R-Type Given New Life in One-of-a-Kind Collector's Cartridge

POMONA, CA, -- Retro-Bit® Publishing, a brand new publishing imprint of Retro-Bit® that is distributed exclusively by Innex Inc®, is set to package two of the most iconic and critically-acclaimed IREM® shoot 'em ups together in one 16-bit cartridge for the first time this August 2018 with the release of R-Type® III & Super R-Type® Collector's Edition.

First released in 1991 alongside the Super Nintendo Entertainment System®, Super R-Type® was hailed as "easily the best Super NES® shooter on the market" by Electronic Gaming Monthly (September, 1991) and "an outstanding piece of work" by GamePro (November, 1991). It sees the formidable R-9 once again go up against the evil Bydo Empire in seven intense stages inspired by the 1989 arcade game R-Type II®.

Three years after the series' explosive Super NES® debut, the Bydo Empire returned in R-Type III®: The Third Lightning. Named "the best shoot 'em up to appear in a long time" by SNES® Force (March, 1994), the popular action game puts players in control of the most powerful and versatile R-series vessel yet -- the R-90 Ragnarok. Equipped with Round, Shadow, or Cyclone Forces of power, as well as the ability to warp between dimensions, R-Type III is an epic fight for Earth's survival.

Bundled together for the first time ever, R-Type III & Super R-Type Collector's Edition will include a 16-bit cartridge that can be played on the Super NES®, Super Famicom and select Retro-Bit® consoles. The exclusive hard embossed collector's box will come loaded with a full-color instruction manual featuring original artwork, R-Type branded notebook, exclusive sticker collection and an individually numbered certificate of authenticity, along with art prints by the world-renowned artist Paul "OtaKing" Johnson from his R-Type fan-inspired anime collection. Retro-Bit has also collaborated with FiGPiN® to create a limited edition R-Type pin set.

"R-Type is back with the limited edition collector's package gamers have been asking for," explains Ron Pang, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Innex Inc. "We're taking two of IREM's most iconic 16-bit shooters and offering fans the ultimate collection of exclusives, high-quality content and value at an attractive price. R-Type III & Super R-Type Collector's Edition and Holy Diver are just the first of many possible exclusive releases from Retro-Bit® Publishing."

Shoot 'em up fans looking to take the fight to the Bydo Empire will need to act fast, as production will be limited to only 2,900 units in North America and 2,800 in Europe. The first one-thousand units in each region will come with an exclusive Galactic Blue cartridge. R-Type III & Super R-Type Collector's Edition is currently available for pre-order and will retail for $59.99 when it begins shipping in late August.

More information can be found at Retro-Bit.com/r-type.