R-Type combat flight game project

R-Type combat flight game is a hypothetical R-Type title which would be of the Arcade Combat Flight Simulator genre in a similar vein to the Ace Combat series, Project Wingman or (more appropriately) Project Sylpheed. The main drive behind the concept comes from the existence of the Playstation Home R-Type mini-game "Sparkle in the Void", which was in the style of a combat flightsim. Further fan interest also stems from wanting a game that is able to better tell a story while also maintaining the fun arcade gameplay of the mainline R-Type games.

## Ideas:

There are many different ideas on what direction this game should go in.

#### Ship:

The R-Craft would have multiple hit points instead of 1 to compensate for the shift to 3D. Different ships would have different HP amounts.

Speed would be changed by accelerating or decelerating. However, unlike similar games the craft would not stall if the speed drops too low. Instead, the R-Craft will come to a halt and hover in place like it does in the shoot em up games. However, doing so makes you extremely vulnerable to missile and other homing attacks.

#### Weapons:

Just like the mainline games, the R-Craft would have multiple forms of weaponry to fight with.

* Machine Gun/Vulcan: Basic weapon. Has infinite ammo and fires fast moving average damage projectiles. Best suited as a anti-static/weak enemy weapon.
* Missiles: Main long range and anti-fighter weapon. Locks onto enemy targets and hunts them down. However, the number of missiles is finite. Destroy POWs to collect more missiles.
* Wave Cannon: Chargeable high damage projectile. Very effective against warships and other large targets alongside unmoving enemies. Some wave cannons (such as the Seizure Wave) also work well against fighters.
* Force: Portable cover that can be moved to the back or front of your craft via button inputs. While attached the ship can fire 3 different types of lasers (red, blue, yellow).
* Bits: Defensive modules that circle the ship, blocking side fire. Fire small shots if the red laser is being used.

## Story:

There are a a variety of concepts for what the story of this games could be. Listed below are the different versions.

### R-Type: Frontline

*Plot*: Two decade or so after the destruction of the Bydo Core during Operation Last Dance, humanity has beaten back the Bydo and reclaimed its old extra-Solar colonies. Without their central bio-computer, the Bydo have lost coordination while the many assimilated humans regain their minds, leading to a massive civil war that has stopped them being a threat to mankind ever since. A new age of peace has arisen while the human population experiences exponential growth alongside a vast influx of new resources. However, this peace would not last. Soon, the Bydo would once again siege human space. Or at least that's how it seems...

