Review – R-Type Delta: HD Boosted
Originally released as a Playstation exclusive back in 1998, R-Type Delta was a gem of its time. Owing to the release of a few polygonal competitors a few years prior, as well as the power and popularity of the PS1, Irem’s first foray into a polygonal shoot ’em up garnered massive acclaim due to its visuals and cinematic appeal, all while retaining the franchise’s traditional elements of blowing up multiple enemies at once onscreen, as well as dying in a single hit. That being said, the game had never been re-released, at least up until now. R-Type Delta: HD Boosted brings the classic to a wider modern audience with a few quality of life enhancements, though I wish it had received a bit more.
See those projectiles? Only noticed them now? Good, you’re dead.
By far, the most appealing aspect about R-Type Delta: HD Boosted, as well as its original 1998 version, is its now-nostalgic polygonal presentation. There’s something about the way the PS1 handled polygons and textures that makes them look charming and appealing to the eyes, despite looking so dated. There’s also the fact the game goes for a more cinematic appeal, with set pieces in each level, as well as gigantic enemies that show up from out of nowhere, destroying the environment around you. Thanks to a boost in its resolution and performance, R-Type Delta: HD Boosted looks and feels great to play, but there’s a small catch.
Some powerups are better than others. R-Type has never been the most balanced franchise.
The game boasts a lot of assets onscreen, thus making it occasionally hard for you to discern what’s a background element or what’s an obstacle, such as a pile of rubble or a scaffolding. Crashes are constant as a result, and given how this is R-Type, you just need to barely scrape onto another object in order to blow your ship up. The same can be said about enemy projectiles, which are usually very small and hard to notice onscreen. R-Type has always been about trial, error and memorization, but certain sections make R-Type Delta: HD Boosted a bit more frustrating than it should have been, especially since there isn’t even the option for a rewind feature to be implemented, even at the cost of points or ranking yourself amongst other players.
The way PS1 handled polygons and textures has aged quite nicely, don’t you think?
Though I guess that if you’re into R-Type, dealing with roadblocks and a bit of unfairness is basically part of its appeal. R-Type Delta: HD Boosted is still a pretty good remaster of a hidden gem from the PS1 era, with a sizeable amount of content, a presentation that somewhat managed to age gracefully, and a gameplay loop that, sure, might be challenging, but never fails to entertain. I may have wished for a bit more in terms of quality of life enhancements and optional perks, but it still features improved visuals, an art gallery, and so on. An easy recommendation not only for fans of the franchise, but bullet hell shooters in general.
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Graphics: 7.5 Low-poly, as expected from a game originally released for the PS1, but its dated looks and textures retain a nostalgic charm that just feels unmatched. In a smaller screen, it looks and runs quite well, but some obstacles and enemy shots might be too small to notice at first. |
Gameplay: 8.5 Rock-solid performance, simple controls, and a fast-paced gameplay loop, though a bit annoying at times due to projectiles and obstacles just blending with the environment. |
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Sound: 8.0 The typical kind of soundtrack a Playstation 1 game from the late 90s would feature. If you know what I’m talking about, you can ever hear it in your head. It might not be the most iconic soundtrack ever, but it’s still pretty good. |
Fun Factor: 7.0 A nostalgic blast to the past with visuals that pushed the original PS1 to its limits back in the day. It may have been a bit too ambitious for its time, resulting in some unfair deaths. I wish the game had included the option for a rewind button as well. |
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Final Verdict: 7.5
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R-Type Delta: HD Boosted is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch.
Reviewed on Intel i7-12700H, 16GB RAM, RTX 3060 6GB and Asus ROG Ally.
A copy of R-Type Delta: HD Boosted was provided by the publisher.