An R-Type and R-Type II compilation given color on GBC, with a demanding DX mode as a bonus. Tactical Force pod handling, tense urgency, timeless Bydo design. A demanding luminous shooter that holds up on the handheld.
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Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
The R-9 ship battles the Bydo in this GBC compilation gathering R-Type and R-Type II in colour with a new bonus difficulty. Published by Irem, released in Japan in July 1999. Complete R-Type and R-Type II in colourised versions, DX mode with bonus difficulty, the Force weapon to manage tactically. Game Boy compatibility.
Irem compilation bundling R-Type and R-Type II on a single GBC cartridge, with a Color mode added to both original arcade games. Desirability rests on the quality of the Bits Studios port, long regarded as one of the strongest horizontal shooter conversions on a handheld, and on the fact that this cartridge remains the only legitimate way to own both titles paired with their original color treatment.
Memorable bosses
A reissue of two horizontal-shooter classics, this port revives biomechanical guardians of Giger-esque design, starting with the monstrous, writhing-tentacled Dobkeratops. The Force pod, attached or launched, becomes the key to breaching their sometimes colossal defenses. An unsettling organic look and demanding patterns make these battles genre landmarks, faithfully preserved.
An underrated gem
Bringing R-Type and its sequel, colourised, to a handheld with a bonus mode thrown in was a minor technical miracle for the time. Caught between flashier hits, this demanding shooter reached only a circle of initiates. Fans of pixel-precise play and the cunningly wielded Force pod will find a top-tier compilation.
Is R-Type DX still worth playing in 2026?
R-Type DX remains a delightful technical oddity, namely two full R-Type games converted and colored on Game Boy Color, plus a DX mode offering a reworked run. The Force pod handling, the feeling of crushing and being crushed by the Bydo, it all comes through with surprising clarity despite the tiny resolution. The shoot up stays demanding as it should be, and offers a challenge that still speaks to players familiar with modern bullet hell. A priority pick for fans of horizontal shooters.
