power plant and then the first level music was pretty epic.

[@johnnihil1689]

Yes it is. Hard as hell, though.

[@NevermindThee]

btw. they are developing R-Rype: Final 2 right now.

[@tyronfoston7123]

Four years later and I find one of the most truthful statements on the internet

[@krissymarklewis1793]

I could beat Super R-Type with save states but found R-Type 3 impossible...think I only made the 2nd or third level.

[@jiml.9026]

Super R-Type is such a fun game! And you are missing a lot of the features that you use to play this game. I played it just as much as Zelda, Super Mario World and Metroid.

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

Super R-Type was rushed and lost alot of shit it shouldve had from the Arcade version. Still ok for a rush job.

[@PS-vk6bn]

I love Super R-Type and R-Type III! 👍

[@flettron]

I recently discovered your work dude. Top notch reviews that are not only useful and insightful, but ACTUAL reviews. Too many KZbinrs' "reviews" end up being recounts, which are totally less good. My favourite part of this one was where you say "Any S.N.E.S. game" which when I first heard it, I thought you said "NES NES.". 😂 Anyway, keep up the good work!

[@kevinconley5076]

I really dig this channel. it says alot of things nobody else talks about involving the SNES library. I was just about to write off the R-type series altogether cuz of Super R-Type.

[@SNESdrunk]

+Kevin Conley Thanks Kevin

[@quadpad_music]

The first one is great too.

[@Isoquant]

Just wanted to offer a contrasting opinion: Super R-Type is my favorite shooter of the 16-bit era. Its combination of graphics, art design, sound effects, score and atmosphere is unmatched in its day. The slowdown in no way hinders the gameplay (helps actually). I may be alone in this, but I'd recommend the game without reservation. Thanks for another great video!

[@shajamaru1421]

Contrasting opinion: That's the intire R-Type series :P

[@vjspectron]

The lack of checkpoints is interesting: the downside is obvious, but the upside is that you don't get into those Gradius-type situations where your momentum suddenly drops out the moment you die and you're stuck without enough power-ups!

[@eightcoins4401]

It does actually hinder it, but not like youd think. The problem isnt the slowdown, but the game randomly accelerating to full speed again.

[@eightcoins4401]

@@vjspectron Its honestly not a big deal since stages in super are very short and not really substantial anyways.

[@CyrusBluebird]

R-Type for the PC-engine in Japan was also a weird release, it was half the game since the HuCard couldn't store the entire game when it launched. So the following game was from level 5 onward and you needed a password from the first release to get the power-ups to enjoy the game. This was fixed with the western release where it was fully released on 1 HuCard and later a PC -engine CD release in Japan. It's more or less the arcade version so enjoy the Irem difficulty.

[@luciousthomas6141]

Only the third one is still worth playing. If you can get a hold of them I suggest playing the arcade versions of 1 and 2.

[@eightcoins4401]

If you ever played R-Type II arcade super r-type becomes unplayable.

[@luciousthomas6141]

@@eightcoins4401 Well now with SA-1 support Super R-Type is playable.

[@AlkQubit]

Your reviews are a priceless resource for building playable libraries, thank you!

[@chaser5616]

I thought shoot em uo genre are your favorite, looks like i am wrong

[@trisonicbrandtech]

You should do an episode on caveman style platformers for the snes, as their were a ton of them. Just to name some: Prehistorik Man Flintstones: Treasure of the Sierra Madrock Radical Rex Joe and Mac 1 and 2 Chuck Rock etc

[@SNESdrunk]

+Matt Merrill Interesting idea. There's also Super Bonk 1 and 2. Thanks!

[@trisonicbrandtech]

+SNES drunk and also Congos Caper, Super Adventure Island 1 and 2, the list goes on lol

[@NYCHeavyHitz212]

Congos Caper immediately came to mind. That was a pretty cool game.

