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


Clones & Ports of Irem's R-Type



This article is concerned with computer-game clones and ports of Irem's R-Type coinop of 1987. 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 computer game machines. The clones and ports are presented chronologically.

R-Type Ports


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 (25 FPS). The R-Type soundtrack was converted by Chris Hülsbeck; R-Type coded by Holger Schmidt.


R-Type Weapons System:

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

R-Type Commodore 64 1989


Manfred Trenz ported Irem's R-Type coinop of 1987 to the Commodore 64 in 1989. Music by Chris Hülsbeck. Graphics by Andreas Escher.


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 R-Type conversion 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 the greatest port of all-time.


R-Type Clones


Katakis Commodore 64 1990


Manfred Trenz of Rainbow Arts developed Katakis for the C64 in 1990. Katakis on the C64 is the best R-Type clone out there. Music by Chris Hülsbeck. Graphics 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.


Katakis programmed by Holger Schmidt; audio by Chris Hülsbeck.

X-Out Amiga 1990


Rainbow Arts' X-Out (1990) is a port of the Commodore 64 original of 1989 by Arc Developments. X-Out features customizable armadas and ships. It also runs at 50 FPS while shifting 50 objects and displaying 48 on-screen colors over 160 screens of graphics.

Project Deep Star: The Ultimate Underwater War-Machine:


The ST/Amiga versions of X-Out were coded by Heiko Schröder; audio by Chris Hülsbeck.

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)

The original Commodore 64 X-Out, coded by Jörg Prenzing:


Z-Out Amiga 1990: Destroy Alpha Centauri


Z-Out (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. Supports 2-player coop and features 12 bosses.


Z-Out coded by Tobias Binsack and Uwe Bauer; audio 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

Ziriax Amiga 1990


An Amiga-exclusive developed by The Whiz Kids in 1990, the Gradius-like Ziriax runs at 50 FPS. Ziriax features extremely fast-moving sprites and sprite-cloaking. Only veterans with good reflexes need apply because Ziriax is the second-hardest shoot 'em up in this history's treatment range.


Ziriax bosses:


Ziriax coded by Peter Verswyvelen.

cf.


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