Super R-Type is a side-scrolling shooter well-known for its high difficulty (even compared to other games in the R-Type series). This is primarily due to the lack of checkpoints. Dying means restarting the level from scratch, and this can be very unforgiving. This game also suffers from slowdown as many shooters on the SNES do, however, it proves useful when there were too many shots on the screen, lending a hand in avoiding them. There are seven stages. Picking up power-up items helps your survival chances, but dying also revokes all of your pickups. Many of the bosses have returned from the arcade versions of R-Type and R-Type II. Your R-9 ship can also be united with FORCE, which are invincible units that surround your ship to protect you and can also power up and attack.