R-Type Delta

R-Type Delta marked a dramatic graphical leap for Irem's legendary series of horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-ups – it moved from traditional 2D pixel graphics into a fully three-dimensional environment, though the gameplay remained faithful to the classic left-to-right scrolling formula. The player once again pilots the R-9 fighter, collects weapon upgrades, and above all manipulates the iconic Force module, a spherical shield that can be fired forward, pulled back, or wrapped around the ship's hull to change the angle of fire. The level design remains mercilessly difficult, full of narrow passages and the need to memorize enemy patterns, a hallmark of the series since its arcade beginnings. The player can also choose between several versions of the ship, each of which handles the Force module a little differently.

Technically, the game holds up very well on PlayStation – three-dimensional backgrounds, smooth boss animation, and atmospheric, industrial-tinged music create a tight, dark mood that fits the vision of humanity's struggle against the alien entity Bydo. The move to 3D graphics also brought certain compromises in the clarity of on-screen projectiles, something seasoned genre fans had to swallow over time, but overall the game held up as a worthy successor to its predecessors and one of the last flagships of the classic shoot-'em-up style on this generation of consoles. The individual levels also offer considerable visual variety, from organic biomechanical tunnels to stark metal stations.

At the time of release it was a title aimed mainly at a narrow circle of loyal genre fans, before it retreated into a niche in favor of more action-oriented 3D shooters, as the genre itself gradually lost ground on the major consoles. Today, R-Type Delta is valued as an interesting transitional point between the 2D and 3D eras of shoot-'em-ups and a collector's item for old-school fans, although its high difficulty and uncompromising design deter casual players who might expect a lighter experience. For many genre fans it remains the last great classic episode of the series before R-Type went quiet for a long time.

Why play: A collector's item for old-school 2D shoot-'em-up fans and an interesting transitional point between the genre's 2D and 3D eras, though its high difficulty will put off casual players.