The most challenging and hardcore shoot-em-ups ever made.

User Rating: 9 | Ikaruga X360
By hhh34c | Review Date:
In this vertical shooter, enemies have either black or white polarity and shoot bullets of the corresponding colour. Your ship can also transform between these polarities with the press of a button. If the polarity of your ship is the same as the bullets, all incoming fire will be absorbed charging an energy meter which can be used to unleash a devastating screen-clearing attack. Conversely, if your ship is hit by a single bullet of opposite polarity, it will be destroyed.
Undoubtedly, death is very frequent in Ikaruga, and you will have to replay sections many times and memorise enemy patterns before you get your head around how best to survive.
The game simply moves at too fast a pace and is too unforgiving to get things completely right the first time around.
If you can handle it however, Xbox Live brings the superb benefit of being able to compare how bad you are to the rest of the world with online leaderboards and the ability to download replays. This brings us to Ikaruga's scoring system, which awards high scores for successfully 'chaining' your attacks.
It's just another layer of depth to Ikaruga's already multifaceted gameplay system except this time it's optional and meant for the best players who enjoy being pushed to the absolute limits.
Ikaruga has rightfully earned its place in gaming history as one of the greatest shoot-em-up games ever conceived. With its brilliant gameplay, sharp graphics, terrific soundtrack and masterful design this game deserves a place in any self-respecting hardcore gamer's collection.

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