[@curbydinobot8633]

Super adventure island had great visuals and sountrack

[@demondton96]

Welp, super R-TYPE just got added to nintendo switch online, so maybe it'll be a little better with rewind and save states

[@marcianoacuerda]

Super R-type can be considered difficult because it does not depend on your reflexes but on your memorization skills. Every enemy pattern, bullet shot and background shift is kind of scripted. So if you're not into that, you better skip it for some aerofigthers or super aleste. And even if it looks random, slowdown can be used to your advantage especially when having the lasers, because if surrounded spamming the blue lasers will slowdown the damn Snes. Thanks to this, R-type was the first SNES schmup I 1cc'd. I don't know what's wrong with me but I really enjoy games that ask you to play die rinse and repeat.

[@craiganderson7085]

I loved R-Type 3, but back in the day when I first got Super R-Type I just hated it! I remember when it came out Ed Semrad (if you remember him? lol) from EGM said the slow down took so much away from a great looking early Snes title. These days I have MAME, so I just play the arcade version of R-Type II which is much better. Oh and check out R-Type Leo if you haven't. It's great :)

[@samuelbeagle8200]

I remember having the Super R-Type cart (think I picked it up used somewhere), although I don't have strong memories of playing this game. I'm sure it was something I'd throw in from time to time, get immediately frustrated at the lack of checkpoints, and then stop playing at the first game over screen. The consensus seems to be that R-Type III is the better game. I have both on my SNES Classic.

[@Amberleen_the_Light_Eevee]

Super Nintendo was well know to have CD-style music soundtrack that sounds like real music.

[@eightcoins4401]

It doesn't in Super R-Type though.

[@TheRealJPhillips]

good old classic IREM with their signature Grey and Beige graphics. lol

[@aaronlaluzerne6639]

Well to be fair, you were playing it horribly and terribly.

[@thejokerstyle100]

Very cool series and the cat (dog) doing them is informative and interesting. I have added a lot of games to my snes classic because of this channel

[@DmSayr]

I could almost visualize SNESDRUNK doing this review whilst sitting at a bar playing video strip poker drinking with some loaded nachos off to the side.

[@TortureVisionTV]

You've got to love that classic Nintendo slow-down. Sometimes it's not so bad, but other times it leaves you questioning how the game passed through the quality control department.

[@evicteetori8738]

TortureVision i actually like the slowdown in some cases. Makes the scene more dramatic

[@eightcoins4401]

Even better. Super R-Type already runs too slow when the game is running as intended. its like youre flying through a school zone if you compare the shared levels to the originals in R-Type II.

[@TheGameGrinder]

I've played the crap out of Super R-Type, but never played the 3rd one. I'll try to snag a copy if I see it hunting.

[@BigmanJesusECDJ]

Good luck with that, R-type 3 is super expensive nowadays

[@TheGameGrinder]

@@BigmanJesusECDJ Go figure right? Retro prices are stupid right now on top of being stupid pre-pandemic.

[@SleepyTom2165]

The SFC version is in English, it's uncensored, and it's way cheaper.

[@TheCrewExpendable]

The biggest problem with the slowdown is how suddenly it comes and goes. Makes it real easy to crash in to something when the game speeds back up

[@MR7604]

Its worth trying the msu version if this game. The cd quality musics make this game a completely different game. Ypu feel like playing a super nintendo cd game.

[@gjtrue]

To think I actually beat this as a kid. All R-Type games are hard, but Super R-Type is for the wrong reasons. Trail and error (and patience...) helped be through this game!

[@jaredhammonds8255]

Before I watch the video, I will answer the question. All of them!

[@TwoHorndUnicorn]

I have never played R-Type 3, but super R-Type is to this day my favorite snes game

[@WalrusFPGA]

do yourself a favor a try vitor's SA-1 patch for the game then! It removes all slowdown and makes it a much more arcade-like experience.

[@JLaRoc7]

And to think that journalists whine about "Metroid Dread" being "too hard". Imagine playing these games back in the day with no unlimited continues, zero save points, a lack of rewind option and, in the case of "Super R-Type", no checkpoints. They'd hurdle their controllers through the TV and then throw the TV out of the window.

[@eightcoins4401]

Literally only a single person complained Metroid Dread is too hard. And that was a game director/producer and not a game journalist.

