R-Type

Overview

 
R-Type is a classic side scrolling shoot-em up game produced by Irem Corp. The game was first released to Japanese arcades in July 1987.  The player controls a spacecraft and is tasked with defending humanity against the alien life forms known as Bydo.  R-Type is infamously known for its extreme difficulty.
  
Description for the game from the Irem Corp. official website:  

Enter the Bydo Empire; a world where hatred and slaughter are the norm. Here, grotesque creatures that strike fear into the center of our souls, subsist and wait. Now, a very transcendental battle is about to begin as we seek to mercilessly destroy these monsters. 

Gameplay

Set in the 22nd century, the game takes place in the Bydo Empire.  The player must make their way through the 8 merciless levels and defend mankind from the evil attackers. 
  

Bydo

 
The Bydo are biologically engineered weapons created by mankind to be used against their enemies in their quest for universal domination.  This plan backfired however and the Bydo began to attack their creators.   
  

The Ship 

 
The player pilots a ship called the R-9a "Arrowhead".  The ship is named for its distinctive shape and is the 9th model of the R series of star fighter.  
  
 
 

The Force

 
The R-9a "Arrowhead" can be  equipped with an indestructible living weapon called "The Force".  The force, a spherical pod that can be attached to the ship, is made of Bydo flesh and can absorb energy in order to increase in power.  To obtain the force, the player must obtain a weapon power up.   The force will appear behind the players ship and they can obtain the force by flying into it. 
 
The force acts as the ships weapon system and will fire in the whatever direction it is facing.  The force also acts as a shield and can be used to block incoming enemy attacks.  
 
The force has three levels of power. Collecting weapon power ups increases the power level of the force. The forces visual appearance changes as it increases in power.
 

• Red - A powerful counter-air laser beam that fires horizontally.
• Blue - Three thin laser beams. One forward firing and two that fire at a 45 degree angle from the front of the ship    These beams rebound off walls.
• Yellow - Two flame beams that fire above and below the ship.  These flames can travel along the ground or walls to destroy enemies.

 
The force can be controlled by the user by using the force button.   By pressing the force button, the user can attach the force to the front or the rear of the ship.  They can also propel the force forward to execute an attack called the "force ram". 
 

Wave Cannon  

 
The R9-a is equipped with a beam weapon called the wave cannon.  Holding the fire button will charge up the wave cannon and increase its power.