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R-Type Clones and Ports (R-Type-likes)


Clones & Ports of Irem's R-Type



This article is concerned with clones and ports of Irem's R-Type coinop of 1987 that have appeared on Western home computer game machines.

The original coinop R-Type was designed by Abiko, programmed by Sum and Misachin, drawn by Akio Yoshige and composed by Masato Ishizaki and K.H.

R-Type-likes are defined by me as shoot 'em ups that feature a detachable orb-device and chargeable beam-wave cannon or equivalent. R-Type-likes can feature horizontal and/or vertical screen-scrolling.


The origin of R-Type is Konami's Scramble of 1981. There are scores of shooters that were heavily influenced by R-Type audio-visuals and its weapons system; so much so that one could reasonably say they are R-Type clones. However, most of those clones lack the detachable orb-weapon and/or chargeable super-weapon. Thus, I don't consider them true R-Type clones. That said, some of those sort-of clones stand as the best shoot 'em ups on Western computer-game machines; some of them are better than R-Type clones and ports; they are Salamander-likes.

R-Type charged beam-wave cannon: the player holds down a button, watches as the weapon charges up, and then releases the button to unleash a devastating bolt of firepower capable of taking out rows or columns of hostiles in one shot. During the charging phase, however, players are denied use of their conventional weapons system.


The article is only concerned with R-Type clones and ports that appeared on Western home computer game machines. The clones and ports are presented chronologically.

R-Type Ports


R-Type Commodore 64 1988


Electric Dreams ported Irem's R-Type coinop of 1987 to the Commodore 64 in 1988. C64 R-Type was programmed by Manfred Trenz, composed by Chris Hülsbeck and drawn by Andreas Escher.


R-Type Amiga 1989: R-9 Fighter vs. Bydo Empire


Factor 5 did a good job of converting Irem's R-Type coinop of 1987 to the Amiga in 1989. Amiga R-Type runs at 25 FPS. Amiga R-Type was programmed by Holger Schmidt and composed by Chris Hülsbeck.


R-Type Weapons System:

  • Beam-wave cannon (charges up)
  • Reflection Laser, Anti-aircraft Laser, Ground Laser, Homing Missiles
  • Extra Speed, Shield Orb

R-Type 2 Amiga 1991


Arc Developments faithfully ported Irem's R-Type 2 of 1989 to the Amiga in 1991.


R-Type 2 Weapons System:

  • Beam-wave cannon (charges up)
  • Air-to-ground Laser, Air-to-air Laser, Reflective Laser, Search Laser, Shot-gun Laser
  • Heat-seeking Missile, Air-to-ground Missile

Also based on R-Type 2, SNES Super R-Type of 1991 was infamous for its slowdown.


R-Type ZX Spectrum 1989


Bob Pape's 1989 conversion of R-Type on the ZX Spectrum is technically notable. And that is quite an understatement. First of all, no one thought the Speccy could host R-Type. Most would have said that it was impossible. And second of all, this R-Type port is one of the greatest ports of all-time.


R-Type Clones


Katakis Commodore 64 1988


Rainbow Arts released Katakis for the Commodore 64 in 1988. Katakis is the best R-Type clone ever made. Katakis was programmed by Manfred Trenz, composed by Chris Hülsbeck and drawn by Andreas Escher.


 

Katakis Amiga 1990


Katakis / Denaris by Factor 5 is a solid R-Type clone converted in 1990 to Amiga from the C64 original of 1988. This is the kind of shoot 'em up where you wipe out hard-as-hell waves, yet get no power-up. And that is not a criticism. Just don't expect power-ups to get thrown about like confetti.


Amiga Katakis was programmed by Holger Schmidt and composed by Chris Hülsbeck.

X-Out Commodore 64 1989


Rainbow Arts released X-Out for the Commodore 64 in 1989. C64 X-Out was programmed by Jörg Prenzing, drawn by Andreas Escher and composed by Michael Hendriks aka Fame.


X-Out Amiga 1990


Rainbow Arts' Amiga X-Out of 1990 is a port of the Commodore 64 original of 1989 by Arc Developments. Amiga X-Out features customizable armadas and ships and runs at 50 FPS while shifting 50 objects and displaying 48  colors. Amiga X-Out features 40 different aliens, 25 weapons and eight underwater levels 160 screens in length.

Project Deep Star: The Ultimate Underwater War-Machine:


ST/Amiga X-Out was level-designed by Holger Schmidt and programmed by Heiko Schröder and drawn by Celal Kandemiroglu. Amiga X-Out audio was composed by Chris Hülsbeck and ST X-Out audio was composed by Jürgen Piscol. 

X-Out Weapons System:

  • Three types of Missile & Jumpbomb
  • Electric Claw, Claw-arm, Flame-thrower
  • Drone, Drone-collector, Teuton Laser, Shield
  • Up to three Satellites (moving or stationary)

Z-Out Amiga 1990: Destroy Alpha Centauri


Z-Out of 1990 is an ST/Amiga-only sequel to X-Out. Z-Out only runs at 25 FPS but its vertical and horizontal parallax scrolling is still smooth. Z-Out supports 2-player coop and features 12 bosses.


ST/Amiga Z-Out was conceived by Advantec, programmed by Tobias Binsack and drawn by Matthias Hauser and Thomas Klinger. ST/Amiga Z-Out sound was assembled by Rudolf Stember and ST/Amiga Z-Out title music was composed by Chris Hülsbeck.

Z-Out Weapons System:

  • Beam Shot, Drones, Satellites
  • Bouncing Flames, Double-shot, Triple-shot
  • Fusion Bomb / Centrifugal Supercharger
  • Flame-thrower, Streaker
  • Blue-Scythe Satellite Rotation, Creep Bomb

cf.


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