R-Type: Pound for pound the best home port
R-Type on Sega Master System is a marvel of a port. Consider this, the NES could not handle the game. The incredible amount of animation, sprites, backgrounds, scale, and boss size could only be accomplished on Master System. Compile, notable developer for many of their own shoot-em-ups of the era, including the Aleste / MUSHA series, was contracted out by Sega to convert this Irem classic. The team at Compile did masterful job of recreating the experience.
The graphics are well done, albeit scaled down a bit. Most importantly, the gameplay is as you may have remembered from the arcade (if you ever had a chance to play it back when it was released).
Another reason why I think this is my favorite classic conversion of the game is the lack of a need for the screen to scroll. The Turbografx-16 port had larger sprites, but with the added scale and resolution, the entire screen was too large for the play area. It is as if the screen was zoomed in a bit. You'll not be able to see either the top or bottom of the screen at all times, which can be frustrating if you can't see some of the enemies, and you'll need to. This game is frenetic.
Back to the Master System port, all of the levels for the arcade are here, and Compile even added an extra stage / secret area for you to find. Despite lots of flicker on screen, it never impedes the action. You'll still need to hone your skills, and when you do inevitably die, it'll be a lesson you won't forget. And that's the hook with R-Type, you'll want to come back again and again to just get past the next area. Given the technology available, this is a great game and a fantastic port. Pound for pound it's the best classic version you can buy.
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