Overview – developed by Granzella and published by NIS America, R-Type Final 3 Evolved is an expanded of the previous release, including brand new stages and features unique to this. This release maintains all of the content featured in R-Type Final 2, with this new version of the game acting as an upgrade to the former. This release is exclusive to the PlayStation 5 system, with a link to the game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank NIS America for providing the copy of R-Type Final 3 Evolved that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the Introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment for this coverage as there is no significant plot to discuss for this release, so I will be going straight into gameplay. Please note, as this is an expanded/upgraded version of a release I have previously covered, I will be repeating some information that can already be found (HERE).
Gameplay – like the previous release, R-Type Final 3 is a side scrolling shooter where players must fight the alien Bydo, battling enemies across the different environments. The main stages from R-Type Final 2 and 3 are split into courses (with DLC packs as their own thing), where players will challenge the stages in a linear fashion. There are 7 new stages added for the Final 3 course, with all returning stages (and variants) making up the Final 2 course.
Like the previous release, the player gets to create their player profile when starting the game for the first time, adding their pilot name and other basic details. Before jumping into the game proper, the player can select a ship to use, with 3 unlocked at the start and additional ships that can be obtained as DLC. When selecting a course to challenge, the player can choose from the five difficulties, offering a setting for players of all skill levels.
The stages of the game follow a fairly standard formula, with the player moving through the environments, battling the enemies that appear. There are also environmental hazards that players must be wary of, as contact with the environment or enemies in general will destroy the player ship, restarting at the closest checkpoint. At the end of each stage, there will be tense boss battles for the player to take on, taking place in enclosed arenas.
The fast paced nature of the series is still present in the new content, with new enemies that include electrified water bears, mutant penguins and giant amoebas. The enemies on screen will attack the player in a variety of ways, with the most common being to fire projectiles. There will also be shifts in the movement of the stage, shifting directions and even changing the height of some areas. This can make the stages tougher, increasing the tension of gameplay.
Throughout the stages, there will be special enemies that will appear on screen, dropping power-ups for the player to collect when they are destroyed. These power-ups will change the way that the player can attack, with multiple levels to the Force, missiles and special bit power-ups. The Force has 3 different attacks depending on the craft, with the ability to use it as a shield and to fire behind the player craft. Players can also speed up and slow down their ship.
Alongside the power-ups for weapons, the player also has access to two special attacks. The first is the Wave Cannon, a special charge attack which can deliver devastating damage to enemies and bosses. Second is DOSE, a devastating ultimate attack that is filled by the Force power-up absorbing attacks and making contact with enemies, usable when at 100%. The different player craft can have their own special attack variants, making for a good variety to gameplay.
During the main game mode, the player will have a limited number of lives to use during play, with the player needing to continue if all are lost. When first starting the game, the player will only have a few credits, but as the player continues to play, the number of continues will increase. The credits increase from 3 to 10, all the way up to free play, giving all players the chance to get through the game and reach the ending on any difficulty.
Outside of the main game mode, the player can access some additional play modes. The first score attack, where players are able to play single stages to get the highest score possible, while also using it to practice. There is also the competition mode, allowing players to challenge others across the globe, engaging in competitive score based action. There is also the R Park, which acts as a lobby for players to interact with each other. Both the online modes require PS Plus to play.
Finally we have the shop and data/gallery menus to round the gameplay out. The shop is where players can use RPTS (R Points) to purchase valuable resources. Then there is the data/gallery menu, where people can look at the records, galleries and information that has been obtained. Last we have the R-Museum, which allows players to use the resources gained during play to unlock new ships, with around 100 to obtain if conditions are met.
Now with the core of the gameplay covered as I want to leave some of the details for players to discover, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – as this is an arcade style scrolling shooter, the controls are laid out in a way that is easy to pick up and get used to quickly. The shooting action is solid and a lot of fun, with the option for both thumbstick and D-Pad for movement based on player preference. During play, my preference is to use the D-Pad as I feel there is more precision to the movement, as the thumbstick can be difficult to control at higher speeds.
Difficulty – the challenge of the game is fairly standard for the series, with enemies appearing all around the player and deadly bosses that can fill the screen with attacks. The five difficulty settings offer a range of challenges for all skill levels, with the higher difficulties adding more enemy projectiles, stronger enemies and more. All of the difficulty settings can be cleared given enough time and patience, especially with the help of unlimited credits.
Presentation – The visuals for this title are a big step up from the previous version, due to the change from Unreal Engine 4 to 5, giving greater visual fidelity. However, the issues that the previous version had do persist when it comes to visibility. Even with the leap in graphical power, it can be difficult to distinguish the different on screen details. This is most common with projectiles, which can be tougher for those with different types of colour blindness.
There is no option to adjust the colours on screen, which is unfortunate as it can be a significant barrier of entry for those who are unable to distinguish shades of blue, green and red. The sound for this release is excellent, with a mix of intense electronic tracks and synth beats that compliment the action on screen. There is also a special vocal track that is used for the climax of the game, with beautiful piano and the choice of either Scat vocals or full Japanese dialogue.
Final Thoughts – having previously played and reviewed R-Type Final 2, I was excited to get my hands on this and luckily I was able to loan a PS5 to do this review. I will say that I had a fairly good experience with this release, with all of the advancements that were made with the use of Unreal Engine 5. I was also very pleased with the addition of the base game content from R-Type Final 2, along with a selection of free DLC that is currently up for grabs.
I will say though that while some things change, others stay the same. This is especially true for the gameplay philosophy that has remained true to its roots, offering a brutal challenge that will take many credits to beat, which was the style of the time. The mix of old and new makes for a familiar yet fresh experience that I am happy to recommend to everyone who enjoys shooters, just be aware it may be tough if you have difficulty with distinguishing certain colours.
There is a lot of content in this title, with the massive selection of ships and many secrets to unlock. The inclusion of online competition and the R Park lobby increases the play time, giving players more to do aside from the main game courses. This is a fantastic package for those who are fans of the R-Type series, with a lot of replay value and a difficulty curve that makes it approachable to veterans and newcomers alike.
In the end, I give R-Type Final 3 Evolved a final score of 4.5/5. This is an excellent scrolling shooter, with all of the classic elements that are a trademark of the franchise, alongside new features and a plethora of content for players to unlock. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to the game will be at the bottom of this review.
Link to PlayStation 5 version (HERE)
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