Play R-Type II Online

Game Overview

R-Type II on Game Boy is basically the little brother of the arcade version—still tough as nails, but missing a few tricks. You're piloting the R-9C ship, which feels familiar if you played the first one, though they swapped out some weapons. No fancy search lasers or shotgun lasers here, just the classic wave cannon (now with slightly better aim) and bombs for clearing out ground targets.

The levels are shorter than the arcade’s six-stage gauntlet—you get five instead—but don’t let that fool you. The screen’s tiny, so dodging bullets and those creepy organic-looking bosses requires way more precision than feels fair. I still get flashbacks from the third stage’s wall of tentacles.

It’s R-Type at its core: brutal, methodical, and weirdly beautiful for a Game Boy shooter. Just maybe take breaks before you crush your handheld in frustration.