R-Type
R-Type — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is R-Type on?
- R-Type was released on Arcade, Sharp X68000, PC-8800 Series, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Atari ST/STE, Amiga, MSX, Sega Master System/Mark III, TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, ZX Spectrum, PC-88, MSX2, Amstrad CPC, Game Boy, Super CD-ROM², Game Boy Color, Mobile, iOS, Android.
- When did R-Type release?
- R-Type was first released on July 1, 1987.
About R-Type
R-Type is set in the 22nd century, and the player flies a futuristic fighter craft called the R-9a "Arrowhead", named for its shape, and because it is the ninth model in the 'R' series of fighter craft (but it is the first of the series to actually be used in combat; the previous models were all prototypes). The mission is to 'blast off and strike the evil Bydo Empire'. The R- in the series title originally stood for "ray", as in a ray of light. It was a reference to the many different types of ray-like weapons in the first R-Type. his was later retconned in R-Type Final to refer specifically to the production code as well as a term of endearment for the player fighter craft, the "Round Canopy". The original R-Type was well received by most gaming critics. However, it was also infamous for its relentless difficulty. It earned 7th place in IGN's Top 10 most difficult games to beat. The gameplay of R-Type is noticeably distinct among shoot 'em ups. Invariably the player will lose, not because of an inequality in firepower, but because of the design of the levels themselves. There is usually a 'correct' way to get through a level, but players must learn these by experience - i.e. by losing and restarting from earlier in the level. The game innovated with its weapon system compared to contemporary shooters, featuring a chargeable shot (beam-meter), and detachable 'force' pod; levels were designed to require different tactics and ideal weapons (air-air, diagonal, or air-ground laser).
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Arcade, Sharp X68000, PC-8800 Series, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Atari ST/STE, Amiga, MSX, Sega Master System/Mark III, TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, ZX Spectrum, PC-88, MSX2, Amstrad CPC, Game Boy, Super CD-ROM², Game Boy Color, Mobile, iOS, Android
- Developer
- Irem
- Publisher
- Electric Dreams Software
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction
- Series
- R-Type
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master System | 1988 | $19 | $50 | — | 6 reviews | Medium (look-alike) |
Also released on: Arcade · Sharp X68000 · PC-8800 Series · Commodore C64/128/MAX · Atari ST/STE · Amiga · MSX · Sega Master System/Mark III · TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine · ZX Spectrum · PC-88 · MSX2 · Amstrad CPC · Game Boy · Super CD-ROM² · Game Boy Color · Mobile · iOS · Android. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $18 | $39 | — |
| Japanese release | $80 | $188 | $292 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 2 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $5.97 in Jul 2009, $32 five years ago, and $18.75 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | $5.00 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $3.45 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $14.31 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $9.99 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $8.99 | $14.00 |
| Jan 2015 | $11.24 | $26 |
| Jan 2016 | $12.00 | $18.00 |
| Jan 2017 | $22 | $33 |
| Jan 2018 | $24 | $35 |
| Jan 2019 | $22 | $30 |
| Jan 2020 | $27 | $34 |
| Jan 2021 | $24 | $34 |
| Jan 2022 | $35 | $40 |
| Jan 2023 | $33 | $50 |
| Jan 2024 | $27 | $41 |
| Jan 2025 | $19.99 | $39 |
| Jan 2026 | $22 | $37 |
| Oct 2026 | $18.75 | $50 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | December 1988 | 9002 | 171-5559-01D · 315-5235 |
| Europe / PAL | 1989 | 9002 | 171-5559-01D · 315-5235 |
| Japan | 1 October 1988 | — | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1988
- Authenticity
- Med
Compile's acclaimed port of Irem's shooter, regarded as one of the best Master System games, and priced above the middle of the range for US games.
R-Type is a Master System port of Irem's 1987 arcade shooter, developed by Compile and published by Sega. It reached Japan on October 1, 1988, North America in December 1988 and Europe in 1989. The port was immediately recognized as one of the best games available for the system, and in 1989 ACE listed it among the five best games for both the PC Engine and the Master System.
The Master System version also appeared on the Virtual Console: in Japan on May 19, 2009, in Europe on September 25, 2009 and in North America on November 2, 2009. Because of licensing issues, it was delisted in 2011.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | OVERALL 91% |
| ACE | 900 | |
| AllGame | 4.5/5 | |
| Computer and Video Games | 84% | |
| Computer Entertainer | 6/8 | |
| Sega Power | 91% |
“real thing that you're likely to get on the Master System. All eight levels of the original (plus a secret Super Stage) have been squeezed into a four-meg cart which is just loaded with action and playability.”
“[Despite a few minor niggles, R-Type is a \ stick and chaff englng blaster wtiich \deserve3 a place in every shoot 'em up fan 's cartridge coiiection. j”
“R-Type is fab, with all the levels of the arcade and a number of secret bonuses. However, although it's got a great line in playability, the sprites sometimes tend to suffer from chronic flicker - especially when a lot is happening on-screen. Still, shoot 'em up fans should seek this out immediately!”
“Sega have managed to cram all the levels and playability into the Master System version. The usual dumb aliens are ripe for a kicking and the armourment at your disposal is impressive enough. But what makes this the best is the quality of the conversion.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Sega Master System version.
In the sales charts
In one sales chart, September 1993; highest position #10.
Show the placing
- #10 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Also on other platforms
Arcade · TurboGrafx-16 · Atari ST · Commodore 64 · ZX Spectrum · PC-88 · MSX2 · X68000 · Amiga · Amstrad CPC · Game Boy · Super CD-ROM² · Game Boy Color · Mobile · iOS · Android
| TurboGrafx-16 | Hudson Soft |
| Arcade | Irem |
- TurboGrafx-16. Hudson Soft's port is fairly accurate but has lower resolution, a reduced palette, sprite flicker and slowdown, and it has a boss at the end of Stage 6.
- Commodore 64. Manfred Trenz of Rainbow Arts made the Commodore 64 port in six weeks, after the original version was shelved.
How the other versions reviewed
| TurboGrafx-16 | ACE | 940 |
| ZX Spectrum | ACE | 871 |
| Arcade | AllGame | 4/5 |
| TurboGrafx-16 | AllGame | 4.5/5 |
| Arcade | Computer and Video Games | Positive |
| Atari ST | Computer and Video Games | 85% |
| Game Boy | Computer and Video Games | 85% |
| TurboGrafx-16 | Computer and Video Games | 92% |
| ZX Spectrum | Computer and Video Games | 93% |
| ZX Spectrum | Crash | 92% |
| ZX Spectrum | Sinclair User | 90% |
| Atari ST | The Games Machine | 82% |
| ZX Spectrum | The Games Machine | 90% |
| Arcade | Commodore User | 9/10 |
| Game Boy | AllGame | 3.5/5 |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
Loose, the European cart costs about the same as the US one, while a complete European copy costs somewhat less. The Japanese cart costs far more than the US one in both conditions, and it is a different, smaller shape that does not fit a Western console without an adapter. This is a Med-tier cart priced above the typical Master System game, so ask for a photo of the board and compare it with the board listed on this page. Check the manual is there on a complete copy.
R-Type screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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