It's a scary thought, but if you can look back on R-Type games with nostalgic eyes, there's a good chance that you're an old school gamer these days. The 8- and later 16-bit versions of the series are still considered some of the slickest shooters around. While those raised on PlayStation got a taste of the series with ASCII's release of R-Types and R-Type Delta, the bulk of the series' releases dies with the SNES.



Japanese developer Irem, perhaps seeing the end of their series somewhat prophetically, has chosen the aptly named R-Type Final to ostensibly finish off the series. With good shooters in steep decline since the march of polygons shoved most 2D genres to the side, it looked as though American gamers would never get a chance to play the final game in the series.



Luckily, Eidos' Fresh Games division was created for just such an occasion. While their previous releases of Mad Maestro and Mister Mosquito were certainly quirky, they lacked any real semblance of mass market appeal. With the decision to publish R-Type Final here in the U.S., however, Fresh Games might have its first genuine hit in its stable.



"R-TYPE is a game that brings back memories of good times at the local arcade," exclaimed Eidos Producer Tom Marx. "Gamers newly-introduced to the series will also be in for a surprise. Good gameplay never goes out of style, and R-TYPE FINAL has tremendous style."



Indeed the R-Type series has been heralded for years as having some of the most intense firefights and oddly imaginative levels and bosses – not to mention difficulty -- in shooter history. It seems fitting that the last chapter in the series would go out with a bang. If the Bydo are going to go down for the count, they might as well do it looking, well, as ugly as possible.



In classic R-Type fashion, you'll be able to customize and upgrade your ship as you progress through the game, though the Final chapter will tip the scales at over 100 different ship configurations. Multiple gameplay modes and adjustable difficulty should keep newcomers and vets alike entertained. We'll have more on R-Type Final as we near the game's U.S. release.