R-Type III: The Third Lightning (SNES, 1993)
Graphics-8.5 Sound-7.5 Control-7 Challenge-8.5 Story-6
Level Design-6 Frustration-10 Fun-7 Originality-6
Overall Score-6.5
+
Faster pace than in Super R-Type
Choose between three different orbs
Good variety
Some very intense gameplay
Great set pieces overall (moving space base, alien lair, etc.)
Good bosses overall (large, detailed and fun to fight)
Fixed charge attack (manual release)
Nice effects (rotation, scaling, polygons?)
Good art direction
+/-
Adds checkpoints (they can be a disadvantage at times though)
-
Slowdown (less than in the prequel but not by much)
Extreme trial & error (sudden stop in stage 1, parts where you need to have a charge shot ready to destroy a blockade, final level, running lava segment, enemies coming in from behind)
Sloppy hit detection at times (eye projectiles on second boss)
Still no manual speed adjustment by default (still need to collect power ups)
No difficulty options (unlockable hard mode, no easy mode)
Weapon sets itself back to Beam after using Hyper at full power and cooling down
Very hard to recover after death (steep difficulty curve as well)
Level Design-6 Frustration-10 Fun-7 Originality-6
Overall Score-6.5
+
Faster pace than in Super R-Type
Choose between three different orbs
Good variety
Some very intense gameplay
Great set pieces overall (moving space base, alien lair, etc.)
Good bosses overall (large, detailed and fun to fight)
Fixed charge attack (manual release)
Nice effects (rotation, scaling, polygons?)
Good art direction
+/-
Adds checkpoints (they can be a disadvantage at times though)
-
Slowdown (less than in the prequel but not by much)
Extreme trial & error (sudden stop in stage 1, parts where you need to have a charge shot ready to destroy a blockade, final level, running lava segment, enemies coming in from behind)
Sloppy hit detection at times (eye projectiles on second boss)
Still no manual speed adjustment by default (still need to collect power ups)
No difficulty options (unlockable hard mode, no easy mode)
Weapon sets itself back to Beam after using Hyper at full power and cooling down
Very hard to recover after death (steep difficulty curve as well)