[@jhonviel7381]

snesdrunk what have you been playing? its been 6 months and you are on a roll with all these super reviews anyway. Now i really want to see your letsplay super R-Type ;D

[@purplehaze2342]

There's only 2

[@sp3ctor20]

The biggest flaw with R-Type 3 is the price... :(

[@theconsolekiller7113]

Rtype 3 was the one I owned, while my friend owned Super Rtype. I messed around with Super Rtype a little but never got into it. Loved Rtype 3 and completed it. The second round is pretty brutal, after completing the first loop. Would like to return to the game and try that again.

[@benmurphy9735]

i think u talk too fast. its a legend of a game and i dont think u really appreciate it for what it is. it is nothin like ghouls and ghosts. good luke dude thank u u r a legend

[@eightcoins4401]

To be fair, *Super* R-Type certainly isnt. Slowdown and also running way too slow for a r-type game when the fps work like intended.

[@Petrafiei]

SA-1 turns Super R-Type in a Top 5 snes shmup. Give it a try!!

[@eightcoins4401]

It doesnt slowdown anymore with the mod but its still running too slow when running as intended.

[@antoniokralj842]

I lovee these to death,i cant decide which is best arcade version of R-2 or R-3...

[@BlueHasia]

when you are 10 years old and this is your only space shooter game. as they say with Dark Souls. Git Gud. I loved this game as a kid :)

[@BrendonMelling]

It annoys me how expensive R-type 3 is. As a CIB collector this thing is a fortune.

[@peterhalliday6492]

And now thanks to rewind on switch online r type 2 has become way more enjoyable

[@eightcoins4401]

R-Type II isnt on there. Only super r-type. Super R Type only takes half the levels and also runs way slower than 2. Alot of the levels also are changed.

[@thesevenstarcreativeoutlet4300]

HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! Fuckin’ NINNY...!!! (Don’t be “frightened” by the “tough talk”. There were plenty of hard times had by this guy & R-Type games...) FIGHT! WIN!

[@stenpod9368]

thanks for clearing up what you don't like about super r-type. i've been watching a lot of your videos, but i however owned super r-type, so i'm biased to like it.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Who's the shmuck who didn't put a back door in this place?!?

[@TheFLOMAN76]

I still own this cartridge for my old SNES. It's a damn brutal game. Never did finish it.

[@rileymcphee9429]

- Sequels are never as good as the original. - R-Type 3: Hold my beer

[@darthmix]

First to admit I am not the biggest shmup player but R-Type III is probably my favorite of the genre.

[@nathanvinson7639]

Nice review. I don't agree but we are all individuals. Still well put togethe, you do good work.

[@benmurphy9735]

haha nice 1 luke

[@usedx115x]

Does anyone know why R-type 3 uses the same sound effects as spiderman?

[@digitalworms]

If you play with emulators and over clock super r type its actually a very strong game with no slow down! Also some may disagree with me but starting over is the best option when you die because being fully upgraded makes a difference to going in with just a peashooter! R type 3 is amazing

[@eightcoins4401]

Overclocking sadly only removes some of the slowdown. The base game when running as intended is still too slow.

[@CaptainxCSNx]

I love r type snes but the one on ps2 was fucking amazing

[@krissymarklewis1793]

I've just beat Super R-Type it using the odd save state on the bosses. It really takes a dive in quality halfway through and the opening level is crappy. I think it only takes 2 or 3 levels from R-Type 1 (the first stage certainly isn't there) and there is one a bit like the 2nd level but a stripped-down version of it. The level with the huge ship is there and is bigger but that's it. Managed to somehow kill the final boss just by shooting the force pod into it and it died within 10 seconds. I'd say without the slowdown this game would be broken. I think the Amiga and PC Engine versions were better.

[@yuvraj01]

One thing is for sure - R-Type is no Thunderforce!!

[@kryptokrypto702]

Whenever I wanted a good sweaty upper body work out, R Type was my jam. Any of the R type games require intense focus and twitch nerves. Good game franchise.

[@theunmobablespes6582]

Which shmup would you recommend SNES drunk considering difficulty and availability ?

[@666jamie666]

To anyone that says the snes was lacking in shooters show them R-Type 3 and prepare to be amazed!! What a absolutely phonenamal entry into the series. Incredible level design, some of the best music ever to grace a 16 bit shooter and one of the best looking games on the console that uses all the Super Nintendo's graphical tricks. A timeless classic 👌

[@mamertospower4898]

I don't like R-Type 3. It does not feel like a shooter game. You are only dodging things constantly and, meanwhile, you hold down the shoot button to kill enemies unintentionally.

