R-Type III Director Criticises Remake Quality
For retro game fans in the UK, this one lands close to home, because RetroShell news has been following the wider wave of classic remake launches. Kengo Miyata, the original director of Irem’s Super Famicom shmup R-Type III: The Third Lightning (1993), has voiced deep concern over the launch quality of ININ Games’ R-Type Dimensions III.
According to TimeExtension, the remake has drawn backlash from shmup fans since release across PC and consoles last month. Players have reported problems including collision detection errors, odd enemy behaviour, inaccurate hitboxes, and incorrect sound effects. ININ Games has since started releasing patches and says it is working on a comprehensive improvement initiative.
Miyata said he was especially troubled by the idea of customers effectively helping to carry out quality assurance after launch. He argued that suspending sales, offering refunds, and continuing testing until the major issues are fixed would be a more honest approach, before bringing the game back once it reaches an acceptable standard.
His comments carry extra weight because he previously tried to secure a licence from Irem to remake the game himself, but was unsuccessful. He contacted ININ Games directly via social media, making clear that his concern was not just about one release, but about how a classic title should be treated when it returns.
The situation also speaks to the wider expectations around shmups and other precision-driven retro games. Titles like R-Type III are remembered for tight mechanics, careful level design, and sound that matters to the feel of each stage, so even small errors can stand out quickly to long-time players.
ININ Games has not yet publicly responded to Miyata’s specific suggestions. For now, fans who have not bought R-Type Dimensions III may want to wait for more patches, or go back to the original R-Type III: The Third Lightning on its native hardware.
Originally published by TimeExtension, with the original report available here. For more RetroShell coverage, see our news tag.
