R-Type Dimensions III: Like the Old Days, But More Punishing - Review

Some classics never die and, in all probability, R-Type Dimensions III wants to carry on a video game legacy impossible to forget. Oh yes, you know those side-scrolling games where you have to wipe out hordes of spaceships aboard your personal vehicle? Exactly, arcade shooters, those where you have to be a true ace to overcome every obstacle that appears before your laser weapon. 

The R-Type series was a living example of this, a production capable of making players furious, amidst hundreds of bullets appearing from everywhere, leading up to that boss who, graciously, did nothing but make us smash the controller in our hands. And there are even those who say soulslikes are difficult titles, perhaps because they have never tried to approach these "masochistic video game genres."

Don't be scared, we know that if you've ended up in this article, you have a devotion to the genre, or you simply like to test your keen skills. But this return to legend is far too hardcore, even for those who make difficulty their daily bread. It is an extremely difficult title, which draws its strength from the legacy of R-Type Dimensions and R-Type Dimensions EX, also trying to offer a unique experience with new features.

This chapter is at times convincing, even if, let's face it, it turns out to be too exhausting and aimed at a far too niche segment of gamers. Calling it almost impossible to complete seems like an understatement, but fortunately there are infinite lives (and without using any cheats… ah, the good old cheats).

A Spaceship for Every Taste

The BYDO Empire seems to have returned, and this time it has truly decided not to succumb. Apparently, a mothership has survived and is transporting the last forces to planet Earth (and when does that ever happen?). The invasion has arrived, and guess what? It will be up to us to take the field as humanity's last hope with an advanced spaceship, the R-90. This latter is a technological marvel and is equipped with the most powerful Force units, and furthermore, it can move between dimensions to fight various alien forces in space. So, the mission is super easy (so to speak): find and destroy the mothership before Earth is destroyed.

From the first game of R-Type Dimensions III, we will be asked to choose between three different units, which are hyper-technological components that will grant us advantages in the toughest phases. These Force units, identifiable as Round, Shadow, and Cyclone, are equipped with peculiar abilities, including firing in five simultaneous directions or a shield that can destroy everything it touches. At any time, we can also decide to send them ahead to cover a part of the scenario and deal damage from multiple positions to the various baddies.

During the advance, which will always be horizontal scrolling, we will also encounter some Power Armor that will grant us temporary privileges: namely, launching homing missiles that chase enemies, or using laser units that fire beams and block various shots. In addition to this, in our arsenal we will also have special weapons that we can use after charging a specific indicator. This is essentially a powerful shot that deals consistent damage to every space alien, but very difficult to master. In fact, in R-Type Dimensions III, it will not be easy to navigate through the rain of bullets, and not being able to attack for an indefinite time will inevitably make us lose a life. It is an interesting strategy, but also very risky and will need to be carefully calibrated. 

In any case, the game will allow us to tackle it in different modes: the classic one, where we will have a limited number of lives and ships, another for two players where we can collaborate with a friend from the same console sharing the screen, and the most beloved of all, the infinite one. The latter is a real lifeline, the one we had to resort to (alas) to finish R-Type Dimensions III: the available ships are unlimited and no hassle is required from the player, although no trophies can be obtained or scores recorded.

And this is not good because difficulty should be a challenge and not an impossible mission. And we agree that challenge is everything in this genre of production, but we are of the opinion that here we have bitten off more than we can chew and we would not rule out probable discouragement even from those most devoted to the cause.

Do You Like to Lose Easily?

You've probably understood, but let's repeat it to be even more precise: R-Type Dimensions III is an extremely difficult game, perhaps even more challenging than in the days of the beloved Super Nintendo. We want to clarify that this should not be considered a drawback, because to be able to carry on the game with only 2/3 lives, you need to be skilled at dodging, have perfect timing, and know every pattern of the various opponents by heart. Just imagine that the first boss will already give you a hard time, and we won't even let you imagine what awaits you in the final battle.

From a technical point of view, we believe a decent job has been done regarding the 3D graphics, although we encountered some visual problems that prevented us from understanding the various hitboxes in the best way. The impact of the shots was not always the best either, not to mention some sound effects that were perhaps too anchored to the past and not modern enough. However, the various modes that allow you to switch in a flash from three-dimensional graphics to a more traditional one, in line with the 16-bit era, are appreciated.

R-Type Dimensions III, despite some problems related to shot impacts, is playable in its impossible gameplay, even if some aspects of the production are extremely dated and perhaps not realized in the best way. Another aspect that will surely impact the most avid players is the inability to map buttons to make them more suitable for their habits and abilities. And to conclude, we want to emphasize, alas, the price. In our very humble opinion, the ticket price (€34.99) could have been slightly lower to attract a wider audience of gamers.