PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

R-Type Dimensions III may be one of the toughest shoot 'em ups ever made but the amount of fun to be had in this striking remake is superb.

R-Type Dimensions III is a great remaster of an Super Nintendo classic. Challenging and rewarding gameplay will need your full attention and more, but it is fully worth it. The stage design is one of the best in the series, while the new 3D graphics are well done as well. However, the new music by Eric Krause steals the show – it is absolutely fantastic.

R-Type Dimensions III preserves the challenge and satisfaction that made the series a shoot 'em up classic. The core gameplay remains highly rewarding, and the optional visual enhancements offer a fresh way to experience it. However, the new features feel somewhat limited, making the overall package harder to justify at its current price despite its enduring quality.

R-Type Dimensions III is a good remaster of a classic game that comes with a few issues and strange changes that might put off some players. I do see new players and casual shooter fans having fun with this port, but some seasoned veterans might be turned off a little. Not a terrible release by any means, but the addition of a classic 2 player mode, patches for the hitbox/weapons issues and perhaps some more unlockables might have made it better. If you are a horizontal shooter fan of any skill level, you should give this one a try but don’t expect a perfect experience. It’s good, but not as great as it could have been.

The classic SNES shooter gets a 3D remaster, making R-Type III both brilliant and frustrating.

Hardcore fans of the original will no doubt get more enjoyment out of R-Type Dimensions III than others, but they'll still encounter some issues with the game's audio amongst other things. But ultimately, with its lack of new features and modes, its main issue is that it doesn't capitalise on its potential.

R-Type Dimensions III marks the return of a series that makes difficulty its defining strength, placing players in a situation where game over is always just around the corner. It's a niche title, aimed at those who enjoy testing themselves and learning every enemy pattern — just as happened decades ago on old and glorious consoles. To be honest, this isn't a particularly innovative entry, but rather an adequate update that nonetheless carries some issues likely to raise eyebrows among the most demanding fans. It's not a game for everyone, even with the inclusion of an "infinite lives" mode: at the end of the day, constantly dying and pushing forward by brute force isn't all that fun. Let's be real: scrolling shooters are irresistible and their charm remains fully intact. For that very reason, a few features to make the title more accessible to newcomers wouldn't have gone amiss. What a shame!

With the arrival of R-Type III Dimensions, we now have the first four titles in the franchise officially re-released, but this one still deserved a better presentation. The idea of remodeling the game is great in theory, but in practice it fell far short of its potential. The excessive difficulty also aged poorly, especially when compared to other franchises in the genre that have resurfaced in compilations and anniversary editions. At least we were graced with a great rearranged soundtrack.

An oft-forgotten entry in the classic 2D shooter series gets a disappointingly sloppy remake, that can’t even offer an authentic version of the SNES original as an alternative.

An outstanding shooter based on the great SNES title R-Type III: The Third Lightning, featuring technical enhancements and new gameplay additions. [Recommended]