The Beam Ax Force is a force introduced in R-Type Final 2, initially equipped by the TL-2A2 Neoptolemos. It is rather similar to the Beam Saber Force, albeit with slower attack speed, lesser beam extension on tertiary swings, and a longer Beam Emitter Trail upon being jettisoned.
Crystals and Effects[]
Red Laser Crystal - Crimson Beam Ax: The force emits and swings an Optical Energy Axe 3 times at varied angles after lifting it, staying within a mostly horizontal plane, and extending slightly on the third swing, before returning to default length. With each slower-than-Beam-Saber-Force swing, a reverse C-shaped beam is fired from the tip of the Axe, travelling in a horizontal line until it reaches an enemy, hits terrain, or flies off screen, whereupon it dissipates.
Blue Laser Crystal - Sprout Beam Ax: The force protrudes a green Optical Energy Axe at an angle, and rotates, causing it to sweep in a small cone in front of the player craft. While it does this, linear lasers fire from its tip at the top and bottom apex of each rotation. Unlike the other Laser Crystals' beams, the Sprout Beam Ax rotates and fires at the same rate as the Beam Saber Force's Indigo Ray
Yellow Laser Crystal - Ochre Beam Ax: The Force generates a yellow Optical Energy Axe and swings it in a trio of arching, slower-than-Beam-Saber-Force slashes that cover 180 degrees of the side the force is attached to, the tip of the axe being converted to an energy ball, and the weapon itself slightly extending at each third swing, before returning to default.
Detached: Like the Beam Saber Force, when the Beam Ax Force is jettisoned from the player craft, a trail coloured identically to the currently-equipped Laser Crystal protrudes from the beam emitter, leaving a trail around the force, and ceasing when it hits a large enemy, terrain, or the edge of the screen, much like the momentum of the force itself in these situations. Unlike the Beam Saber Force, though, the emitted beam trail is about twice as long when 3 crystals are collected, making it easier to graze enemies with it. With only two, its length is the same as that of a three crystal Beam Saber Force.
After the momentum has been deadened, the detached force will return to 3/4s of the screen away from the player, attempting to align itself on the same horizontal plane they're occupying, while rotating idly, and dealing contact damage to anything it touches, but shooting neither bullets, nor beams.
Trivia[]
- As stated in the overview, the TL-2A2 of R-Type Final 1 had the Beam Saber Force, making this the first new-to-Final-2 force available to non-backers, and first to have new lasers.
- The initial estimated arrival date of the Mech Series ships may have been inaccurate due to the decision to implement and balance this, and the Double Claw Beam Force, resulting in them taking more time than initially expected.