Games That Desperately Need Reboots: Ikaruga

On 03/05/2013 at 10:45 AM by Ryan Bunting

So many games, so little time, but in this little amount of time, we have yet another entry into the Games That Get Ignored By Their Parent Companies, I mean, Games That Desperately Need Reboots... and stuff...

In my previous entry, I covered the glorious PS1 shooter "Einhander," and I'll be covering another shooter today - Ikaruga. God damn is this game great. It's not too often that I find a scrolling shooter that absolutely blows me away, not since Radiant Silvergun and RayForce (GunLock) did I completely flip over a game like this.

Ikaruga is an absolutely fantastic shooter, and I apologize if I'm gushing a bit, but MAN is this game amazing. The Polarity mechanic is the greatest thing to happen to shoot-em-ups since, well, the Konami Code. The Polarity system is as follows: There are white enemies and black enemies, white enemies are weak against black bullets, and vice versa, but killing an enemy with it's own color will cause it to return fire upon death. You can absorb like colored shots depending on your polarity and charge up a power attack. It sounds so simple, but this mechanic is the heart and soul of this game, and the levels are crafted so beautifully and artisinally around this mechanic, and creates with one hundred percent certainty, my favorite shmup experience. Ever.

The enemy polarities are (obviously) very easy to differentiate, and some parts of the levels are dependent on switching polarity on key to bypass streams of bullets. The gameplay is exceptionally smooth, and that's no surprise considering it was a Dreamcast title. The levels are gorgeous, and sculpted to fit the polarity motif, and the bosses each have a specific polarity as well, so when you switch to black polarity to destroy a white polarity boss (take it easy guys, no race jokes - it's a game!), it creates a bullet hell style gameplay element, because the boss is pounding out white polarity bullets while you're trying to destroy him with the black bullets, it's hectic and chaotic, but that's what makes it so enjoyable! You're pressing your thumbs down as hard as you can, trying to expertly navigate the rivers of bullets trickling past your ship, frantically switching polarities to absorb what you can and dodge the rest. It's a masterpiece.

Yeah take that double damage bitc-OH GOD!!

The chaotic but seamless movement and shooting, combined with beautiful level design, that more often than not has almost puzzle like elements (in the sense that you have to plan your route before diving into some moving walls that are spitting bullets), along with the core mechanic of the black and white polarity, creates what can arguably called the single greatest shmup experience the world has ever seen.

The two player mode is absolutely outstanding - because unlike other shooters where the players can fly over each other, the players in Ikaruga are solid, which creates some extra planning requirements on the aforementioned puzzle elements, and can cause some "WTF DUDE, YOU PUSHED ME INTO THOSE F**KING BULLETS!" moments, which whether you like it or not, are hilarious and entertaining.

Oh yes, a friend I did bring - we're dishing out double, double damage. Do that math.

Ikaruga is celebrated by many shmup enthusiasts, as well as gamers who happened to randomly pick up the Gamecube port, or even the XBLA port, who have played it without any previous knowledge of the glory within, and it's still considered one of the best, if not THE best, shmups available today. It makes you wonder what they could do with a current generation system, and the community of shmup enthusiasts would have a collective e-gasm if they saw an official "Ikaruga 2" announcement. Guaranteed, or your dry cleaning paid in full.

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/05/2013 at 10:51 AM

I heard about the Gamecube version, and its difficulty, a lot, and since I'm not great at these shmups, that turned me off, but hearing your impressions makes me want to try it. I get bored with these types of games as much as I suck at them usually, but that polarity mechanic may be just enough to make me want to play it.

Ryan Bunting Staff Alumnus

03/05/2013 at 10:56 AM

Like most shmups - it comes down to memorization and pattern recognition, so it takes multiple plays to really get a solid grasp on it, but the music is absolutely astounding, and the polarity swithching mechanic adds so much to the game. The ability to absorb same-colored bullets to charge your special attack and the ability to deal double damage to different-colored enemies makes boss rush mode a complete blast! I was able to pick up the GameCube version for about 18 dollars complete in box, shipped, so it's worth it if you've got a few dollars laying around. For people who don't normally play shmups, the learning curve may seem a bit steep at first, but once you get to the point where you can slaughter half of the game with no issue, it's extremely fun!

daftman

03/05/2013 at 11:22 AM

I can't speak to the XBLA port but on the GameCube you can unlock unlimited continues simply by reaching a certain amount of playtime (don't remember how long it takes exactly), so you could eventually power through the game even if you don't get any better at it lol

03/05/2013 at 11:30 AM

Yeah, it's saying "Look, you've been at this for hours. We know it's difficult, and we want you to see the end. Here, enjoy these infinite continues. -Love, Treasure"

03/05/2013 at 11:33 AM

Urge to play, rising. Of course, I'd rather feel like I've won than just be handed something, but that's not to say I never appreciated the Cici's at the end of a lost little league game, so hey, if they want to give me a freebie I can live with that. lol

TheMart22

03/05/2013 at 10:57 AM

This sounds interesting. It would be nice to see a HD remake for PSN/XBLA

03/05/2013 at 11:02 AM

There is an XBLA version (not HD to my knowledge) here, but sadly, it doesn't really live up to the Dreamcast and GameCube versions (at least for more serious players), but it's definitely a good option for the casual player, as it's easy to access and it's only 800 Microsoft points!

Surfcaster

03/05/2013 at 10:58 AM

I don't play shooters like this, because I'm just so awful at them, but everything I've ever heard about this game makes me actually want to try it. I know I'd spend the money and get destroyed, though, haha.

Great post. I enjoy this series.

03/05/2013 at 11:04 AM

It's a really great shmup, and like I mentioned in a comment above, the learning curve may seem steep, but your work is well rewarded with a great shooter experience. And if you have Xbox Live, you can get it on XBLA for 800 microsoft points, and while it's not the most perfect port, it's a great way to play it on the cheap!

I'm glad you enjoy the series, I have a bunch more coming out in the coming days and weeks, as well as random ramblings of mine, of course :P

03/05/2013 at 11:25 AM

Great post. I absolutely love Ikaruga. It's one of Treaure's finest creations, hands down. An official Ikaruga 2 would be awesome

03/05/2013 at 11:29 AM

Treasure just makes fucking AMAZING games: Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, Guardian Heroes, Mischief Makers, Radiant Silvergun, Silpheed: TLP, Ikaruga (duh), Gradius 5, are all great games!

Temperance

03/05/2013 at 02:08 PM

I'm so glad I bought this when the GameCube version was released. For what the game goes for now, it makes the $40 purchase seem like a steal. Anyway, Ikaruga is one of my favorite Treasure games, too. The gameplay is so simple and elegant, and it was designed in a way that you wanted to push yourself to do better. Yet, I think something would be lost if a sequel were made. Outside of giving us more challenges within the game's framework, I don't know how they would expand it without becoming silly (more colors to cycle through, a power-up system to change shot effects, etc.).

Jamie Alston Staff Writer

03/05/2013 at 07:43 PM

Sadly, I missed out on the GC release since I didn't have the system at the time. But I was able to get it on XBLA when it came out on there. But sadly, again, my Xbox 360 broke and I never got it fixed. I miss Ikaruga.

PixlBit