R-Type DX is getting a new Game Boy Color cartridge

Retro-Bit is taking pre-orders for a new physical release of R-Type DX on the Game Boy Color. The pre-order window opened yesterday and runs through November 1. This deluxe edition includes a plasma-colored cartridge and a full-color instruction manual, all wrapped in new packaging. The whole set costs $45. That's honestly cheaper than tracking down a pristine original copy, which is the nicest thing I can say about the retro secondary market.

Five modes on one cartridge

The original R-Type DX launched in 1999. UK developer Bits Studios managed to squeeze the arcade classics R-Type and R-Type II onto a single portable format. The compilation features five different ways to play. It includes the original monochrome Game Boy versions of both games, color-enhanced versions for the Game Boy Color, and a combined DX mode that plays them back-to-back.

The original R-Type hit arcades in 1987, followed by R-Type II in 1989. Both games helped shape the scrolling shooter genre with their deliberate pacing and the detachable Force pod mechanic. You can attach the pod to the front or back of your ship to absorb bullets, or launch it forward to deal damage. Bits Studios managed to translate all of that strategic depth to the Game Boy's limited button layout. It's an impressive technical achievement. The DX mode is the main draw here, letting you play a seamless campaign that stitches both games together into one long run.

I'm always surprised by how well these ports hold up. The hardware limitations of the Game Boy forced the developers to adapt the brutal arcade difficulty into something slightly more manageable. It works well on a small screen. The arcade originals are notoriously punishing. This handheld version gives you a fighting chance, which makes it a genuinely great entry point for anyone who usually avoids the entire shoot 'em up genre.

Anime art and vinyl records

Retro-Bit brought in anime artist Paul "Otaking" Johnson to illustrate the new hardcover packaging. It gives the classic Irem designs a sharp modern update. The deluxe box houses the cartridge alongside a numbered certificate. It looks great. This physical edition is a nice touch for a re-release of a 27-year-old game that rarely gets this kind of dedicated premium treatment.

The company is also releasing the game's soundtrack separately. You can grab it on CD or a purple marble vinyl record. The vinyl format feels a bit ambitious for 8-bit handheld audio. Still, the chiptune arrangements of the arcade tracks are genuinely good, and they sound surprisingly rich when pumped through a proper stereo system instead of a tiny Game Boy speaker. I'll definitely give it a listen.

Pre-orders are available directly through Retro-Bit's official store, with the soundtrack listed on a separate page. The cartridge is fully compatible with original monochrome Game Boy hardware. You won't get the enhanced colors. If you want to see the new visual upgrades, you'll obviously need a Game Boy Color or a modern FPGA system to play it properly. That's just how the hardware works.