R-Type II

R-Type II is the sequel to the original R-Type and is a side-scrolling arcade shooter developed and published by Irem in 1989 in arcades only. It soon made its way onto multiple platforms including Amiga, Atari ST, Gameboy, and even iOS.

R-Type II, as the sequel to the original R-Type, takes all of the things that made the first one appreciated and expands upon it. Improved graphics, an upgraded ship with upgraded weapons, as well as the addition of a few new weapons, including one to take care of those pesky enemies that can pop up from below.

The gameplay is shooter based, and you must pilot your ship through a massive slew of various enemies, killing them as you go. Several power-ups can be dropped by enemies to do things like make your ship faster or add additional weaponry, among other things. Enemies include everything from robots, aliens, and turrets to monsters and other ships. The environments are vastly different, and each boss is unique in appearance as well as in the strategy required to take them out.

R-Type II had a very successful release, and it still stands the test of time in terms of gameplay and even graphics. I gotta admit, I was a little late to the game on the R-Type franchise, but they are two of my favorite games that I still play even now. They are fast-paced and challenging, requiring you to fly and shoot with precision. If you are a fan of shooters, you cannot pass this one up.