AKA & BLUE TYPE-R: exA-Arcadia's Launch Title Brings Cave's Bullet Hell Legacy to Modern Arcades

When former Cave director Hiroyuki Kimura founded TANOSHIMASU Co., Ltd. in 2015, his vision brought bullet hell expertise to a new platform. AKA & BLUE TYPE-R emerged as exA-Arcadia's inaugural title in November 2019, marking a significant moment for modern arcade gaming. This vertical scrolling shooter brought Cave's legendary design philosophy to contemporary arcade hardware through Kimura's studio collaboration with the exA-Arcadia development team.

The game evolved from its 2017 mobile release AKA TO BLUE, with the TYPE-R arcade version delivering substantial enhancements. Full HD 1080p graphics replaced the mobile version's 720p resolution, while boss and enemy patterns doubled in complexity. The transformation from touchscreen to traditional arcade controls required complete gameplay rebalancing, achieved through TANOSHIMASU's collaboration with exA-Arcadia's development team.

AKA & BLUE TYPE-R's defining feature is its bomb-centric scoring system. Unlike traditional shooters where bombs serve as emergency defensive tools, this game encourages aggressive bomb usage through a progressive five-level meter. Bombs generate massive score item cascades on each hit, with values increasing based on chain count and collection timing. The unique twist: bombs provide no invincibility frames, demanding precise timing rather than panic activation. Players rapidly recharge the meter by shooting enemies, hitting destructible bullets, and absorbing bullets with active bombs.

Two playable characters offer distinct playstyles. Aka Sheenk features wide shot patterns with upward-directed bombs, while Blue Cerny delivers narrow focused fire with directionally-responsive bombs that reverse based on movement. Both pilots navigate five story stages with branching narrative paths and full professional voice acting by anime industry veterans Shunsuke Takeuchi and Kanade Koshino.

Technical performance stands among TYPE-R's strongest achievements. Version 1.2.1 achieved 1-frame input lag, matching professional arcade standards and surpassing the 2-3 frames of earlier builds. The game renders over 10,000 bullets simultaneously on screen while maintaining 60fps performance, demonstrating exA-Arcadia's capabilities as a modern arcade platform. These specifications exceed JAMMA-era shooters, validating the platform's "modern Neo Geo MVS" design philosophy.

Production values rival console releases. Dual soundtrack options include WASi303's arranged guitar-driven score and the original mobile soundtrack, both remastered in HD stereo. The arranged version features performances by video game music bands Go Sato Band, FANTOM IRIS, and O.T.K., with guest guitarists from the Heavy Metal Raiden series. Complete voice acting accompanies the branching story of Aka and Blue's mission against invading dictator Kuro.

As exA-Arcadia's inaugural release, AKA & BLUE TYPE-R demonstrated the platform's viability for quality modern arcade content. The ROM cartridge-based system supports both 16:9 LCD and 4:3 CRT monitors, works with existing JAMMA and JVS cabinets, and requires no internet connectivity or revenue sharing. This accessibility enabled arcade operators worldwide to adopt the platform without ongoing service fees.

For more information, visit the official AKA & BLUE TYPE-R page.

Game Information