A Classic Side-Scrolling Shooter From the ‘90s Is Making a Comeback

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I’m so hyped! One of my all-time favorite games from the 80s is getting a re-release, and as a fan of classic shooters, I couldn’t be happier. These days, most shooters put you inside the action, but back then, it was all about side-scrolling games, and there were so many of them. While a lot were fun, only a few really stood out. This one, though – it was amazing. The graphics were top-notch for the time, the sound was really immersive, it was seriously challenging, and it just had this incredible atmosphere. People have been begging for this to come back for ages, and now it finally is!

The classic game R-Type is returning on April 30, 2026, after being unavailable for years. We first mentioned its comeback back in September 2025, but a release date wasn’t known then. Now, we have an update: R-Type DX: Music Encore is coming to modern gaming systems. This isn’t just a simple re-release of the 1999 Game Boy Color game R-Type DX; it features plenty of new content alongside the original, making it a worthwhile experience. The game is being developed and published by City Connection.

R-Type DX: Music Encore Releases on April 30, 2026

If you somehow missed it back in the day, the original R-Type first hit arcades in 1987 and it was a huge deal! It really launched the whole series. I remember Nintendo brought it to the US, and it was totally addictive – I blew through all my allowance money feeding quarters into the machine! Interestingly, it ended up being Nintendo’s last arcade game, as they decided to focus on games for their home consoles. But thankfully, R-Type lived on! It was ported to so many systems, like the TurboGrafx-16, Sega Master System, and even the Game Boy Color, which is where a lot of us first experienced it.

R-Type DX: Music Encore brings together the classic arcade games R-Type and R-Type II, originally released on Game Boy Color. This compilation adds a unique mode where you can play both games consecutively, creating one extended experience. The game features brand new music tracks composed by retro game sound specialist WASi303, who used original sound chips from portable devices to capture the authentic feel of the era while adding a fresh touch.

The updated game features new scoring systems, giving players exciting high scores to aim for, reminiscent of classic arcade games. It also includes modern conveniences like rewind, the ability to start with all power-ups, quick save/load options, and a rapid-fire toggle, among other improvements. Fans of the original game will likely be thrilled with the release on April 30, 2026. It will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

Excited about the upcoming release of R-Type DX: Music Encore on April 30, 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-25 16:10