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Publisher Rising Star is preparing to tap into the retro market when it sends its revamp of the classic R-Type into retail next month on PSP.
Based on the title originally released in the early ‘90s, R-Type Tactics will hit retail shelves on September 12th, and Rising Star hopes the nostalgia effect will see the game shift plenty of units come release.
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’s product marketing assistant Yen Hau told MCV. Of course, for any fan of the series, playing the Bydo forces for the first time ever will be a major draw.”
In my opinion there are three titles in the early ‘90s that really defined video gaming – Mario, Street Fighter and R-Type. Working on R-Type Tactics is like working with a childhood hero,” Hau added.
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. Considering the size of the fan base, we expect to see steady sales throughout the Christmas period and into the New Year.”
But Rising Star confessed that the switch to a different type of gameplay for the title was a potentially risky move:
The most evident feature about R-Type Tactics is its move away from the standard side-scrolling shooter to an intense tactical experience,” continued Hau.
It is a big risk and could alienate fans expecting a familiar R-Type title, but the tactical gameplay is ideal for the amount of ships, weaponry and upgrades on offer that would not normally be possible in traditional R-Type games.”
