R-Type Tactics

Did You Know?

• A remake of both R-Type Tactics and its sequel, developed by Granzella, was released internationally on June 18, 2026.
• The sequel, R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate, was released in 2009 exclusively in Japan.
• The game supports multiplayer combat via Wi-Fi.

Gameplay

R-Type Tactics preserves the side-scrolling nature of the R-Type series, with most levels structured like a side-scrolling shooter where player units and the objective are on opposite sides of the field. Units cannot change facing, affecting gameplay since certain attacks only work in one direction. The playing field is divided into hexagons with varying effects. The player controls the Earth Space Corps or the Bydo and can access over 100 units, including R-series fighters from other R-Type games. Each fighter has unique abilities such as sub-space movement and a distinct set of attacks. New units and upgrades can be purchased using abilities acquired during the game, and units can also be captured by taking objectives like derelict space stations and starbases. Support units include large carrier ships, maintenance units, and Force units. Force units can be controlled separately or attached to R-series fighters, functioning as a unidirectional shield with stronger attacks; when detached, they act as independent tanks. The TP-02C POW armor serves as a supply unit and is used for capturing locations. The Rr2o-3 can repair friendly units or mine asteroids for minerals—Solonium, Etherium, and Bydogen—needed for producing new units, especially Forces. Certain human-side units can also extract Bydogen from Bydo units.

Plot

The narrative follows a player-character who is an officer in Earth's Space Corps in the year MC 0065, with plot details fleshed out by journal entries. In the Space Corps campaign, the player is newly commissioned into a force losing engagements against the alien Bydo. After training, the player investigates a lost outpost on Mars, then advances outside the Solar System, recruiting more pilots. The fleet travels through a hyperspace warp called the Tesseract via a warp-gate station beyond Pluto to the Bydo's star system. In the final battle on the Bydo homeworld, the player encounters remains of defeated Space Corps ships and defeats the Bydo's core, but the core opens a black hole that assimilates the fleet in slime, a Pyrrhic victory. Completing this unlocks the Bydo campaign. In the Bydo campaign, the player-character awakens absorbed as one of the aliens, fights out of the Bydo star system against former Space Corps comrades, and learns the Bydo's origins. After fighting to Earth and defeating the home defense forces, the player-character realizes they are no longer welcome in a Bydo fleet. The ending shows Bydo forces escaping Earth during a fierce Space Corps counterattack.

Release

Players could try out a demo of this game through Famitsu PSP Vol.8, which offered Mission A-1, A-2, and B stages. A separate demo was also made available for download on the PlayStation Network in the NTSC-U region. Those who pre-ordered the North American version received a small, pre-painted black gashapon model of the R-9A Arrowhead fighter. Produced by Yujin, this kit required some assembly and came with the fighter, the Force system, bits, and a display stand. Toy manufacturer A-Label produced both standard and black versions of the R-9A Arrowhead as part of its Madou Gokin line, with only 2,000 standard copies made and a custom red version by Benables also on offer. An Rwf-9D Shooting Star fighter model followed in March 2011.