#### Mission List:

1. *War Games* (Luyten's Star 2nd planet orbit): Near a orbital military base, a squadron of cadets is performing a live-fire training exercise with old R-Type fighters against drones. However, the game is interrupted part way through due to a Bydo attack. Now you have to fend off a group of actual enemy fighters and other small craft.
2. *Under Siege* (Luyten's Star 2nd planet surface): While you successfully repelled the enemy forces attacking the base, other parts of the Bydo fleet managed to enter the planets atmosphere and are laying waste to the settlements. Descend onto your home and kick the invaders out.
3. *Departure* (Luyten's Star interplanetary space): With the planetary attack unit destroyed, all that remains of the Bydo fleet is their capital ship and its escorts. Reinforcements from the inner worlds have come to aid you in your battle. Prove yourself in the field of battle and ensure the safety of your home by destroying the Boldo-class Cruiser.
4. [Title pending] (Kapteyn's Star 1st planet): Now part of the Coalition for Colonial Defence (CCD), you travel to the colonised snow world of Cornelius. The Bydo have occupied several ground facilities. Destroy key targets and expel the enemy.
5. *Soylent Gains* (Ross 614 orbit): A food production station has been overrun by Bydo. Destroy them quickly before they infect all the foodstuff and starve multiple colonies.
6. *Boiling Point* (Epsilon Eridani 2nd planet): The Bydo have managed to gain a foothold in the outer system. Epsilon Eridani is an important source of industrial resources from both the gas giants and their moons. Aid our assault fleet in removing the enemy army in orbit of the 2nd planet near one of its moons.
7. *Avalon* (Gliese 1061 2nd planet): We've just received reports that the colony world of Avalon is under attack. Multiple mech-type Bydo have been sighted, including Gains and Tabroks. Be careful. [Introduction of "rival" in the form of a B-5C Diamond Wedding]
8. [Title pending] (Teagarden's Star b): Operation on tidally locked habitable planet.
9. *Approaching Titan* (Interstellar space): A Bydo Dreadnought has been located. Command has deemed it be a target of significant value. Currently the warship (codenamed *Obsidian Hellstorm*) is on route to one of our colony systems. Intercept *Obsidian Hellstorm* with a strike team and put it out of commission.
10. *Turning Point* (Groombridge 34): Thanks to your efforts, the Bydo invasion force in this sector has been crippled. There are only a few remaining occupied areas that must be liberated. One of these is the Groombridge 34 system. Rendezvous with our fleet in preparation. Reports indicate the Earth Hegemony and the inner colonies are preparing to send reinforcements. It's time to end this war. [Half way through a EAAF fleet arrives and destroys the last Bydo. However, they soon turn on you and they must be destroyed]
11. *The War Between People* (YZ Ceti 3rd planet orbit): Human space has fallen into civil war between the EAAF and the CCD. Apparently the Earth Hegemony was responsible for the Bydo attacks in order to exert control over the outer colonies. Aid Coalition forces in fighting the Hegemony fleet orbiting the planet.
12. *Warped Reality* (Anti-Space): The Coalition is engaged with the Hegemony in Tau Ceti. You fleet has been dispatched to aid in the battle, but an EAAF group has intercepted you in anti-space. Destroy them.
16. [Title Pending] (L-1159-16 2nd planet moon): Following the reveal of their manipulative actions, the new faction has been targeted by the combined armies of the EAAF and CCD. Attack their military forces on the moon of the ice giant and eliminate their Bydo weaponry.
17. [Title Pending] (Van Maneen's Star): What is believed to be an advanced dimensional catapult has been located around the systems sole planet. Assist in the orbital battle for control over it.
18. *Dimension Jump* (Anti-Space): During the long transit from the Van Maneen base, you are attacked by the enemy faction and their artificial Bydo craft. Don't let them stop you.
19. [Title Pending] (Ross 128 Earth-like planet): The journey through anti-space has brought you to the other side of human space. It was thought that system had been lost to the Bydo, but has in reality become a enemy staging base. Raid the planet's surface and destroy the enemy Headquarters.
20. *The Devil's Weapon* (DX Cancri): Recovered data from the enemy HQ had revealed the existence of a Bydo RnD facility in orbit around the red dwarf DX Cancri. Meet up with the first strike fleet and prepare to destroy the facility. [Part way through the enemy faction unleashes their superweapon Neo-Zabtom against the fleet and destroys it, forcing you to retreat].
21. *Man-Made Nightmare* (Procyon fleet battle): With the existence of a Bydo superorganism under the control of the enemy faction confirmed, a large Alliance fleet has gathered to stop them from advancing. [Neo-Zabtom eventually goes AWOL and destroys both fleets before heading off towards the Luyten system].
22. *Zabtom's Wrath* (Luyten's Star edge): Your home is once again under threat. Destroy the rogue superweapon before it engulfs the system and then the rest of human space in a tsunami of flames. We're all counting on you pilot. Good luck.

### R-Type: Reclamation

*Plot*: Humanity was on the brink of destruction by the hands of the all powerful sapient weapons known as the Bydo. Being whittled down to only a small collection of city states and various facilities on Earth, it seemed like the end was an inevitability. But thanks to the efforts of a group of elite fighter pilots, the enemy infestation across the world was heavily reduced through a string of successful combat operations. By the time their most capable pilots was sent off to find and destroy the heart of the invaders in experimental ultimate fighters, military forces had assembled enough of a fleet to push back into orbital space. Victory hinged on the success of the team in Bydo space.

