While the gameplay is rather problematic in this one -lots of waiting with absolutely nothing happening- the worldbuilding of this title is what sets it apart for me; while the other games in the series have excellent stories on their own, replete with raw environmental immersion, final wraps most bits of plot up with a neat bow, and fleshes out the world in a way that makes me want to see some kind of manga/show because of the universes excellent storytelling opportunities, and grimdark nature. Also having like 100 playable ships, complete with lore tidbits is neat.
yes please
This review contains spoilers
One of the final levels is a sex scene
I think the title was appropriate before we got word that R-Type Final 2 might be coming. I don't think I've played a better shmup since -- the distinctly dynamic differences in difficulty, the ability to do pacifist runs, the multiple ending types, the alterable level structure based on actions taken in the game, the sheer number of ships to experiment with to find your favorite...this game hits the perfect spot for me.