R-Type Final 2 | PS4 Review (ver 2.0)

NISA's kickstarted entry into the R-Type universe is a bold, beautiful, and brutal experience. Heightened by gorgeous graphics, a symphonic soundtrack, and decent customization options it gives the gamer, and backers their money's worth and then some. Offering little introduction beyond the cliche human fight for survival against an invasive alien menace R-Type Final 2 rockets the player right into the midst of an intergalactic war filled with organic, and metallic monstrosities known as Bydo. Piloting a special trans-dimensional ship with signature support features, and weapons the player must meet the aliens on their outer space battlefields in a several stage encounter that will not only test the most skilled among them, but do so in a one and done fashion. Meaning that death comes swiftly, and a single bullet or hazard can end a clean run, easily. 

Within R-Type Final 2 you'll find a couple of different gameplay options. You'll find the main campaign playthrough, and a Score Attack mode that unlocks after your initial playthrough. The campaign, itself, is upwards of 13 stages long including DLC content which branches off early on in stage four via the choice of four different path inclusive colored orbs. Ultimately with each stage within the stage paths ending in a boss fight after several waves of Bydo enemy encounters. Escalating further in the end-game as you repeat playthroughs with stronger ships at increasingly challenging difficulty tiers. These difficulties including Practice, Kid, Normal, Bydo, and R-Typer. 

The Gameplay Loop ...

As you kill the waves before you in each stage power-ups will be dropped occasionally which will enhance your primary, and secondary weapon types. Sometimes altering them depending on the position of your FORCE. The FORCE being a weaponized orb that can be positioned away from the ship at the front and back for differing shot types, or attached front or rear for an additional two other shot type variations. The FORCE also doubles as an absorbing shield that can absorb bullet hell and destroy enemy Bydo upon contact. Using this alternative option plays into the DOSE meter which builds up while your FORCE is absorbing damage. Completely fill up that meter, and you can press "TRIANGLE" to unleash the ship's special attack. Making it a crucial tool in the eradication of Bydo threats, and score acquisition. Utilizing the DOSE mechanics increases score, and in doing so also increases the acquired rewards at the end of a run. It should be noted that in R-Type Final 2 death is dealt in a single shot taken or via collision with the enemy. Making the challenges at hand challenging. Thankfully you do have a number of lives, and the option to continue upon a GAME OVER.

Progression is the key to success in R-Type Final 2, and that success comes easier if you keep your ship upgraded. The Armament power-ups you collect along the way in each stage do carry over, but are lost to some degree upon death depending on the difficulty setting chosen beforehand. So, it is imperative to maintain your flawless momentum if you want to see your way through a complete playthrough. When it comes down to base ship type you'll be piloting it should be noted that there are three visually different base varieties to begin with, and that each one can be customized cosmetically as well as functionally. The ship's cosmetic customization, for example, allows for part placed decals, and ship part color change. Beyond that you can also change your pilots helmet, and suit colors as well as update a player profile to include your current ranking, unlocked titles, and badges for various in-game feats as well as a textual message. 

By playing through the campaign repeatedly you'll earn 'R currency' which can be spent on additional customization parts, pilot suits/helmets, and crafting materials. This currency comes from expertly executed combo counts, and overall playthrough efficiency. That along with amounts of the three crafting materials that include Solonium, Bydosium, and Etherium as bonus rewards for progress and prowess. With these materials you can craft newer models of ships in the "R Museum" menu. Unlocking them with the newly crafted ship's unique primary shots, BITS satellites, and secondary bombs. You have to first beat a certain amount of stages to unlock each of the branching ship variation crafting slots though, or either bypass it with a secret password. 

In the Beginning ...

Initially when starting the game you will be prompted to enter your pilot's name, select their gender (male/female), and a birthday. Afterwards you'll be able to choose between one of three initially available ships, and customize them using initially unlocked decals, and color palettes. The customization process is similar to previous Call of Duty games customization in that it gives you a certain number of squares to apply added decals, and the ability to target specific ship parts with those decals. Swapping the order or priority of features will effectively change the layer on which they appear. It's nothing grand in scale, but does allow the gamer to also rotate, and resize things to give it a more personal touch.

The Seven Deadly ... Stages ...

Stages in R-Type Final 2 are your standard side-scrolling shmup affair. You travel from side to side, and up and down as the background pushes you along the beaten path. Having you dodge various threats while simultaneously shooting them down. The difference in this genre specific formula being R-Type's signature FORCE/DOSE system in which an accompanying orb acts as a weaponized extension that can assist in destroying threats that are both in front, and behind your ship. Also as the previously mentioned absorbing alternative for added score and special weapon usage. Weapons at your disposal differ between ship type, and include things like homing missiles, dropped bombs, lasers, spread shots, and shotgun blasts. Among other things. Of course these are made more powerful by the Armament power-ups that are left behind from enemy debris. Each color coded with a varying weapon effect. Additionally you can gain orbiting satellites called BITS for extra shielding/damage output. BITS can be changed at the startup menu along side the missile/bomb type. Retrospectively the collected Armament power-ups act in increasing your damage output, and changing the shot type entirely from it's base form. There's even a powerful charged shot that works off of a BEAM meter which strengthens the the shot the longer the SQUARE button is held down before release. That as well as a more standard auto-fire shot variation that can be rapidly fired if you press/hold R2 or CIRCLE. You can also speed up, and slow down the ship if need be via the left two shoulder buttons.

The Extras ...

Outside of the main mode of play lies a Score Attack mode in which automatically saved playthroughs can be revisited, and challenged. Giving you a chance to best a previous collective save file score. I did notice that in a Score attack playthrough you do get starter upgrades making it easier to finish a stage. I also noticed that as you beat score milestones pop-ups will appear showing the differences in scoring and timing. Score is collected in each mode, and is tallied for your in-game stats, and ranking. When it comes to extras beyond the main modes of play the game is chock full of them. Including a screenshot/art gallery, an R Museum which offers crafting as well as shows details on the various 99 ship types, and a Bydo bestiary which details things about the enemies you face such as their HP star rating, numbers killed, and environmental type. Giving the gamer something extra to delve into outside of the gameplay loop. It is also through the offered gallery that you can use art stills, and images as starting screen, and loading screen themes. Furthering the game's list of customization options

The Verdict ...

This entry into the R-Type series visually, and audibly enhances the game experience like never before while keeping true to it's root features. Only changing things enough to give it a Triple A cinematic flair, and customization options not usually associated with the genre or series this game hails from. Personally, I was impressed by a lot of it, and once I gained a proper understanding of the mechanics through the game's "R Manual" I really fell in love with it. My highlights being creating a Beetlejuice themed ship, a Pride ship, and a Gaming Inferno ship. All in all I think the game earns some respect for holding true to core values while properly innovating. It is quite possibly the best R-Type game out there! It gets the go ahead by yours truly, a longtime fan of shmups!