 | Digital Release | PlayStation Portable September 24, 2009 (JP) October 22, 2009 (US) May 05, 2010 (EU) |
| Delisting | August 11, 2011 (JP) 2012 (US) 2017 - 2019 (EU) |
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| Developer | Irem | |
| Publisher | Irem (JP) Atlus (US) Rising Star Games (EU) |
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| Available On | Retail PlayStation Portable |
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| Links | PlayStation.com page |
Delisting
R-Type Tactics was delisted from the Japanese PlayStation Store on August 11th, 2011 alongside numerous other titles from Irem. The game was next delisted in North America — where it was released as R-Type Command — at some point in 2012. An approximate date range has yet to be determined. R-Type Tactics remained available digitally across European territories from publisher Rising Star Games but was eventually delisted between 2017 and 2019. See below for more details on Irem’s delisted titles.
Irem’s Delisting History – 2011
Several factors resulted in Irem canceling two of its major upcoming releases and backing away from the console video game industry in 2011. The company changed its focus to the pachinko and slot machine industries where it originally got its start and as a result began delisting most of its digital console titles.
On July 22nd, 2011, import gaming site Andriasang posted a notice that Irem would be delisting many of their digital PlayStation releases on August 11th. This included demos, videos, themes and the following titles:
- Gussun Paradise (YoYo’s Puzzle Park [EU]) (PSN)
- Hammerin’ Hero (Ikuze! Gen-San: Yuuyake Daiku Monogatari [JP], GenSan [EU]) (PSP)
- Irem Arcade Classics [JP] (PSN)
- Puzzle Guzzle (Mousukesu based on Carton-kun [JP], Mawaskes [EU]) (PSP)
- R-Type Tactics (R-Type Command [US]) (PSP)
- R-Type Tactics II Operation Bitter Chocolate [JP] (PSP)
- R-Types [JP] (PSN)
- R-Type Delta [JP] (PSN)
- Narisokonai Eiyuutan: Taiyou to Tsuki no Monogatari [JP] (PSP)
- Sengoku Efuda Yuugi: Hototogisu Ran [JP] (PSP)
- Sengoku Efuda Yuugi: Hototogisu Tairan [JP] (PSP)
- Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament (Poncotsu Roman Daikatsugeki Bumpy Trot: Vehicle Battle Tournament [JP]) (PSP)
The Andriasang announcement also confirmed that several of Irem’s “spaces” for PlayStation Home would be shut down on September 1st, 2011. By September 30th, both the TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Master System versions of R-Type were delisted from the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console in North America; in Japan they were delisted by October 18th. The Japan-exclusive Spelunker Black on PlayStation 3 was delisted by December 20th, 2011.
Irem’s Delisting History – 2012
According to Irem’s website, the following titles were delisted in Japan by March 30th, 2012:
- Image Fight (Wii Virtual Console [JP])
- Image Fight II (Wii Virtual Console [JP])
- Legend of Hero Tonma (Wii Virtual Console)
- Ninja Spirit (Saigo no Nindou: Ninja Spirit [JP]) (Wii Virtual Console)
- R-Type Part-2 (Wii Virtual Console [JP])
- R-Type III: The Third Lightning (Wii Virtual Console)
- Super R-Type (Wii Virtual Console)
- Spelunker (3DS, Wii & Wii U Virtual Console)
- Vigilante (Wii Virtual Console)
Alongside Spelunker, Irem also delisted Spelunker HD on PlayStation 3, then a Japanese exclusive. After licensing the rights to the franchise from Irem, Tozai Games published new versions of Spelunker HD and the original Spelunker across all major territories and continued developing new collections and sequels.
No later than August 7th, 2012 the Western releases of the above titles, as well as R-Type Delta and R-Types on PlayStation 3, were delisted in their respective territories. R-Type Command was also delisted in North America at some point in 2012.
Irem’s Delisting History – 2017 to 2019
R-Type Tactics from publisher Rising Star Games was delisted across European territories between 2017 and 2019. Irem re-released several of their Wii Virtual Console titles on the Nintendo Wii U eShop in Japan in 2015 while Konami published some of these titles in Western territories between 2017 and 2018. Throughout 2019 these titles were delisted from the eShop as entries in the Arcade Archives series from Hamster were released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Wii U titles delisted in 2019 include:
- Battle Chopper / Mr. Heli
- Image Fight
- Image Fight II
- Legend of Hero Tonma
- Ninja Spirit
- R-Type
- Vigilante
About the Game
In a desperate war against the mysterious alien race known as the Bydo, humanity sends wave after wave of fighters into Bydo space – none of which are ever heard from again. Mankind’s main hope now resides with a lone commander, sent to lead a small armada on a perilous mission into the heart of the Bydo Empire. Low on fuel and forced to scavenge resources and equipment from his surroundings, the commander must use all his cunning and wits if he hopes to succeed, let alone make it home alive.