R-Type Dimensions III Reviews
Overall, R-Type Dimensions III is a messy and inaccurate port of the SNES game. While the 3D rendition looks nice, it’s at the expense of the fidelity of the 2D original, and I think that’s very unfortunate.
R-Type Dimensions III is a neat novelty remaster of a shoot-'em-up classic, but it should have been even neater. R-Type III isn't the series' best-known, and it has a nice novelty feel about it. The presentation work is decent in terms of configurable options and locked frame rates, and that snazzy 3D-2D button switch is a beguiling gimmick.But there's no getting around the fact that the developer has made a mess of the accuracy. Purists will be dismayed, and those attempting to play through it will feel incredibly frustrated by the increased and frankly unfair difficulty level. That the original SNES game is still here in some form, now running at 60fps, with a new two-player co-op mode and fresh audio remaster, may be enough to sell you on a purchase; it is, both happily and sadly as the case may be, still the superior version.
An oft-forgotten entry in the classic 2D shooter series gets a disappointingly sloppy remake, that can’t even offer an authentic version of the SNES original as an alternative.
As much as I wanted to like going back to relive some of my childhood memories, this game just doesn’t quite hit the mark. And it made me question when did these types of games become so hard?
R-Type Dimensions III faithfully recreates the brutal charm of R-Type III: The Third Lightning with revamped HD visuals, remastered audio, and modern features like co-op play. While the graphical overhaul is impressive, the core gameplay remains heavily rooted in early '90s shooter design, complete with punishing trial-and-error mechanics. Nostalgic players may appreciate its historical authenticity, but newcomers could find it frustratingly archaic despite the added accessibility options.
Review in Italian | Read full review
R-Type Dimensions III, from developer Kritzelkratz 3000, is an update of R-Type III: The Third Lightning, released in 1993 on the SNES. Although, tha...
R-Type Dimensions III is a great remaster for 80s and 90s kids who haven't yet been able to play R-Type III outside of the Nintendo ecosystem. As far as remasters go, it contains a great number of accessibility and graphical features to make it a compelling shmup for today's players.
R-Type Dimension III, the classic but with modern polish... or all flash and no substance?
Three decades later, R-Type III remains one of the very best shoot-'em-ups on SNES. Regrettably, the R-Type Dimensions III remake doesn't do it justice.
A reimagined take on a beloved classic shoot 'em up
R-Type Dimensions III may be one of the toughest shoot 'em ups ever made but the amount of fun to be had in this striking remake is superb. 💥
R-Type Dimensions III is a faithful restoration of a classic shoot 'em up, featuring local co-op, alternative soundtracks, and real-time graphical overlays. This undoubtedly demonstrates the effort put in by its development team. However, the game retains design philosophies that clash with the new additions. Furthermore, the price feels high considering the volume of improvements and the limited, if not nonexistent, additional content. Thus, the title functions adequately as a game for shoot 'em up enthusiasts who aren't put off by the punishing nature and difficulty levels, which reduce its appeal for players seeking a balanced and less unfair experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In the end, R-Type Dimensions III is a prime example of how a remake can turn a beloved classic into a frustrating and exhausting experience. What could have been a bridge between nostalgia and modern standards collapses under poor design, unfair difficulty, and odd gameplay choices. While the visuals and music slightly soften the fall, they can't hide the fact that the game tests your patience more than it entertains. This title fails to honor the original's legacy, leaving even long-time fans with little reason to defend it.
Review in Persian | Read full review
R-Type Dimensions III is a good remaster of a classic game that comes with a few issues and strange changes that might put off some players. I do see new players and casual shooter fans having fun with this port, but some seasoned veterans might be turned off a little.
R-Type Dimensions III is an undeniably faithful restoration of one of gaming’s most influential shoot-’em-ups. The ability to switch between classic and modern visuals is a genuinely cool feature, the presentation is polished, and longtime fans will likely appreciate the preservation effort. But faithfulness can be both a blessing and a curse. For all its historical significance, R-Type remains trapped in design philosophies that have aged poorly. The difficulty frequently crosses the line from demanding to exhausting, progression relies heavily on memorization, and the overall experience feels more punishing than rewarding. I genuinely wanted to enjoy this, and I gave it chance after chance, hoping that persistence would reveal the magic that made R-Type a legend. Instead, I came away with respect for its legacy but little desire to ever return. For hardcore retro enthusiasts, this may represent a nostalgic trip back to arcade glory days. For everyone else, it’s a reminder that not every classic benefits from being preserved exactly as it was.
Despite its flaws and technical issues, this is clearly a project created with passion, featuring beautiful presentation and a genuine desire to honor the source material.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Once you start replaying the original R-Type III, you run into the glaring differences in sprite sizes, hitboxes and projectile speeds that make this version, while visually beautifully done, almost impossible to play. R-Type Dimensions III might as well have been called R-Type III: Ultra Hard Edition, and if you are a veteran of the game who relies on muscle memory, you will surely be put off by the sheer differences in these areas. At the same time, it is too steep a mountain to climb for newcomers to the series. The net result is that the original SNES game, while still hard, is much better balanced and ultimately the better version to play.
R-Type Dimensions III is a superb remake that faithfully preserves the spirit of the 1993 classic while modernizing its visuals, audio and gameplay presentation. Its stunning graphical overhaul and relentless challenge make it a must-play for shoot ‘em up enthusiasts.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
R-Type Dimensions III is a beautifully faithful port that honours its roots while delivering spectacular, high-speed arcade action. It does not pull any punches, meaning the old school difficulty will completely crush unprepared players who cannot handle the one-hit-kill stakes.
Do not buy this remake, and do not expect to have them fix it in case they end up treating it like other games they promised to patch and never did. From how shoddy everything feels across the board here, I’m honestly struggling to see just how they could fix this to make it up to the quality of Dimensions EX without scrapping the whole thing and starting from zero.