If you've ever played an R-Type game, you have a good idea of what to expect - great side-scrolling gameplay that rewards pattern recognition. The games are never easy and this one is no exception. That said, this is one of the first that offers easier difficulty levels allowing gamers to see more of the fantastic level design they've put together.
Normally I would pooh-pooh the ship choices with 100 ships to choose from - but they've implemented it really well here and they result in an excellent amount of replayability as the ships challenge the player to play in many different ways.
Good game all-around and I've already spent 7+ hours playing it this week!