Jeremy Parish

Segaiden 70: Rambo III & R-Type (Patreon)

Published:

2025-01-22 12:37:47

Imported:

2026-06

Tags:

Compile light phaser r-type rambo sega segaiden sylvester stallone

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"R" you ready for this episode? Looking back at this one, I think I was feeling a little punchy when I scripted it. But, really, there's only so much you can say about a mediocre light gun game based on a mediocre movie from the "transitioning into a regular Alex Jones guest" era of Stallone's career. On the other hand, R-Type—that's a pretty good one. Especially since this port comes to us courtesy of those mad lads at Compile, allowing this conversion of the bio-creepy shooter to perform far better on Sega's hardware than should have been possible. Sure, there's a lot of flicker, which sometimes makes the game harder than it needs to be, since the sprite priority programming doesn't always remember to keep the bullets on-screen. But who can complain when an arcade port looks and plays like this on what amounts to a tarted-up ColecoVision? (Sorry, Master System, you know it's true.)

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Creature discomforts: Rambo III & R-Type | Segaiden 070

1988 winds down with a couple more games that feel extremely Sega Master System-like. One of them is a bad, difficult light gun game. Featuring Sylvester Stallone! Two clichés in one. The other, R-Type, is heck of good, but it's also a cliché given that it's heck of good in large part because Sega farmed it out to Compile to develop. And Compile, as you may have noticed by this point, does not miss. Unlike me with the Light Phaser throughout most of Rambo III. Alas. Production notes: Learn more about the Master System's history by preordering The NES Era Vol. III: NES and the Peak of 8-Bit, a comprehensive photographic atlas of every console game released for NES and its competitors—including the Intellivision—at the height of their power, from January 1988 through the advent of 16-bit systems in August 1989. Take a deep dive into the prehistory of NES with this limited-edition oversized (12x12"!) photo book: https://limitedrungames.com/products/the-nes-era-vol-3-hardcover Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Master System footage captured from MiSTer (thanks to MiSTerAddOns) with a SNAC adapter for Light Phaser material. Video upscaled to 4K with RetroTink 4K. RGB cables courtesy of StoneAgeGamer.com and Allie Bellrose.