Ikaruga Review

[A Black Falcon]

No, because I happen to agree with their scores more often than not...

Everyone thinks they are in the "minority"... "I don't care what anyone else says I think this!" ... well often that opinion is actually popular... in this case I wouldn't say popular, but I also wouldn't say that it takes hardcore shooter fan gamers to like this game like IGN says.

Like many space shooters, Ikaruga was first released in arcades, though it never saw the light of day on this continent. After the surprising success of last year's Dreamcast port, a GameCube version was announced, but only for Japan. Months later, publisher Infogrames confirmed that Ikaruga for the GameCube would be released in North America and Europe as well, as an arcade-perfect translation with a couple of new gameplay options not found on the Dreamcast. This is a game with an established cult following and one that just as easily might not have made it to these shores. It's almost as if Treasure, Ikaruga's distinguished developer, deliberately tried to limit its audience to a core group of enthusiasts. That's perhaps not as absurd an idea as it might seem, since Ikaruga is truly a shooter fan's shooter. It follows many of the genre's 20-year-old conventions, and you'll find it very challenging even if you've been playing games of this sort all your life. If you have, then the game's classical design and its high level of difficulty will also happen to be two of the things you'll like best about it. Yet even those who aren't particular fans of space shooters would undoubtedly appreciate a lot of what Ikaruga has to offer.

Fans of space shooters owe it to themselves to play Ikaruga, a game that was designed both to impress their sensibilities and to challenge every ounce of their being. Yet anyone who appreciates what makes a truly great game should be able to recognize Ikaruga for its elegant design, aesthetic beauty, and sheer challenge. Make no mistake--it's not nostalgia for a bygone era of gaming that makes Ikaruga so appealing. Rather, it's that Ikaruga takes 20 years of great ideas in game design and somehow manages to put an entirely new spin on them, not for novelty's sake, but for the sake of making a game that's both familiar and utterly unique.

A bit confusing at times, Ikaruga isn't the traditional shooter. It's not the type of game that can be played without devoting 100-percent of one's mental strength to deal with the trials within. Similar to rhythm-action games, it's definitely not the type of game that is played during a conversation.

We're not going to spoil any surprises, but someone at Treasure must really be a true shooter fan, because there are a few tributes to older shooters that younger players might not realize. Some readers will instantly recognize what we're talking, about and it'll probably bring a smile to their faces.

Non-shooter fans might find the likes of Ikaruga to be too difficult, as the second half of the game makes Raiden Jet DX look like a round of Atari 2600 Combat. For the dexterity-impaired, the initial gameplay curve might be a bit of shell shock bordering on teeth gnashing, saliva spitting, and four-word frustration. But within a few minutes, one's brain will start to figure the simple yet complex idea out.

Without a doubt, this is a better game than Radiant Silvergun. For one, Ikaruga takes itself far more seriously with no "The Price is Right" music or campy anime characters spoiling the otherwise fast-paced action. I feel more like the Last Starfighter when I play Ikaruga.

I do have to mention that Ikaruga is a shooter and it's a shooter-fan's shooter. If you don't like intense, mind-numbing shooting action, then you're going to hate Ikaruga. However, if you grew up on heavy doses of Ikari Warriors and Graduis, then you'll probably feel right at home with this one-of-a-kind blast-a-thon. Five more stages would have been nice, but that's nothing a sequel can't cure.

I think I know which one I like more... though these quotes aren't exactly representative of the reviews, they are close enough for this post.