R-Type Tactical Resurrection

The undefeatable Bydo will soon force humanity to fight new tactical strategy battles in space and goo-filled scenarios.

R-Type is being resurrected as a turn-based strategy game. We all thought the series was over with R-Type Final, but you can't keep such a classic series dead forever. R-Type Tactics looks like it takes the familiar 2-D side-scrolling perspective and adds a hexagonal grid on the field to handle movement. The game still uses the same weapons from the series, namely the requisite Force pod for added firepower. It will also feature many of the same enemies from previous games, including some familiar bosses. Expect some Wi-Fi multiplayer for those nights when you feel the need to tactically shoot a friend with an R9 space fighter.

The news of this intriguing shooter / strategy hybrid appeared in the latest issue of Japanese gaming mag Famitsu and a magazine scan was posted on The Next Level with some translation handled by IGN. R-Type Tactics is set to hit the Japanese PSP this year.

R-Type Final was called Final because it was meant to be the last game in the long-running R-Type series. It also pretty much proved to be one of the best shooters around. According to Famitsu, producer Kazuma Kujo still sees R-Type Final as the last actual shooter style game. R-Type Tactics is the new R-Type, which is true since turn-based strategy is way different than twitch shooter gameplay. Perhaps if Tactics proves to be popular, maybe Irem would produce a brand new, more traditional R-Type with super sexy PS3 or 360 visuals. It's doubtful as they would probably actually make a Tactics 2, but it seems like it could be a good start for the return of R-Type and the Bydo Empire.   

This may seem like a strange pairing of two entirely separate genres, but in a way, this has been done before; in Japan at least. Way back in 1993 Irem made an R-Type turn-based strategy game called Shuyaku Sentai Irem Fighter where movement and battles were handled with cards and dice for the original green and black Game Boy. So actually, the merging of these two very disparate games isn't completely new as some may think. Although, it is so, so nice to see R-Type back in action.

- Shawn - 05/23/07