The initial battle did not go well. Human forces were both outnumbered and outgunned. All they could do was delay the final invasion. But as it seemed that mankind was truly drawing its last breaths, the battle quickly flipped in their favour. In an instant, the Bydo fleet halted their assault. Deep in the Bydo home dimension, the one surviving ace pilot had sacrificed themselves to destroy the Core. Without a leader, the entire enemy army was overcome by confusion and chaos. Taking advantage of this turn of events, the Space Corps pulled off a sweeping victory against the Bydo Armada, liberating Earth and the surrounding space.

But the war itself is far from over. Back on the offensive, humanity must now free the rest of the Solar System...and possibly even its old outer space colonies too.

Are you ready to blast off and reclaim the future from the mysterious Bydo Empire?

#### Mission List:

1. Earth Surface City Ishguard: Remaining Bydo hostiles are attempting to disrupt the orbital combat operation by attacking the southern city of Ishguard and its associated military assets. Take off immediately from the airbase and stop the assault.
2. Earth Orbit: With the Earth's surface mostly free of Bydo occupation, you take off into space to assist the Space Corps fleet in destroying the enemy in orbit. Things are looking dire at the moment, but you can't give up now. Maybe if you fight hard enough you can help turn things around. [Fleet battle. Targets include both small craft, fighters and low-level Bydo warships such as Nozari and Boldo. After a certain amount of time, the Bydo eventually stop attacking you or become less dangerous. You take advantage of this to destroy the flagship of this part of the Bydo armada, that being a Kombiler.]
3. Luna: Now with the Bydo finally weakened, the Space Corps move in to finally liberate the Earth Sector once and for all. Doing so involves destroying the Bydo Forward Operating Base on the Moon...which has been created within the overrun city of Selene. Launch an attack on the surface positions and destroy the infested combat vehicles.
4. Mars: With the operation to free the Earth Sector a success, the war moves on to the other planets of the Solar System. The first is the 4th planet, Mars. While their military strength has already been weakened by both the destruction of the Core and the previous attack by the Ace Team, there is still a substantial Bydo detachment present. The best course of action is destroy the converted EAAF HQ built into one of the canyons of the Valles Marineris system. Achieve by using the R-9B nuclear bomber.
5. Asteroid Belt: The Space Corps offensive has split up into two main fronts. One group is heading towards the Jupiter Sector and its moons while the fleet you're part of is moving to liberate the Saturn Sector. But to reach those planets both groups have to pass through the Asteroid Belt. Predictably, the area is swarming with Bydo. Take out the fighter squadron and other craft that stand in your way.
6. Saturn Moon Titan: With the breakthrough in the Asteroid Belt complete, the fleet moves onto the Saturn Sector. Once again, the attack fronts are split up to cover all the major satellite colonies. Your unit has been assigned the task of recapturing Titan, the largest moon and the main industrial base of the sector. The thick atmosphere prevents both visual and Bydogen scans, so your team will have to fly down to the cities and investigate the old fashioned way.
7. Bestra Station, Uranus: After some tough fighting, the Saturn Sector has been reclaimed from the enemy. Following orbital paths, your fleets next target is Uranus. Orbiting the ice giant is the infamous Bestra Research Station, the birth place of most Bydo-based human technology such as the B-series fighters. Naturally, the station was quickly overtaken when the Bydo invaded the Solar System and even now is likely to be swarming with them. Wipe them out.
8. Interplanetary Dreadnought Raid: Report have come in from the Jupiter group that they have managed to liberate the Neptune Sector. Both fleets will rendezvous to launch a combined assault on the Glitnir Dimensional Catapult. However, long range scans have revealed that a Bydo dreadnought is moving in to intercept the Space Corps forces. It's most likely they're trying to destroy the battle group before the operation can even begin. You have been sent to attack the ship as part of a pre-emptive strike alongside a team of R-Craft. Annihilate it before it can annihilate the fleet.
