Game: R-Type Delta: HD Boosted
Genre: Action, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows), PlayStation and Xbox)
Developer|Publisher: City Connection, Irem | Clear River Games
Age Rating: EU 12 | US Teen
Price: US $24.99 | UK 20.69 | EU € 24.99
Release Date: November 20th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to Overload PR.
R-Type Delta: HD Boosted – Laser Blast From the Past
R-Type Delta is one of those games I’d quietly given up on ever seeing again in a modern, convenient format. I remember spotting a copy of the original PlayStation game at a market years ago, hesitating, and then foolishly walking away. When I went back to correct my mistake, it was already gone.
So, finally getting the chance to play it, without having to hunt down ageing hardware, felt like settling an old score with myself. And in many ways, this re-release delivers exactly what I’d hoped for. But it also stops short of offering the kind of extras that modern retro collections have taught us to expect.
Now in 3D
If you’ve never dipped your toes into the R-Type universe before, Delta makes a strong first impression. It was the fourth entry in the series and the first to jump into full 3D, giving it that distinctive low-poly PlayStation look that has aged surprisingly well. The transition added depth, dramatic scenery, and a style that still stands out today. Even in HD, the aesthetic feels true to the era, with detailed environments, vast mechanical beasts, and set pieces that escalate into something spectacular by the time you’re halfway through a stage.
Pew Pew
Gameplay follows the classic R-Type blueprint: fly, survive, shoot everything, trying to erase you from existence. Enemies and bullets pour in from all angles, often turning the screen into a frantic light show. Your main weapon fires rapidly or, by holding a button, charges a more destructive beam. Then there’s the Force pod, R-Type’s trademark flying companion, that you can stick to the front or back of your ship for support fire and extra protection. You’ll be relying on it constantly, especially when dealing with patterns that look innocent at first and then immediately teach you otherwise.
Delta’s extra twist comes from the Delta Attack, an ultimate move that charges over time and unleashes enormous destruction when ready. It’s extremely satisfying to fire off, and it gives boss fights a real sense of payoff, especially when you’ve spent minutes trying to survive long enough to finally land it.
Brutally Tough
As strong as the core game is, it’s also brutally tough. One mistake sends you back to the previous checkpoint, and losing your power-ups in the process makes recovery feel like climbing a hill that’s steeper every time you slip. The difficulty curve jumps quickly, and while it’s absolutely in line with classic R-Type design, newcomers may need a moment to take a deep breath before attempting another run.
Fortunately, the game includes a practice mode that lets you revisit stages you’ve beaten and tweak certain settings, such as giving yourself unlimited lives, to get more familiar with tricky sections. It’s a thoughtful touch that helps soften the blow without diluting the original experience. It also encourages replaying the game with its three different ships, each with its own weapon loadouts, movement speeds, and devastating special attacks. Even if you know the levels well, each ship offers enough variance to make revisiting the campaign feel worthwhile.
Just the Game
Where the package stumbles is in what it doesn’t include. Apart from the sharper graphics, this is essentially the PlayStation game with a new coat of polish. There’s no bonus gallery, no behind-the-scenes materials, no historical notes, and not even a digital manual to give newcomers context. Considering how many retro rereleases now arrive with generous extras or come bundled in collections, it’s hard not to feel a little underwhelmed. The core gameplay is strong enough to stand on its own, but the lack of additions like rewind makes this version feel more like a bare-minimum preservation effort than a full celebration of a classic.
Still Epic
That said, the core is still immensely enjoyable. Power-ups remain satisfying to collect, boss fights are as dramatic as ever, and the spectacle ramps up fast, whether you’re weaving through collapsing city ruins or skimming the ocean floor. There’s a reason R-Type Delta has held such a reputation over the years: it’s stylish, mechanically tight, and unafraid to push players to their limits.
If you’re a long-time fan of shmups or someone who remembers Delta from its original release, this HD Boosted edition is absolutely worth picking up. It’s far cheaper than tracking down a physical PlayStation copy and offers a crisp, convenient way to revisit a standout entry in the series. For newcomers, the steep difficulty may be intimidating, but if you’re curious about classic space shooters, this remains one of the stronger introductions to the genre.
Conclusion: Retro Gem
In the end, R-Type Delta: HD Boosted is a faithful revival of a standout game, maybe a little too faithful at times, but I’m still very glad it’s finally here. Despite the absence of modern extras, it’s a brilliant slice of ‘90s sci-fi intensity brought back to life, and after all these years, it still knows how to deliver a thrilling fight.
Final Verdict: I Like It
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