A faithful adaptation of the original arcade game--no longer separated by two hu-cards--R-Type is a fun trip.
Interestingly enough, the original Turbo Grafx 16 release was divided into two separate HU cards due to its enormous undertaking in replicating as much of its original source as possible. As a VC download, you get the complete game in its entirety--no card switching necessary. All of the game's levels, enemies and insane difficulty have been ported over in their intrepid glory from the arcade game--much to your satisfactory dismay, no doubt. Given the limitations of the TG-16 hardware, the graphics come remarkably close to their arcade detail, so that in itself is impressive. All the arcade music made the cut as well, emulated admirably to the point of not being able to tell the difference between the two versions.
R-Type is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters ever made--due in large part to its innovative gameplay elements (the Force module) and unique visual presentation. The TG-16 game faithfully transitions all of that to a tee and, as of today, can be enjoyed for what it is. Shooter fans looking for a nostaglic fix or just want a fun arcade experience needn't look much further than R-Type.