Any dyed-in-the-wool old-school gamer is nostalgic for the days of frustratingly hard space shooters like R-Type and Gradius, and it is unfortunate that so few games in this generation have catered to this deathless, if slightly masochistic, taste. Ikaruga, however, serves up meaty portions of space shooting in magnificent style. Perfect for a short stint of shooter bliss, and replayable for an A grade or that elusive high score, Ikaruga starts off with a blast from both barrels, and never lets up. On any of its three levels of difficulty, Ikaruga tests your reflexes and wits with its core gameplay mechanic of light-dark polarity. Rather than instant death from any projectile or obstacle, only projectiles of the opposite polarity can inflict damage (still of the instant death variety, however), while shots or the same polarity can charge a powerful blast that inflicts serious damage. The stages are intense, the bosses difficult, and the graphics beautiful. If you can handle the pressure, this game belongs in your collection.
Ikaruga comes from the same team as the ill-fated Radiant Silvergun on the Saturn, which some have claimed to be “the greatest shooter of all time”. With that kind of heritage, it should be expected to have some impressi... Read Full Review
Chances are, you fall into one of two categories. Either you imported the Dreamcast release of Ikaruga last year and are already hopelessly addicted, or you’ve never heard of it before. For those of you who fit into the ... Read Full Review
