Absolute Beginner's Guide to R-Type Tactics

R-Type Tactics flips the classic shoot-'em-up formula into a turn-based strategy game. You command a fleet of spacecraft on a hex grid, take turns moving and attacking, and can even jump into individual units for real-time shoot-'em-up sequences. This guide gets you from zero to competent in one read.

What Is R-Type Tactics?

R-Type Tactics is a turn-based strategy game set in the R-Type universe. You control a fleet of ships on a hex-based grid, issuing movement and attack commands each turn. Unlike traditional R-Type games where you pilot a single ship, here you manage an entire battlegroup.

The collection includes two full games:

• R-Type Tactics I — The original campaign. Earth forces vs. the Bydo Empire. You play as Earth.
• R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate — The sequel. Adds a full Bydo campaign where you play as the aliens, plus new units and branching story paths.

The Cosmos re-release updates both games with HD visuals, rebalanced gameplay, and quality-of-life improvements over the original PSP versions.

Game Modes & What to Play First

If you're brand new to the series, here's the recommended order:

1. RTT I — Earth Campaign (Normal). This is the tutorial in everything but name. It introduces mechanics gradually and gives you time to learn.
2. RTT I — Hard Mode. Replay for better ranks and unlockables.
3. RTT II — Earth Campaign. Builds on everything from RTT I with more complex missions.
4. RTT II — Bydo Campaign. Completely different playstyle. Save this for when you know the mechanics cold.

Controls & UI Walkthrough

Main Screen Layout

During a mission, the screen is divided into several key areas:

• Hex Grid (center) — The main battlefield. Blue hexes are your movement range; red hexes are attack range.
• Unit Panel (bottom) — Shows selected unit stats: HP, EN (energy), fuel, weapon loadout.
• Turn Order (side) — Initiative queue showing which units move next. Critical for planning.
• Minimap (corner) — Full battlefield overview. Toggle with Select/Back.
• Resource Counter (top) — Current Solonium (currency) and Force Points.

Basic Controls

Building Your First Fleet

Before each mission, you deploy units onto the map within a deployment zone. Each unit costs a certain number of deployment points, and you have a cap per mission.

Recommended Starter Fleet (Earth — RTT I)

• R-9A Arrowhead (x2) — Your bread-and-butter fighter. Balanced stats, reliable Force weapon. Deploy at least two.
• R-9D Shooting Star (x1) — Longer range, slightly frailer. Good for fire support behind the Arrowheads.
• Repair Unit (x1) — Heals adjacent units. Keep it behind your front line. New players always skip this. Don't.
• Transport Ship (x1) — Carries units across the map faster. Load your slowest unit onto it for rapid deployment.

Combat Basics

Turn Structure

Each turn has three phases:

1. Deployment Phase — Place new units from reserves (only on certain turns).
2. Action Phase — Move and attack with each unit. Order is determined by unit speed + initiative.
3. End Phase — Status effects tick, objectives check, resources regenerate.

Movement

Each unit has a movement range displayed in blue hexes. Terrain affects movement cost — open space costs 1 per hex; asteroid fields cost 2. You can move and then attack (but not attack then move, unless the unit has the "Hit & Run" trait).

Attacking

Each weapon on a unit has:

• Range — Shown in red hexes. Some weapons are directional (forward arc only).
• Damage — Modified by target armor type and range fall-off.
• EN Cost — Energy consumed per shot. If EN is zero, the weapon can't fire.
• Ammo — Some weapons have limited shots per mission. Check before you commit.

Facing Matters

Units have a facing direction. Side and rear attacks deal bonus damage. Always position to flank the enemy front line. The difference between a frontal hit and a rear hit can be 2× damage or more.

Resource Management

You manage three resources during a mission:

• Solonium — Earned by destroying enemies and capturing points. Used to call in reinforcements during deployment phases. Don't hoard it — a unit on the field now is worth more than a unit that deploys on turn 15.
• Energy (EN) — Per-unit resource consumed by weapons and special abilities. Recharges slightly each turn. Watch your EN gauge — an empty unit is dead weight.
• Fuel — Per-unit limit on total movement per mission (not per turn). Long-range units consume less per hex but have smaller tanks. If a unit runs out of fuel mid-mission, it's stranded.

The Force System

The Force is R-Type's signature mechanic. It's a detachable pod that can be:

• Attached to the front — Absorbs damage and enhances your forward weapon.
• Attached to the rear — Covers your back. Useful when retreating.
• Detached — Acts as an independent drone, attacking enemies automatically.

Mastering Force positioning is what separates good players from great ones. Detach your Force when you need to cover two angles at once. Reattach it when you need the damage shield.

Your First 5 Missions

Here's a spoiler-free preview of what the opening missions teach you:

1. Mission 1 — "First Contact". Tutorial mission. Move forward, shoot Bydo scouts. Learn basic movement and attack.
2. Mission 2 — "Asteroid Field". Introduces terrain effects. Navigate through asteroids while engaging enemies.
3. Mission 3 — "Defense Line". First defensive mission. Hold position and protect a target. Teaches positioning.
4. Mission 4 — "Carrier Strike". First boss fight. Large Bydo warship with multiple target points. Learn to focus fire.
5. Mission 5 — "Behind Enemy Lines". First mission with fog of war and hidden objectives. Scout before committing.