The full alternative title of R-Type III, identical in content. A horizontal shmup peak on SFC to discover absolutely.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
Irem horizontal shoot-'em-up with the R-9 spacecraft and Forces, original Japanese version. Published by Irem, released in Japan in 1993. R-9 ships with attachable and detachable Force system, complex giant bosses and two distinct game modes. Original Japanese version of Irem's R-Type III masterpiece.
R-Type III - The Third Lightning review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Atmospheric and tense, Irem's music plunges the R-9 pilot into an oppressive science-fiction of rare intensity. Anxious electronic pads and nervy themes underline the permanent threat of the Bydo. This immersive sonic atmosphere, polished down to the detail, remains an unsung peak of the shooter on SNES.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Piloting a fighter flanked by its orbital Force pod, soaking up enemy waves and unleashing a devastating charge at the perfect moment: this horizontal shooter rewards patience and positioning. Three pods with distinct behaviours add an exhilarating tactical dimension. Demanding, methodical and gorgeous, a pillar of space shooting where every advance is earned and savoured.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
Lethal sceneries, enemies tucked into every nook and progress doled out drop by drop: this entry pushes the series' art of patience to the fore. Positioning your Force well, timing your charged shots and learning each tableau's layout govern survival. Stern but never arbitrary, it speaks to fans of methodical shmups ready to die in order to start over wiser.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
Compare prices
Loading eBay listings…
Alert active — budget
$
Collector interest
The Japanese Super Famicom version of Irem's R-Type III, Japan-exclusive under the 'The Third Lightning' subtitle. The Japanese cart sports an original cover and preserves a few technical differences from the European PAL version. Intact boxed CIB with cardboard sleeve and illustrated Irem manual is valued by completionist Irem Super Famicom collectors, and the cote climbs steadily, sustained by the coherence of the R-Type line on Super Famicom.
Memorable bosses
The final 16-bit chapter of the saga, this shooter revives biomechanical guardians of Giger-esque design, blending metal and writhing flesh into unsettling forms. The Force pod, now split into three variants, becomes the key to breaching sometimes colossal defenses. Demanding patterns, an organic mood and multi-phase bosses make it one of the peaks of the horizontal shooter on the console.
Is R-Type III - The Third Lightning still worth playing in 2026?
R-Type III is the only R-Type designed specifically for the SFC, namely a take that pushes the Force pod concept further by offering three selectable modules with different behaviors. The stages are dense, the biomechanical staging remains striking and the difficulty stays demanding but fair. The title rivals its arcade cousins without flinching and has long been a sought after cartridge. Recommended to fans of demanding horizontal shooting and to those curious about an R-Type built for Nintendo hardware.
