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Atlus commandeering R-Type Command

Turn-based strategy installment in Irem's classic side-scrolling shooter series to invade PSPs on May 6.

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In 2004, Irem released R-Type Final, which was billed as the last installment in the classic side-scrolling shooter series that began in arcades circa 1987. However, far from being left for dead, Irem's classic R-Type series experienced a renaissance of sorts in late 2006 and early 2007 when the first and third installments in the franchise were given new life on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console.

"Final" is typically always open to interpretation.

The reception to R-Type on the Wii VC was apparently positive enough for Irem to resuscitate the series for another intergalactic mission in Japan last year, where the developer released R-Type Tactics. Now, Atlus USA has announced today that it will be fueling up Irem's iconic space fighter for the North American market with R-Type Command, set to cruise onto the PlayStation Portable on May 6.

R-Type Command is a departure from the series' shoot-'em-up roots. Playing into Atlus' affinity for all things role-playing, turn-based, or strategic, the newest R-Type offers tactical gameplay in a war to save humanity against the nefarious Bydo alien race. R-Type Command features more than 100 different units for players to deploy, each of which comes with various upgrade and customization options.

The game also allows players for the first time to take control of the Bydo in their bid to conquer Earth. This will undoubtedly play into the game's local head-to-head multiplayer mode, where players can compete against one another in ad hoc battles for two.

R-Type Command has been rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older and will retail for $39.99. For more on the game, check out R-Type Command's Web site, which went live today.

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