Was on the fence but glad I crossed over
I read a number of reviews and hesitated at first. But when it hit discount I figured I had nothing to lose.

As the other reviewers noted, this is not the classic R-Type game. It is a strategy game along the lines of the traditional hex-based wargames. I have never really played those original R-Type games anyway so I get to treat this game with a clean slate.

Pros:
- It is very addictive

- Even if you lose a battle you don't lose all your ships. So you at least reap some rewards so that you can build a stronger fleet, learn from your mistakes, and try again.

- Surprisingly when you are close to obtaining victory (while potentially losing it all) this game really does put you on the edge of your seat.

- Missions are long and bountiful (57 missions total). A mission can take at least 20 to 30 minutes to complete. By making the missions long your level of commitment and excitement grows. Even though you seem to be able to plough through your enemies you are always wondering whether the tables could be turned at any moment because the enemy may have additional fighters hiding somewhere.

- Good story that makes you feel like you are in charge of the fleet.

- Supports adhoc mode play though I haven't tried it.

Cons:

- The in-game movies are too slow to load so usually you turn them off. This is a real pity because they could have easily used the geometric representations in the main strategy screen and given this game some kind of 3-dimensional feel.

- There is no way to undo an accidental move.

- Movement of large fleets can be labor intensive since there is no way to group ships into squadrons.

Overall I am very pleasantly surprised by this game. It is the most enjoyable PSP title I've played so far.

If you are on the fence.....
This is one of those games that you must have! If you want a great game, here it is! Plus you can take it with you....

Don't be fooled, R-Type Command is solid!! Buy it today!!

An effective strategy offshoot of the R-Type series
The R-Type series takes an interesting detour with this competent hex-grid strategy game. It mixes the flashy style of the classic shooters with slower-paced balancing of tactical considerations.

It is important to note that the flashy animations are entirely optional. Since the attacks are canned animations with annoying load times, you can thankfully choose how and when these are shown. That includes: full-screen, full-at-random, windowed, windowed-at-random, or off. As such, the lengthy load times of the animations should not receive as much negative emphasis as they tend to (if not on Amazon, at "professional" review sites).

Beyond that issue is the overall gameplay itself. The campaign is surprisingly lengthy and generally well-paced in terms of availability of new unit types to mix things up. Enemy variety can also be surprising, forcing a readjustment of the forces you bring to the given stage. You'll also receive titles that act as a rating of how well you handled the stage, as well as experience pts and resources to build additional ships.

Taken a few missions at a time between PSP play sessions, the game offers good long-term value and will prove most entertaining to those who like the idea of moving around R-Type units in a classic "Military Madness" gameplay style.

Misleading
Im usually pretty good about reading reviews. But this time i just watched part of the movie listed and made my purchase. Should have watched the whole thing because the first part is extremely misleading. Still a decent game if you like the whole rpg feel. But ive got enough rpg games, i dont need another. I wanted an action game, and action this game is not.

Not what I was especting.
Not even the 1/2 of the fun of any previously R-Type versions.
If you are looking for a great shooter, this is not the one.
Even worst, this is NOT a shooter.