Needs boosted a bit more
We are in a renaissance of the shooter genre. Between collections, remasters, and new games, the classic game type has finally returned, and I couldn’t be happier. There are so many options to revisit these days that it is easy to dismiss some of them. R-Type is a series that is synonymous with the genre, and it has stood the test of time. Today’s example is R-Type Delta, which was originally released on the PS1 back in 1998. This is not a collection or a remaster, this is a pretty bare bones port that, for better or worse, brings that experience to modern consoles.
The game play in Delta was standard fare. There are three ships to command, with each one presenting a unique set of weaponry. Each unique loadout can change the course of the game by making it harder in certain sections with a specific ship, but the Force mechanics reward skill as opposed to button mashing. The hit detection is more forgiving in these games, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. R-Type is known for engaging players into its weapon system, and Delta is no exception.
MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
R-Type Delta was special for a few reasons, the biggest being that it was the first in the series to be in 3D. This was of course during the era where everything had to be made of polygons, as gamers had yet to appreciate the beauty of 2D sprites…well that and the fact that Sony internally tried to push developers to make everything for their PlayStation console in 3D. It was a weird time.
The warbling polygons have not aged especially well, as is the case with most 3D games from that era. This updated version comes with a toggle that lets players swap between the original look and the new HD coat of paint, but it is mostly just to smooth out that PlayStation warbling. The aesthetic remains in either mode.
Probably the biggest change to this port is that the framerate is now a rock-solid 60fps, which in most cases would be a good thing, but you see games were programmed differently with limitations. Delta was a challenging game made slightly easier thanks to the slowdown of the PlayStation, with that gone, the game is now much more challenging in certain areas. This is remedied by easier modes, including a Practice mode, that tones down the difficulty substantially.
HD Boosted’s biggest crime though is that it feels like a barebones port. This is basically the same game from the PS1 with a new coat of paint and a couple extra difficulty options. There isn’t much in the way of extras. Granted, it is nice to have it available on modern platforms, I just would have loved to see maybe a collection or another game or two added to the package. Especially with how many of those we have seen over the past couple years. R-Type is a historical franchise and I would have loved to see a proper collection of games.
I am happy this game exists and I can now play it on a modern console. I wish there was more though. The price tag is a bit steep for a port of one original PlayStation game with a lack of extras and features. The quality of life stuff is nice, and the updated visuals help with those warping polygons, but I might recommend waiting on a sale for this one. It is a fantastic game that is slightly overpriced.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
