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R-Type Dimensions combines the genre-defining coin-op classics R-Type and R-Type II, with a twist. Although classic gameplay remains untouched, R-Type Dimensions elevates the experience to greater heights with brand-new additions and enhancements. For the first time, R-Type Dimensions allows multiplayer co-op play locally or over Xbox LIVE for up to two players. Fight through all 14 Bydo-infested stages in the original 2-D or all-new 3-D graphics with the ability to swap back and forth between the two seamlessly. Strike down the evil Bydo Empire and save the earth in R-Type Dimensions.

Genre: Action

Publisher/Co-Publisher: Tozai / Microsoft

Developer: Southend Interactive

Online Play: 2 Co-op

Local Play: 2 Co-op

February 4, 2009 –
Among all the alien invaders to ever face off against humanity, few have presented more of a deadly challenge than the Bydo. If you think the Covenant or Locust were a tough bunch, you’ve never played an R-Type game. And you’re probably saner for it.

The R-Type series of side-scrolling arcade space shooters was legendary for its difficulty, and now that brutality has come to Xbox Live Arcade to punish you mercilessly. R-Type Dimensions is a collaboration among publisher Tozai Inc., Irem (the original R-Type creator) and Swedish developer SouthEnd for XBLA. And the team put a ton of effort into delivering the definitive downloadable R-Type collection.

The shooter genre is well-represented on XBLA, both with new takes on old concepts and re-imaginings of classic titles. Some are lovingly re-made and others are quick and dirty ports. There’s nothing quick and dirty about R-Type Dimensions.

For 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15), the download includes both the R-Type I and R-Type II arcade games in their entirety, and both have been entirely re-created in high-definition 3D. The new artwork is laid directly over the old game, so everything you remember about the previous R-Type levels will now be rendered in 3D over a 2D background.

The new graphics look sharp and crisp, but they don’t have the gloss and shimmer that I was expecting. That’s not to say it’s not well-done, because it is. The animations are nice and the backgrounds are often striking. But there’s a certain character missing to the game’s 3D look that I just can’t put my finger on. It’s just a bit blasé, which isn’t a deal-breaker but is a bit of a disappointment. But that’s all the more reason to love R-Type Dimensons’ killer app.

Click the image to watch our video review of R-Type Dimensions (HD available).

The hot new thing in XBLA re-makes like Galaga Legions is the ability to switch between a modern look and the old-school classic look. It’s a cool feature made even better by R-Type Dimensions, which lets you make that switch on the fly. Now, with a touch of the Y button, you can flip back and forth between a classic and 3D view and back again on a whim. And it’s not all about aesthetics. I found that some of the more difficult sections of R-Type (and there are many) are simpler to navigate in the retro view, where it’s easier to differentiate between your ship and its surroundings.

The gameplay in R-Type Dimensions is built on a simple principle: Shoot enemies and avoid their fire to make your way through each level. Run into any part of the environment and you’re dead. Get hit by a single ball of enemy fire and you’re dead. Touch a boss and you’re dead. At your disposal you have a standard gun and a plasma cannon that can be charged up and released for a super attack. Along the way, you’ll pick up power-ups such as missiles, speed boosts and ground bombs, which help your cause. But the best tool at your disposal is your Force.

By destroying certain enemies, you’ll release a spherical Force, which you can attach to the front or rear of your ship. This handy device can act as a shield or a secondary weapon that amplifies your firepower. Tap the X button to release it from your ship, and it will act as a satellite. With a couple power-ups and a Force, your little ship is a formidable foe for the Bydo.

But all the weapons in the world won’t save you from the harshness of the level design in R-Type Dimensions. More often than not, it’s not enemy fire that will kill you, it’s the dastardly environments full of swarming enemies, rotating blocks and serpentine bosses. Make no mistake — this game is an old-school trial-and-error affair that rewards rote memorization, perseverance and infinite patience.

But if you don’t have infinite patience, how about infinite lives instead? Recognizing that the high difficulty level of R-Type Dimensions will put off some gamers, the developers included an Infinite Mode that gives you unlimited lives. Using this mode will allow you to complete the game, but as a result, doing so doesn’t feel like much of an accomplishment. Also, your friends will laugh at you. Your call.

Trouble with a level? Try using “Crazy” camera. Actually, that probably won’t help.

One of the best ways to tackle R-Type Dimensions is with a friend via co-op play, either online over Xbox Live or locally. And if you’re truly hardcore, you can turn player collision on so that your ship smashes to bits when you so much as touch your partner. Make sure and cover your gaming room with pillows so that your controller won’t shatter when you throw it.

R-Type Dimensions has some of the most in-depth display features you’ll see on XBLA, and the developers took a lot of time to make sure your favorite look is represented. There’s a slightly slanted camera view for the 3D mode, a collection of 8-bit filters that give the game a washed-out look and both widescreen and 4:3 views to accommodate every TV type.

But the strangest inclusion is the Arcade camera for the 2D classic mode. In this view, you play on a small screen inside a 3D-rendered arcade cabinet, and as your ship moves, you’ll see the joystick move from side-to-side. It’s a novel idea, but it’s ruined by the fact that the camera moves from side-to-side as you move your ship, giving the whole experience a sickening vibe that made me want to reach for the puke bucket I keep under Nate Ahearn’s desk.

Closing Comments
Whether or not R-Type Dimensions is the game for you depends on your budget, your gaming tastes and your sense of nostalgia. If you fondly remember the R-Types of old and have been itching to feel that sense of intense difficulty again on your console, then you