[@Wolfdragon92584]

I think that Super R-Type would have been great with some finetuning. The slowdown doesn't bother me, as it was developed early in the SNES's lifespan. They should have included a checkpoint system. The music was great.

[@DmSayr]

WEIRD! Super R-Type was the only R-Type I really finished. I thought all R-Types were as such....

[@winterwolf2164]

I actually enjoyed Super much more than 3. Don’t know what that says about me…

[@eightcoins4401]

I can imagine III being way harder being a turn off for some people. Its probably the hardest game in the whole series.

[@jeffreyposs751]

Never did beat the first Super R-Type. My dad (who isn't a big gamer) managed to beat it twice!

[@jamergamer0076]

I LOVE SUPER R TYPE!!! THE MUSIC IS AWESOME!!!

[@mikef8846]

It's fun if you play on an emulator, and take advantage of save states.

[@dersandy]

Imo Gradius's Slowdown is just as bad!

[@eightcoins4401]

Gradius I isnt as bad. Gradius III SNES is the version with the most slowdown issues. Also id argue its even worse than Super at that.

[@guspaz]

I've only got Super R-Type, and boy is it frustrating when you have to start over every time you die. But R-Type III is rather pricey, at $110...

[@bradcarey3078]

+Adam Zey I bought the Super Famicom version for like $25 last year. Super Famicom game boards and SNES game boards are the exact same, its only the shell that is different. So I got a crappy $1 sports game, and just opened both up and swapped the boards. It plays perfectly, has English text, was super cheap, and I didn't even waste the sports game because I am keeping it in the R-Type game shell in my closet.

[@TheGemHead]

Good video; I might just check these shmups out. On an unrelated subject, what's your opinion on emulators?

[@MercenaryTau]

4:45 lol this is exactly how I explain what it's like to train Capoeira.

[@johnstanley1681]

This guys not a gradius fan.

[@abimaelochoa160]

Love this game and the first one presented a decent challenge for early gamers

[@Phalanxter]

The "pod" is called "Force"

[@Peter_1986]

I discovered "Super R-Type" six days ago and I immediately started on Hard. xD I can make it to the boss of the third stage, and I might beat him next time.

[@lankymaccrazyhair264]

THe pod thingy is called the Force. Taht is all.

[@ZombiAstral]

This game ....This fucking game. R-Type 3... Quit by level 2

[@Londonlink]

That ship with the pod part reminds me of the ds mii space shooter

[@subtlewookiee]

Oh wow R-Type III sounds great, let me just check Ebay and get a copy! *check Ebay prices* Oh....

[@eightcoins4401]

It came out at the very end of the snes' lifespan. So not many people bought it back then. Resulting in high demand but low suply in modern times.

[@sarahtheflor8143]

Love every video ❤

[@anthonydunlap5527]

Super R type has the dest music and sound.

[@joerecoveryjoerecovery5781]

I defy anyone to beat the android port of super r-type.

[@gunbuckybucketman4578]

This game has a very creative mechanics.

[@sebs2306live2]

Great review man !! I Subbed you !

[@JasonVoorhees10100]

Just got r type 3 by luck :)

[@stevewik2280]

Um, both of them? :P

[@TheGunmanChannel]

I never got into Shmups either.

[@Wheels8504]

Is R-Type III a 2 player game?

[@eightcoins4401]

Every R-Type except for Super acually allows 2 player. Even the spin off X-Multiply.

[@Wheels8504]

@@eightcoins4401 Thank you

[@dariohc6898]

Everything looks ugly AF in those games

[@nichttuntun3364]

It's just sprites. There isn't anything like "ugly" in them. But it seems to be in your mind.

[@eightcoins4401]

To be fair, Super R-Type is noticable ugly and brownish/grayish looking even for the time. Otherwise its intentional art direction. R-Type is set in a dystopian universe where humanity lost to a race of aliens that can absorb and spawn inorganic materials like metals and technology (the bydo). By the start of the first game half of the defense force already got absorbed into the bydo. The bydo are basically like a mix of womb world, hive mind and spaceship fleet.

