A great and fun game reminiscent of so many old school shooters!
Ikaruga is made by acclaimed videogame developer Treasure and this is reflected through every aspect of the game. Treasure’s other hit games include Gunstar Heroes, Guardian Heroes, Astro boy: The Omega Factor, and Sin and Punishment. Many of the themes represented in these game can be found in Ikaruga including fast-paced action, beautiful graphics, and an impressive difficulty level. Ikaruga relies heavily on the shooter cliché of one ship taking on spawns of enemies while relying only on one primary weapon. This theme is felt through the entirety of the game. The story has little impact on the game but once again, a lone hero must take on hordes of enemies entirely on his own.
One of the aspects that I particularly enjoyed in Ikaruga are its bright, colorful graphics. Though it is technically a game from “last generation” its really hard to tell. After all, the Dreamcast was an impressive system that died long before its time should have come. The graphics in Ikaruga are reminiscent of many old school shooters and at certain points in the game, there are so many lasers and enemies flying around that it can be difficult to weave a safe path through all of the chaos. This is one of the great aspects of the game, an intense and rocky adventure that leaves you with sweaty palms, aching shoulders, and a desire for more. Every enemy has a different style from small probes that fire single shots to hulking robots who fire thousands of shots from shoulder cannons, swords, shields, and more. As if that is not enough, other memorable bosses include a giant fortress with many laser cannons of its own, and a “snake laser” boss that is particularly difficult. The environments in Ikaruga are also rich and detailed. However, it is hard to focus on that with all of the hot ‘n heavy action occurring on the screen. Every sprite and detail have been painstakingly made to bring about a truly immersive experience.
The gameplay in Ikaruga is where the game truly shines. The game consists of five levels with a boss at the end of each. Though this seems relatively short, even a seasoned gamer will find it difficult to finish the game even on the easiest difficulty setting. There is one vitally important factor that I have not gone over yet and it is possibly the most important factor in the entire gameplay of Ikaruga. This factor is the game’s polarity system. In other words, the game’s ship has two polarities, light and dark. Similarly, all enemies shoot out either light or dark bullets. When your ship is on its light polarity, it can absorb light shots which can be used to recharge the missiles (that can be used to fire deadly shots of light or dark energy). Your ship also employs much heavier damage on dark enemy ships. Similarly, dark shots destroy your ship very quickly. One of the reasons that this game is so difficult is because one hit from any enemy of the opposite polarity as you will destroy your ship. There is no health meter, no special power-ups, no shields or anything like that at all. The only thing on your side is the polarity system, your ship, and lightning-quick reflexes. This makes Ikaruga a game that is not for beginners or gamers who do not enjoy such a hearty challenge. However, if you are willing to put in the time to truly find all of the secrets and joys of the game, it will prove to be worth it.
Control in Ikaruga is almost as amazing as the gameplay. Your ship does exactly what you tell it to and even with tons of enemy ships and bullets occurring, there is always one safe place on the screen that will keep you alive. Without the excellent control of the game, it would be impossible to play because it would be impossible not to get destroyed over and over again. This is why it is so amazing, treasure equipped the player with everything necessary to win and though the game is very difficult, it is still possible to gain a definitive win even on the hardest difficulty setting. The sound in the game also partners the game nicely with a techno-trance soundtrack that matches the futuristic mechanical setting of the game perfectly. Though it is not the shining feature in the game, it is still enjoyable and matches well. There is also a large deal of replay value including a challenge mode where the player only has two lives for the entire game, practice mode where the player can unlock different levels by getting to them without a continue. This allows the player to practice certain levels with unlimited lives. There are also galleries that can be unlocked and different settings but the main game is definitely the main selling point.
In conclusion, Ikaruga is a great game. All gamers who enjoy a good old school challenge should pick it up even though now it is quite a pricy buy. Regardless it is worth every penny and any one who is truly willing to invest themselves in the game will get so much back from it as well!