R-Trype
R-Trype is a modern tribute to the iconic arcade game R-Type, crafted using Grok, Figma, and Photoshop. This case study explores the design and development process behind this nostalgic shooter.
Spark
The spark for R-Trype stemmed from a technical challenge: crafting a fully functional game using only HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, with no server-side code or dependencies. As a lifelong fan of R-Type—one of my all-time favorite arcade classics—I aimed to recreate its essence. I sought to leverage a large language model (LLM) for assistance, avoiding reliance on a specific AI agent, to test the limits of client-side web technologies and my own problem-solving skills in game development.
Craft
For R-Trype, I crafted a solution using HTML for structure, CSS for visuals, and JavaScript for game logic, all running client-side. With Grok’s assistance, I recreated R-Type’s core mechanics, focusing on refining small details—enemy patterns, animations, and controls. It’s an ongoing project, continuously polished to capture that nostalgic arcade feel while pushing the boundaries of LLM-supported, lightweight web development.
A pocket‑sized blast of 8‑bit nostalgia—tap to dodge, shoot and power‑up as my home‑built R‑Trype homage turns any phone into the arcade I grew up with.
Whipped together in just a weekend with Grok’s coding assist, R‑Trype recreates side‑scrolling mayhem using nothing but vanilla HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I kit‑bashed sprites in Photoshop and Illustrator, mixed in found pixel art, and I’m eyeing a leaderboard hook‑up next.
