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Shoot-'em-ups are brilliant, and R-Type is one of those games which has been around since what seems like the dawn of time. Well okay, not quite that long perhaps - but for a while anyway.

The plot is simple: you take control of a state-of-the-art combat craft and pilot it through level after level of sideways-scrolling scenery obliterating anything that stands in your way. Although this is the first R-Type game to reach the Game Boy Color two games have already appeared on its parent the Game Boy. R-Type DX is basically a combination of these two games.

This cool shoot-'em-up boasts a total of five different games on the one cart, those being the two black and white R-Type titles, the same two games in enhanced colour and the new R-Type DX game.

While all these different games sound great, you're basically only getting three games for your money - because, while you can play in 'original black and white' it's still the same game you're playing and, let's face it, if we wanted to play in black and white we'd have stuck with the original Game Boy!

As far as the three colour games go though, you're getting great value for money, although it's probably more accurate to call them modes rather than games. The graphics overall are sharp and colourful and the animation is excellent.

Having praised the visuals, the craft that you control does handle a little sluggishly and there are other disappointments. One of the best things about the original game was the huge blast of energy you could release from your gun by charging it up. The energy is still there in this version but the blast is disappointingly puny.

Another annoying thing is that when you face the end-of-level bosses, you need to hit them in specific areas to kill them. However, the bosses don't indicate whether your shots are having any effect until they finally explode - they could at least change colour or something so that you know you're shooting in the right place!

In summary, what you've got is a superb shoot-'em-up with a few small niggles which prevent it from being great. It should still keep fans of the genre going for quite some time!

Ah, now I remember R-Type (cue misty-eyed recollections of playing the king of shoot-'em-ups on the long defunct PC Engine back in the late Eighties). Many, many hours were spent bringing justice back to the galaxy by royally whupping the xenomorphic butts of the Bydo Empire.

And I'm chuffed like nobody's business that I can play this true beauty all over again on the Game Boy Color. It looks good in black and white, but lawks-a-lordy, it really zings in colour! If you've never played R-Type before, get this. Simply marvellous!

Graphics 80%
Colourful and fast sprites.

Sound 80%
Great arcade-style effects.

Playability 80%
Classic shooting action all the way!

Lastability 80%
Five games on offer - wow!

Overall 80%
The perfect shoot-'em-up!