R-Type II (World) - MAME machine

Arcade Video game published 35 years ago:

R•Type II © 1989 Irem.

The sequel to the hugely successful original finds the evil Bydo Empire once again intent on the destruction of all mankind in this sideways scrolling, six-level shoot-em-up.

The innovative weapons system of the original game - the 'Beam Weapon' and 'Force Pod' - make a welcome return and remain unchanged for the sequel.

The tight, demanding gameplay and high emphasis on correct usage of the weapons system also return - although the sequel is, if anything, even more demanding than its already unforgiving predecessor; with more durable enemies and trickier level design.

R•Type II features three new weapon shot types:

• Green - Search Laser - fires semi-homing lasers that can bend at 45° angles.
• Grey - Shotgun Laser - fires large shells that travel a short distance before exploding powerfully.
• Scatter Bomb - drops bombs to the ground; when these explode, the explosion scatters forwards along the ground. This is a supporting weapon that can be equipped instead of missiles.

In addition to the new weapons, R-type II's Beam Weapon has received an upgrade. As with the first game, holding down the fire button makes a power gauge fill up, releases the button then unleashes a powerful plasma shot. For the sequel, however, continuing to hold down the button causes the gauge to charge up further. This 'double-charged' gauge flashes blue and red and releases an even more powerful plasma burst.

TECHNICAL
Irem M-82 system hardware (Japanese version has M-84 written on the board).

Main CPU: V30 (@ 8 Mhz)
Sound CPU: Zilog Z80 (@ 3.579545 Mhz)
Sound Chips: Yamaha YM2151 (@ 3.579545 Mhz), DAC

Players: 2
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 2

TRIVIA
R•Type II was released in December 1989.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (R•Type II: G.S.M. Irem 2 - PCCB-00017) on January 21, 1990.

SERIES

• R•Type (1987, Arcade)
• R•Type II (1989, Arcade)
• R•Type Leo (1992, Arcade)
• R•Type III - The 3rd Lightning [Model SHVC-ER] (1994, Super Famicom)
• R•Type Delta [Model SLPS-01688] (1999, PlayStation)
• R•Type Final (2003, PS2)
• R•Type Tactics (2007, PSP)

PORTS

• CONSOLES:

[JP] Nintendo Super Famicom (jul.13, 1991) "Super R•Type [Model SHVC-SR]"
[US] Nintendo SNES (sept.1991) "Super R•Type [Model SNS-SR]"
[EU] Nintendo SNES (june.4, 1992) "Super R•Type [Model SNSP-SR]"
[US] [EU] Nintendo Game Boy (1992)
[JP] Nintendo Game Boy (dec.11, 1992) "R•Type II [Model DMG-RZA]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (feb.5, 1998) "R•Types [Model SLPS-01236]"
[EU] Sony PlayStation (sept.1998) "R•Types [Model SLES-01355]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (feb.28, 1999) "R•Types [Model SLUS-00753]"
Nintendo Game Boy Color [US] (june.1999) "R•Type DX [Model DMG-AWHE-USA]"
Nintendo Game Boy Color [EU] (jul.20, 1999) "R•Type DX [Model DMG-AWHP-EUR]"
Nintendo Game Boy Color [JP] (nov.1999) "R•Type DX [Model DMG-ARUJ-JPN]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (oct.25, 2001) "R•Types I-II [R's Best] [Model SLPS-03310]"
Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] [JP] (jan.29, 2008) [Model JBYJ] Super Famicom version
Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] [EU] (mar.14, 2008) [Model JBYP] SNES version
Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] [US] (mar.17, 2008) [Model JBYE] SNES version
Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] [KO] (aug.12, 2008) [Model JBYK] Super Comboy version

• COMPUTERS:

[EU] Commodore Amiga (1991)
[EU] Atari ST (1991)

CONTRIBUTE
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