Atlus have just announced that the English language version of R-Type Command will be released in North America on the 6th May 2008. For the first time in the series the action is all turn-based strategy. Tikipod picked up the Japanese version a while back and seemed to like it. Personally, I decided to wait for the English release as the game is a little text heavy.

Some features of R-Type Command:

• Intense strategy gameplay - Almost 100 different units to command
• Control the Bydo forces - Hehe, time to attack Earth!
• Head-to-head local multiplayer - One-on-one strategy battle time

Look out for my review when the US version drops through my letterbox in May. In the meantime you can gaze lovingly at the screenshot below. Ooooh, so pretty.

Popularity: 7% [?]

I’ve been looking forward to playing this side scrolling shooter for a while now. You can’t have too many side-scrolling shooters as far as I’m concerned. Fortunately, the grand daddy of all shoot-em-ups R-Type is available on the Wii’s virtual console. And now we have this little fella marauding about the 360 with Ikaruga on the horizon. Things are looking pretty rosy for shoot-em-up fans.

Omega 5 certainly looks nice with it’s high-def visuals. It promises to be quite tough too with the ultra-challenging “++ Mode”, where you’re only allowed one hit. You can also play with a friend, but only from the comfort of your living/bed room. Shame. Online co-op would have been quite fun.

It’s out now on Xbox Live Arcade, and costs 800 Microsoft points. Which I will buy using a pre-paid points card since I’m currently removing my card details from Xbox Live.

Popularity: 10% [?]