R-Type Final 2 Reviews
Enjoyably traditional, if a little tatty in places, this is a shooting game that still stands apart from all others.
A successful resurrection of the iconic retro franchise, that wallows in justifiable nostalgia but still tries to keep at least one foot in the present.
I've played R-Type across many systems since 1987, and Final 2 is not the glorious swan song the series deserves. It's still R-Type, so fans will find some things to like, but it has flat, dull presentation and some odd design choices that diminish the shoot 'em up great.
Although graphically it is a little below what we expected at this point, its mechanics are totally faithful to the R-Type legacy and offers a remarkable challenge to all those who long for the space shoot'em-ups of the golden era.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, R-Type Final 2 is a significant improvement over R-Type Final and has decently solid level design throughout. As R-Type games go though, R-Type Final 2 does not live up to the masterful R-Type Delta. That said, it is still a proper R-Type game and a well-crafted shmup. So blast off and have fun destroying the Bydo Empire all over again.
R-Type Final 2 is a prime example of a competent product that fills a niche perfectly. Even though R-Type Final was meant to be the last game in the franchise, this new sequel proves there’s still some fight left for shmups.
A proper new R-Type game 18 years after the last one. With good gameplay, interesting levels and lots of unlockables, R-Type Final 2 is a good - if a bit rough - revival of a historical series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
R-Type Final 2 is a wonderful follow-up to a classic series that I will always be down for more of. The steep price will turn off some, but once you get into the action it truly is one of the most satisfying genres around. I want more games of this type, but I feel like we will continue to see less and less of them as time goes on. I am always happy to jump into one whenever they release though and fans of classic shmupsdefinitely need to check this one out.
The space-shooter genre has had an Arrowhead-shaped hole for the past 18 years and finally, that void has been filled. R-Type Final 2 is not here to revolutionize the genre, it’s merely here to remind us how great the series is and celebrate its long history. Although its old-school mentality may deter some, fans of the franchise will love this iteration.
Ultimately, R-Type Final 2 is exactly what you’d expect a sequel to R-Type Final to be like. It certainly doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, and some may be a little underwhelmed by the fact that it lacks any massive gameplay changes from previous instalments in the franchise. Still, that’s rather missing the point; games like this aren’t as common as they once were and getting a shmup of such quality in 2021 is truly something to celebrate.
R-Type Final 2 is an aesthetically brilliant 'reboot' of the classic arcade game by Irem Corporation. Old players will feel at home, either when approaching the game with the strategies of the past, or when they try to change habits by exploring the new possibilities offered by the game.
Review in Italian | Read full review
R-Type Final 2 is a solid attempt at bringing back the classic series to more modern times. The R9 itself plays very well and boss fights can be hot and hectic. The level design, however, can be hit or miss and the lack of adequate separation from the background and foreground can lead to some unexpected deaths. That being said, R-Type 2 feels like an R-Type game, even if it might not necessarily look like one at times. If you’re looking for an old-school style shmup that provides a tough challenge, you’ll want to pick this one up.
It's hard to think of a product that's better suited to R-Type Final 2 r-typers. In a pedisse retrace the trail left by the famous arcade shooter of the eighties, the revival operation by Granzella Inc. modernize here and there the playful recipe of departure, finally returning an experience with a high nostalgic rate, with much above-average difficulties, just like in the old days. Whether this is the real ending of the series or not, try not to miss the exciting opportunity to take flight among the stars again.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A worthy tribute to the original.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
R-Type Final 2 makes an authentic if flawed contribution to an iconic shooting game series. Many of the problems seem technical, so hopefully an update could do plenty - especially if it lets you lock that camera pitch. All we can hope for, then, is that we are still in the beginning of R-Type's final phase, and that what Final 2 gets right is allowed to rise to the top.
If you need a hit of nostalgia from a sci-fi shooter, then jump in the cockpit for this one. It packs the challenge but may feel a little too stuck in the arcades of old. This release is a testament to the power of a loyal fanbase. As far as side-scrollers go, it’s definitely on the money
R-Type Final 2 is sadly the classic example of form over substance. On paper, it provides fans of the beloved R-Type series what they would want in a modern sequel. In reality, it is simply an unenjoyable, below average title with little allure to wade through it.
Compared to the magnum opus of the series that was R-Type Final, R-Type Final 2 serves more as an epilogue that maintains how solid the series still is. The level design and combat feel just as good as in past games, with a level of challenge that'll test those who have cut their teeth on modern bullet-hell shooters. The number of unlockable ships and the processes needed to do so will make players spend more time with this than most other titles in the genre, and that'll make up for the lack of extras like online scoreboards. Despite having a few issues in presentation and a rather annoying load upon death, R-Type Final 2 will please genre fans.
Let’s make no mistake here, though; what we have at the time of writing is good. It’s a great R-Type game with some well-designed stages, the series’ iconic brutal but fair sense of difficulty, lots of unlockables and customisation and an absolutely banging soundtrack. It’s an excellent investment for any shoot ’em up fan — particularly if you’re a longstanding fan of R-Type — and it’s worth your time. It will be interesting to see how it develops from hereon, for sure.
Objectively, R-Type Final 2 has a remarkably daft name and a rather slow play style that won’t endear it all that much to fans of more modern, bullet-hell style shoot-em-up titles. Subjectively, I rather like it despite the stupid name. If you’re a long term fan of the series the odds are pretty good that you will too.