R-Type Final 3 Evolved (PlayStation 5) Review
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher/Developer: NIS America Inc/Grenzilla
Platform: PlayStation 5
Price: $49.99
I had a friend visit my house while prepping the review for R Type Final 3 Evolved. He remembered the series from the 1980’s and was excited to hear another game in the series was available. R-Type is part of the pedigree of gaming; if you want to play a solid side-scrolling shooter then look no further. Without a doubt as a standalone title, R Type Final 3 Evolved is an amazing option for fans of the genre. However, some of it’s presentation leaves questions and should be taken as fair warning for anyone who may be following the series in general.
Titling the game “R-Type Final 3 Evolved” sounds like an upgraded edition of a game titled “R-Type Final 3”, which could even be an upgrade of “R-Type 3.” However, the game is actually an expanded version of R-Type Final 2. The entirety of the title is present, with additional levels and extra online features. In fact, the product page web address for R-Type Final 3 Evolved still says “R-Type Final 2.” The official page for R-Type Final 3 Evolved discusses upcoming updates to R-Type Final 2 adding some of these features, and is in fact titled the “R-Type Final 3 Update.” I watched videos for 2 and the menus are identical, down to the selection of the ships. While 2 is on PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox, and PC, R-Type Final 3 Evolved is currently a PlayStation 5 exclusive. While it is a beautiful title, and I can tell that the game has received a graphic overhaul, it is hard to see what causes this title to be pulled down to one system.
R-Type’s core premise involves taking down the enemy scum with a powerful spaceship that can acquire an orb called a “Force” that acts both as a shield and an offensive weapon, and can be attached on the front or back of the ship to the best benefit of the player. Much like it’s coin-op inspired origins, your world-defending ship can only take a single hit before going down. Finding that perfect attack and defense pattern is tantamount to saving the universe. You can adjust the speed of your ship which effects responsiveness, making it simple to zip out of danger or methodically move as death rays slide all around you.
My initial thoughts on the game were frustrating, as the title doesn’t really have a lot of tutorial to it which leads to trial and error as I slid around the screen. Deaths frustrated me as my exploding ship pauses the screen and explosion halfway. It feels like it is trying to be dramatic but to me comes across as an annoying pause while it loads my previous state back an arbitrary amount.
All this being said, it is R-Type. Millions of independent imitators try to make a game this good, and fans of the genre are going to love it. I would just personally hate being right at that cusp between “loving shooters” and “not caring enough to look up news,” seeing the title “R-Type Final 3 Evolved,” and buying it only to find a good chunk of the game is what I saw in the last one. Or seeing a game that says “PlayStation 5 Exclusive” and thinking that I’ll finally get a game that will push the wavy machine to it’s full potential only to see something that doesn’t look much beyond what it could have been on the previous console.
R-Type Final 3 Evolved adds additional stages. It’s supposed to add VR support to the launch sequence which might be cool, but it’s PS5 exclusive, meaning I can’t test this on my PS4 VR kit. There’s an online interactive mode to share strategies and have scoring competitions. Physical editions of the game also come with cool nicknacks like soundtracks, keychains, or artbooks. It’s an amazing game, an easy recommendation to fans who haven’t already fully exhausted their excitement about R-Type Final 2, but I just feel it should have been called the “R-Type Final 2 Evolved Expansion Pack” at this rate.
Pros:
-Beautiful graphics, updated to Unreal Engine 5
-More SHMUP action from people who know how to make it, with 7 new exclusive areas
-Slower, more strategic gameplay than other scrolling shoters
Cons:
-Confusing sequel/expansion release
-Exclusivity doesn’t seem warranted
-Sometimes feels like rote memorization is the best way to succeed
Special thanks to NIS America/Grenzilla for providing a code for review!