R Type Command

R Type Command takes the best of the tactical gameplay we've come to know from tactical shooters in a new way. It's a turn-based affair, where each player has to place points on a grid to get them from one location to another. There are no set points to worry about; the game consists of hexes rather than the paths that one side leads. As the player moves their army through each hexes, the tiles are revealed on the grid and you have to move your units wherever you want.

The game features seven battle areas, which the player controls in four categories: elemental warfare, attack, stealth, and covert. Each is represented by a specific animal and its type. When you encounter a jungle mob, the enemy is vulnerable to two different types of animals: the bird and the robot, and you have to aim for where your lion and its robot are facing. Each type of animal requires the same number of points on the map, and each has different bonuses and penalties. Once the bull and robot are hit, you lose a bonus point, but the robot is permanently given a buff, so it's worth it. Each type of robot has unique features that allow the player to set up strategies for each battle. For example, attacking an enemy tower with your wolf or robot would net you a bonus, while attacking from a machine with your robot would grant you a bonus. A robot and its robot complement each other so that your unit's abilities will have a similar effect. For example, if you attack an enemy tower with your robots, you'll earn bonuses for it. Each type of robot has unique advantages and disadvantages, so there are only three or four strengths that distinguish each type of unit.

Your standard-style combat robot is the battle robot, the assault robot, and the robot. The assault robot uses the same basic attack buttons and has the same abilities, but it has a set of weapons. Each robot has its own unique attack button and has its own attack button. Attack buttons make your robots attack with a series of elemental weapons, and while you only have one attack button to worry about in the air, it's a good way to keep the opponent off balance.

As your robot, you're able to purchase upgrades to your robots, and these range from spells to additional weapons. Each robot has his or her own set of special abilities, as well, which can help keep the game fresh. One of the most important abilities, known as the "light bulb," is activated in the middle of your attack. When it's activated, the light bulb spreads outward and damages enemies. You can use the light bulb as a dash, to knock enemies down or to climb up walls. The light bulb makes you control the light bulb to allow you to attack enemies in the air. To attack, you must press the shoulder buttons, or a key on the D pad. When the light bulb is fully charged, you can also hold down the button to unleash a melee attack.

This mechanic, if used properly, lets you take control of one robot, and then you can perform a variety of actions, like blocking, taking damage, or pushing on enemies. The five weapons include a rocket launcher and a shotgun, and each has its own unique style. Some of the weapons, like the rocket launcher, are inspired by the Japanese fire-breathing katana. The rocket launcher has the power to knock opponents back while also stunning them. This gun, which has an alternate fire mode, allows you to shoot rockets from your blaster and then shoot them back in the opposite direction. You'll also find two other robot armament, such as an energy shotgun and a cannon, that are inspired by ninja ninjas and their need for speed. The ninja armament is a beefed-up version of the samurai armament, and it's composed of the typical blades and spears. The weapon itself has two alternate fire modes: one that's more accurate and makes it more difficult to aim and, if you get hit, it can explode in a chain reaction.

The next weapon we saw was a similar one, in which you have a long-range weapon that fires its primary fire button to make the enemy temporarily stunned, then use it as a projectile. To counter this attack, you'll need to stand on the defensive barrier and tap the B button to keep your opponent in the center of the screen. When the barrier is exposed, you'll need to hold down the square button and tap the A button in time with the enemy to leave a trail of life in your wake. The assisted mode does a similar thing. While you can take a step forward, you'll still have to get your opponent moving around the screen in order to get the warrior to move. The bottom level will be populated by enemy soldiers, which you can also defeat by pressing the R button. To help balance the action, the developers will be making some tweaks to the way the game plays.