Mini Review: R-Type Delta: HD Boosted (PS5) – Glow-Up of PS1 Classic Shmup Still Has the Sauce

R-Type Delta is a PS1 classic. One of the greatest shmups of its age, the title hasn’t received a port since 2009 on the PS3, so this has been a long time coming.

As the first R-Type with 3D graphics, we were worried the title might not look great with proper HD graphics. This era of 3D gaming tends to look pretty rough when viewed in hi-def.

However, we’re impressed with the visuals. The touched-up environments are highly detailed, surprisingly destructible, and vibrant. The skyboxes are especially beautiful.

Even better, Delta is far more forgiving when it comes to collisions. Not having to be afraid of one pixel touching a building and destroying you makes the game a lot more enjoyable and allows for much more aggressive play. Collision woes are still present with enemies, but in context of gameplay, it’s acceptable.

The 3 playable ships in the game are very different from one another, giving you divergent options when it comes to weapon variety. This can be a bit of a double-edged sword, as certain upgrade paths will make some areas more difficult.

If your special can’t reach an enemy around a corner, it could mean repeated death, for example. While this doesn’t sound like a huge deal, the game doesn’t utilise a traditional chapter select, so repeated deaths can mean a botched run.

But this is a minor gripe when the weapons and special attacks are so fun to use. Activating a huge lightning storm miasma to obliterate a boss is incredibly gratifying.

While the game features new music that slots in seamlessly, the sound effects could have done with some more modernisation. When too much is happening, the weapons essentially sound like static.

Ultimately, this is a brilliant remaster of a great title, and if you’re a fan of shmups, this is a must.