R-Type Leo

R-Type Leo[lower-alpha 1] is a 1992 horizontal-scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Nanao and published by Irem.[2] It is a spin-off of the R-Type series and the last R-Type entry to be released in arcades.[3] In Leo, players take control of the titular space fighter to travel the man-made mechanical planet Eden and destroy its supercomputer core Major. The game was initially conceived as an original shoot 'em up by Nanao before being retooled into an R-Type project by Irem. The title was met with positive reception from reviewers. It has since been re-released as part of Dotemu's 2010 Irem Arcade Hits compilation.

R-Type Leo
Developer(s)Nanao
Publisher(s)Irem
Designer(s)Atsushi Inaba
Composer(s)Hiroshi Kimura
SeriesR-Type
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
  • WW: November 1992[1]
Genre(s)Horizontal-scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemIrem M-92

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot

R-Type Leo is a horizontal-scrolling shooter that is part of the R-Type series. The plot involves a man-made mechanical planet named Eden, which after its supercomputer core called Major begins to malfunction, uses its defense systems and machines to destroy what is left of mankind. In response, a starfighter named the Leo is deployed to destroy Eden.[4] Leo features gameplay similar to its predecessors; the player flies through each stage, destroying constantly-moving formations of enemies and avoiding their projectiles and stage obstacles. There are six stages total, which become progressively more difficult as the player progresses. Stages include deserts, tropical jungles, and abandoned space battleships.[2] Each stage also has a massive boss that must be defeated by destroying its weak point.[2]

Leo features multiple deviations from the R-Type gameplay structure. The most notable change is the removal of the Force, a shield item from previous installments that also acted as an additional source of firepower. The player is instead given two Psy-Bit satellites that follow them and fire at enemies.[2] There are power-ups that can be collected to grant the Leo access to new weapons. Weapon types include a powerful laser beam, a homing shot, and a laser that reflects off of walls.[2]

Development and release

R-Type Leo was initially an original shoot 'em up game in development by Nanao before Irem retooled it into an R-Type project instead.[2][5] Atsushi Inaba, currently of PlatinumGames, was involved in the development of the project before joining Nazca Corporation with other ex-Irem members.[6] The game was first released in arcades in November 1992, running on the Irem M-92 board.[1][2][7] The title was later re-released in 2010 as part of Dotemu's Irem Arcade Hits compilation for Microsoft Windows.[2][8] In a 2019 interview, M2 CEO Naoki Horii stated that the company wanted to develop a Sega Mega Drive version of R-Type Leo but the plan was rejected by Sega.[9]

Reception

R-Type Leo was met with positive reception from reviewers since its release in arcades.[11] Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the inclusion of cooperative multiplayer, visuals, sound design, gameplay and bosses.[12] In Japan, Game Machine listed the game on their February 1, 1993 issue as being the eigteenth most popular arcade game at the time.[13] French magazine Joypad praised the graphics and music highly.[14] Consoles + regarded the title as an "excellent shooting game".[15] Andreas Kanuf of German magazine Video Games gave it an overall positive outlook.[16] Retro Gamer regarded it to be an acceptable addition to the R-Type series.[17] Kurt Kalata of Hardcore Gaming 101 praised its visuals and sound design but noted the lack of "careful design and required strategy" from previous R-Type entries.[2] Metal Slug co-designer Kazuma Kujo regarded R-Type Leo to be "quite innovative for an R-Type game, and it was well done for a shooter, but it doesn’t quite feel like an R-Type game".[18]

Notes
  1. Japanese: アールタイプ・レオ, Hepburn: Āru Taipu Reo

References
  1. Yanma (December 1992). "Super Soft Hot Information: Video Game - R-Type Leo". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 126. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. p. 238.
  2. Kalata, Kurt (December 8, 2016). "R-Type Leo". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  3. Antxiko (December 2011). "Retrodossier: R-Type". RetroManiac Magazine (in Spanish). No. 5. RetroManiac. pp. 136–140.
  4. Yanma (January 1993). "R-Type Leo". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 127. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. pp. 202–203.
  5. Yamanaka, Naoki (February 1993). "アーケード・ゲーム・ギャラリー: R-Type Leo". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 128. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. pp. 240–241.
  6. Sheffield, Brandon (October 23, 2006). "Capcom & Clover, Over and Over: Former Clover Head Atsushi Inaba on a Post-Capcom World". Gamasutra. UBM Technology Group. Archived from the original on 2018-07-21. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  7. "Other Stuff". GameFan. Vol. 1 no. 3. DieHard Gamers Club. January 1993. p. 79.
  8. "DotEmu Releases IREM Arcade Hits - Popular IREM coin-op games in the "arcade experience" now available for fun Windows gameplay". IGN. Ziff Davis. December 9, 2010. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  9. My Life in Gaming (May 19, 2019). M2: Complete Works / MY LIFE IN GAMING (8min 32sec). YouTube. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  10. ザ・ベストゲーム2 - アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史: ゲーメスト大賞11年史. Gamest Mook (in Japanese). 5 (4th ed.). Shinseisha. 17 January 1998. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9784881994290.
  11. "Be Mega AM Network: R-Type Leo". Beep! MegaDrive (in Japanese). No. 39. SoftBank Creative. December 1992. p. 40.
  12. "Leading Edge - R-Type Leo". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 42. Sendai Publishing. January 1993. p. 66.
  13. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 442. Amusement Press. 1 February 1993. p. 25.
  14. "Arcades: R-Type Leo (Irem Corporation)". Joypad (in French). No. 16. Yellow Media. January 1993. p. 34.
  15. "Arcade - En Direct: R-Type Leo (Editeur - Irem)". Consoles + (in French). No. 17. M.E.R.7. February 1993. p. 140.
  16. Knauf, Andreas (June 1993). "Warpzone: Neues aus der Spielhalle - R-Type Leo". Video Games (in German). No. 19. Markt & Technik. p. 45.
  17. "The Unconverted: R-Type Leo". Retro Gamer. No. 81. Imagine Publishing. September 2010. p. 60.
  18. Mielke, James (June 25, 2019). "How R-Type came back from the dead". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
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