9. Glitnir Dimensional Catapult: With the Bydo all but expelled from the rest of the Solar System, the last major target is the Pluto/Charon Sector. Within it is Glitnir Station, a Anti-Space Port used to travel to and from other star systems and even dimensions. Leaving it under the control of the Bydo Empire is a serious security risk. Crush the enemy defence fleet and liberate the sector along with the station. [Fleet battle]
10. Proxima Centauri Secret Catapult: It's been a few months since the Solar System was freed of the Bydo presence. Most of the colonies have been partially resettled and life has all but returned to normal. However, it has come to the attention of the Earth Hegemony Government that the Bydo Wars have forced humanity to use up most of the System's resources to construct military equipment. In this state, humanity is too vulnerable and will most likely be unable to survive another invasion. To remedy this, the Hegemony has assembled a fleet to travel through Glitnir to the other star systems. This is being done to expand human territory and obtain more resources. You have been assigned to this fleet due to your skills in fighter combat. The first system the fleet will attack is Proxima Centauri through a hidden warp point. Expect heavy resistance from the Bydo there.
11. Proxima Centauri b: With the entrance to the system secured, the next step is set up a proper base of operations. Command has chosen the sole habitable planet, Proxima Centauri b. It's similar to Earth, but is tidally locked to Proxima Centauri and the average temperature is much lower. There's an old settlement between the day side and equator.
12. Interstellar transit fleet battle: Proxima Centauri has been secured and will be used as a staging point for an assault on Alpha Centauri. Capturing the binary system and its Dimensional Catapult will give the Space Corps access to a wide selection of star systems. But to reach it the fleet will need to travel in normal space. While en route, a Bydo armada blocks their path and engages in battle.
13. Alpha Centauri System Edge: The fleet has managed to reach the outer part of the binary system. Just like Solar, there is a icy asteroid ring surrounding the outer edge. This is where the Dimensional Catapult is located. Unfortunately, it is on the other side and it will take some time to reach. The plan is to reach the giant planet in the habitable zone and use one of the abandoned orbital installations as a forward operating base in the invasion. But first, the Bydo defence forces in the belt must be neutralised.
14. Alpha Centauri Gas Giant Orbit: Just like the giant planets of the Solar System, Alpha Centauri Ab has 10's of natural satellites. Before the Bydo Wars, some of these had been colonised by humanity to varying degrees. One of these moons has been chosen as a viable location for the new main EAAF base. However, most of these abandoned colonies are infested by the enemy. Descend to the surface of the moon and cleanse the area.
15. Alpha Centauri Bydo Base: Scans of the system has revealed that the a large Bydo army has accumulated around one of the inner planets. It's likely they're trying to build a new central fortress to organise a counter-attack from. It's believed that construction is close enough to completion for it to be a major threat. Join a detachment of the main fleet in their invasion of the planet, hunt down the new HQ and destroy it.
In addition to the normal route (**Route Alpha**), there would be 2 additional endings that replace missions 15/16-21 with alternate scenarios. Between Mission 15 and 16 you get a choice to go to either Luhman 16 or Barnard's Star. The former puts you on Route **Alpha** which leads to the "Good Ending". Choosing the latter sends you down Route **Beta** which involves you becoming corrupted by the Bydo and eventually fighting an alien foe. Despite the dire fate of your character, this would take you to the "Neutral Ending".

However, if you choose the Catapult Mission 15 instead of attacking the Bydo Base then both of these choices are cut off and you are forced to play through Route **Gamma**. During this story path a Bydo fleet manages to infiltrate the Solar System and you're forced to return and help expel them from your home. This would be the "Bad Ending" and would end up not being canon if later games were made.

#### Route Gamma (Return) Missions:

* 15c. Alpha Centauri catapult:
* 16c.
* 17c.
* 18c.
* 19c.
* 20c.
* 21c.