R-Type Tactics

Rising Star’s latest is set to prove retro never goes out of fashion, with a strategic twist on a well-loved gaming franchise. Jonathon Harker gets the enemy in his sights…

R-Type is one of those franchises that has staked a claim as a key series in the history of gaming. The 1980s side-scrolling shooter was massively successful in its own right, spawning a raft of sequels and new versions and influencing a host of future games.

While perhaps not quite as famous as Mario or Street Fighter, the classic brand has a fond place in the hearts of gamers and is considered a cult masterpiece in the shooter genre.

That nostalgia factor will play a significant part in the appeal of Rising Star’s PSP update of the definitive shooter, R-Type Tactics: “The R-Type franchise has a terrific fan base and although Tactics is a departure from the familiar gameplay associated with the brand, it is still an R-Type game,” Rising Star product marketing assistant Yen Hau tells MCV.

“Of course, for any fan of the series, playing the Bydo forces for the first time ever will be a major draw. The sense of nostalgia you get when you see the artwork and knowing you grew up with this series is immense and great fun to work on.”

Crucially, rather than rehashing the old concept for the umpteenth time, R-Type Tactics has moved the franchise into totally new territory – that of the ever-popular strategy genre.

“The most evident feature about R-Type Tactics is its move away from the standard side-scrolling shooter to an intense tactical experience. It is a big risk and could alienate fans expecting a familiar R-Type title,” confesses Hau. “But the tactical gameplay is the best fit to include the amount of ships, weaponry and upgrades on offer that would not normally be viable as a side-scroller. And, playing as the Bydo forces for the first time is a huge draw.”

With strategy now the name of the game, players get to upgrade and customise their fighters and employ tactics to win the battlefield. Captured enemy units can be cannibalised or integrated into the fleet, and with stunning graphics that take advantage of the PSPs power, R-Type is set to take the franchise into exciting new territory.

Rising Star’s has high expectations for the PSP exclusive. “Considering the size of the fanbase, we expect to see steady sales throughout the Christmas period and into the New Year,” says Yau.”

With a potentially winning combination of a well-loved franchise with a different style of gameplay, R-Type Tactics is on track to be another winning addition to the PSP canon.