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R-Type II
R-Type II is a horizontal scrolling shooter released by Irem in 1989. Players pilot a spacecraft equipped with the distinctive Force pod, a detachable energy module that can be positioned for defense or offense. The game features eight levels of escalating difficulty with varied enemy formations and environmental hazards. Controls use a joystick for movement and buttons for firing the main weapon and managing the Force pod. Power-ups scattered throughout stages enhance firepower and provide temporary invulnerability. The gameplay emphasizes pattern memorization and precise positioning as players navigate through waves of enemies and challenging boss encounters.
- Developer
- Irem
- Released
- 1989
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Shooter
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 (3.5K)
- Last updated
R-Type II Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for R-Type II on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
R-Type II Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of R-Type II on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"R-Type II" Arcade longplay 1989
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was R-Type II released?
R-Type II was released in 1989 for the Arcade.
Who developed R-Type II?
R-Type II was developed by Irem, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is R-Type II?
R-Type II is a Shooter game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play R-Type II for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — R-Type II runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play R-Type II in the browser?
No. R-Type II streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in R-Type II?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does R-Type II work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play R-Type II this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of R-Type II. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
