Special Edition Contents

This Special Limited Edition offers additional insights to R-Type III.

Physical Game + Printed Manual (Full Color)

Officially licensed Nintendo Switch game with a reversible cover.
Includes a beautiful retro-inspired printed manual filled with controls, lore, ship systems, Force breakdowns, stage briefs & tips.

Art Booklet

A high-quality soft cover book giving insights to:

Concept art to guide the visual journey of the remake
Behind-the-scenes designs
Further information on ship with weapons, but also enemies and level designs
More insights with comments from developer and some references to early R-Type III marketing from the 90's

Original Soundtrack on CD

Newly rearranged orchestration & synth remixes created for R-Type Dimensions III

The legendary side-scrolling shoot ’em up returns — bigger, bolder, and far more dangerous than ever before on Nintendo Switch.

R-Type Dimensions III is a full-scale reimagining of R-Type III: The Third Lightning, Irem’s cult 1993 console-exclusive masterpiece. Every infamous stage, every grotesque Bydo monstrosity, every cruel trap and rotating biomechanical nightmare has been rebuilt with modern 3D graphics, a rearranged soundtrack, and an arsenal of new features. Yet beneath the new polish beats the same sadistic heart of the SNES classic.

Fans of the original will feel right at home — and completely terrified.

As the pilot of the cutting-edge R-90 “Ragnarok”, you embark on the Third Bydo Mission armed with Wave Cannons, Bits, and one of the most defining mechanics in shmup history: the Force unit. The original R-Type III was the first in the series to introduce multiple Force types (Round, Shadow, and Cyclone), each radically altering how the game is played. These return here in stunning detail, with effects and animations faithful to their 16-bit personalities.

Now, more than 30 years later, you can experience this classic in two completely different dimensions — instantly.

With the push of a button, swap between authentic pixel-perfect 2D visuals and fully reimagined 3D graphics, complete with dynamic lighting, modern effects, animated environments, and cinematic camera flourishes.
No loading. No interruption. Just pure dimensional shift.

For hardcore fans, this remake includes nods to the original SNES secrets, visual homages to Tamtex’s clever Mode 7 trickery, reinterpreted boss-entry animations, and environmental details inspired by Japanese design notes and old developer commentary. (Yes, that infamous Stage 2 censorship oddity? It’s referenced in a clever way. Yes, the lava labyrinth in Stage 4 is still agonizing. No, the Force pod still won’t protect you from everything.)

Prepare to face the Bydo as you’ve never seen them before — or exactly as you remember them.

Either way, you’re going to die. A lot.

New Features in R-Type Dimensions III

Advanced Mode – A New Level of Pain
The entire campaign re-engineered for maximum brutality.

Faster enemy movement
Denser projectile patterns
Remixed waves and boss variants
It’s the closest thing to a modern arcade “Ultra Mode”

2-Player Local Co-op – Bring a Wingman
Coordinate your Forces, stagger your Wave Cannon charges, and relive the golden age of cooperative shmups — all from your couch.

Instant 2D/3D Switch – Reality Is Optional
Tap once to switch between:

Classic SNES-style pixel art, meticulously recreated
Dynamic 3D visuals with modern shaders, effects, and animated backgrounds
Swap on the fly — even mid-boss — for an experience that feels both nostalgic and cutting-edge.

Multiple Difficulty Levels – For Trainees and Masochists Alike
From introductory settings for newcomers to brutal Expert Mode, every pilot can find their (un)comfort zone.

Online Leaderboards – Climb the Dimensional Ladder
Take your place among global R-Type aces.
Score-chasing returns with modern tracking and bragging rights.

R-Type Dimensions III - Special Edition (Nintendo Switch)