If you own a Nintendo Wii and you’re at all a fan of fast-paced, old-school arcade action, take note! This is your last chance to pick up R-Type: the game is being removed from the Virtual Console store this September 30th.

A faithful port of the SEGA Master System version, R-Type was a revelation: this game was a paragon of old-school arcade difficulty, it helped define a generation of side-scrolling ship-based shooters, and I am happy to say that it is still dazzling how good these graphics looked on those eight little bits of the Master System.

The scale of the bosses still stands out, as you fight monsters that take up the entire screen (and more). One of the most compelling features of the game is the deep on-the-fly upgrade system for your ship — your ship can acquire a number of offensive and defensive abilities, and knowing how and win these will help you is just as important as your skill at piloting your ship. The sheer skill required for this game keeps it relevant, while the bright, colorful graphics keep it looking good.

I’m happy to talk up this game — it is an entrenched part of my childhood, and this is now your last chance to grab it on the Virtual Console.  To put it another (slightly cheesy, but very relevant) way, you’re on your last life for this game — if you haven’t already, grab this great arcade-style hit before it runs out of continues!