Tomorrow’s Xbox LIVE Arcade release is side-scrolling shoot ‘em up classic R-Type Dimensions. Excellent news!

The original R-type possessed the sort of mega-tough gameplay that made playground legends of those with lightning reflexes and gibbering wrecks of others. Retro-hounds will be pleased to know that it’s survived intact in this iteration too, although there has been a fairly hefty concession to the mainstream masses should they want to join the party.

That comes in the form of an ‘Infinite Mode’, which basically gives players who might not have spent their entire youths pumping 10 pence pieces into ciggy-stained arcade cabinets as many lives as they need to survive the Bydo alien onslaught and reach the final boss in one sitting. There’s a ’Classic Mode’ with a limited number of ships for gamers of a tougher disposition. Which is us, obviously.

But back to the action, and Dimensions actually comprises two games - R-Types I and II. Each is available in its original Eighties-style 2D livery or, with the press of a button, can be warped into three whizzy dimensions. And back again as often as you like. Add to that two player on/offline co-op gameplay, a sensible stage select feature and the usual array of Achievements, Leaderboards etc and you’ve an enticing package indeed. It’s 1200 MS Points well spent, we reckon.