Play R-Type (USA, Europe) Online

R-Type for the Game Boy came out in 1991, a portable version of Irem's arcade shooter. It arrived when handheld games were often simpler, scaled-down experiences, but this one tried to pack a serious challenge into that small screen. You got the feeling they didn't cut many corners bringing the intensity over.

You pilot the R-9 fighter through side-scrolling stages filled with enemy ships and organic-looking obstacles. Your main goal is survival; you blast everything in your path and fight huge screen-filling bosses at the end of each area. Two mechanics define the play: your Force pod, a detachable orb that can be shot ahead or anchored to your ship for extra firepower, and the chargeable Wave Cannon that delivers a massive blast after a brief wind-up. The game is brutally difficult, demanding precise memorization of enemy patterns and narrow dodges. It feels tense and demanding, a real test of patience and skill every time you power it on.