If you want the definitive, uncompromised R-Type Final experience, the JPN ISO is the holy grail.

: On the Stage 2 boss, you can shoot red or blue nodes to alter the environment for subsequent playthroughs. Blue nodes lead to "wetter" versions, while red nodes make it "drier".

Original hardware owners remember the pain: R-Type Final has some of the longest load times on the PS2. Switching ships could take 20–30 seconds of black screen.