[@YaFunklord]

Ehh.. Weirdo? Super R-Type is one of the easiest shoot em ups I've played. I used to finish it every time for relaxation. You don't need checkpoints because you never die. R-Type 3, OTOH, is very hard.

[@eightcoins4401]

You might have played on an emulator. What ends up killing you in super most of the time is the game going into slowdown and then randomly accelerating again.

[@Momoka7]

That "pod" ...lol. If you had checked out R-Type Delta on PSX, you would have read its a "Force" ... ;p

[@zackdufois]

then what is your favourite genre?

[@SNESdrunk]

+zackdufois I've had the most fun with JRPGs

[@SageOwl]

+SNES drunk Good man.

[@craiganderson7085]

+SNES drunk I grew up to the snes but have never played an JRPG. Are they difficult for a noob to get into? Thanks dude.

[@zackdufois]

+Craig Anderson no they aren't, Try Chrono Trigger first!

[@SNESdrunk]

+Craig Anderson If you're BRAND-brand new to the genre, start with something easy like Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Then try stuff like Chrono Trigger or Lufia 2

[@krissymarklewis1793]

Super R Type was a big letdown, the 4 new levers are crap and are not worthy of the name...It's just a slow difficult port of R Type 2. R Type 3 I loved though but could never get past the 2nd stage spider boss thing.

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

First system with decent Colors for less than $1000. The SNES will always be great for that reason.

[@eightcoins4401]

Counterpoint: Turbografx16/PC Engine and Genesis. Former predates the NES by alot of years, latter by a few. Though former they screwed up alot for its western release. Though the Tx16 got the best homeport of R-Type I for the time, being as close to arcade as possible in graphics and gameplay, just not music.

[@satangirl279]

The suk about r type is no respawn after death

[@reinforcedpenisstem]

Rtype has always been dishonest about its genre. It's not a shooter, it's an endurance game.

[@eightcoins4401]

It is a shmup by design, its just more built around stage hazards than enemies.

[@RealXXXTurkey]

Horrible review. Fair challenge on R-Type III??? Yeah, like that part at 5:34 where you have to memorize which ways the Lava Beams go to dodge them? And every time you die, you go back to a check point which is really far away? And how can you complain on "slow moving backgrounds" in Super R-Type? They move way slower in R-Type III in Stage 3 and 4, but you don't complain there, do you? You complain about the lack of checkpoints in Super R-Type, although starting at the beginning of a Stage allows you to power up for the latter, more difficult half of the stage and the boss. This is not possible in R-Type III. And how long does it take to complete a stage in Super R-Type? Around 4 minutes. So if you die, you lose up to 4 minutes progress at maximum right? Now how far are the checkpoints stretched out in R-Type III? You guessed it: About 4 minutes. If you die in R-Type III, you lose about the same amount of time as you do in Super R-Type due to the very slow scrolling. Not to mention, in R-Type III, there are many parts, particularly in stage 4, where there is just nothing happening. You are flying around for 15 seconds, no enemies, no walls ahead. It's just a waste of time, many empty sections that have to be redone over and over again everytime you die and go back. Graphics and sound are also better on Super R-Type, as they are just way too soft on R-Type III, but that is not so important. Super R-Type is the game which has more action and is much more fair than R-Type III.

[@eightcoins4401]

When I played super it didnt feel fair tbh. Most of my deaths in III were "crap i didnt memorize that part yet". Most of my deaths in Super everytime i attempt to play it came from the game slowing down and then randomly accelerating again. Also Super to me is even more of a patience test than III. Super is the slowest R-Type game to this day. Even when it runs as intended, it feels like its half the speed of R-Type II, which it was based on. III isnt really running any faster but conveys the illusion of speed atleast. Half of the "new"/original super bosses are also just slight rehashes of r-type I bosses. The boss in stage 3 is just a slightly different version of Gomander. The boss in the junkyard stage is just a slightly different version of the Bydo Compiler. You could even argue that the stage 4 boss is just a slightly changed version of Bronco. I also kinda dislike how desaturated the stages from II are in Super compared to the original, though considering bland desaturated graphics III has the same issue.