Ikaruga

"Bring out the Bawls and put on some music; It's time for a party with Ikaruga!"

Ikaruga takes a dip into your gaming past and lets you relive the good ole' days of Shooter Ship games like 1942 and Earth Defense Force. The game is incredibly fast paced and requires almost nigh perfection to pass the bare minimum requirements. With stunning graphics, quick and aggressive gameplay, Ikaruga is the answer to those who long for the ''golden days'' of gaming, and the nightmare to most Next-Gen gamers.

Storyline 1/1 :
Contrary to popular belief, Ikaruga does have a story line; you can find the entire story summed up into two paragraphs in the manual. Does that warrant a story really? Well, the fact that it has a story gets Ikaruga the point in this category.

Graphics 3/3 :
Though the gameplay and promise of an ''old school'' ship shooter are what draws people in and keeps them playing, the graphics serve as a much unexpected bonus and also as a challenging obstacle to the game. The transitions from location to location are virtually flawless, giving the player a chance to breathe and also a lucious background to feast their eyes on. Transitions within chapters include various animations such as the player passing through clouds, descending down corridors, and other beautiful animations. The ship designs are nothing short of beautiful, each ship having intricate detail and colouring, and fitting with the background perfectly to create such a graphically perfect battlefield, it is difficult at times to focus on gameplay; and this of course is what attributes to the difficulty of the game. The shot animations, which usually come in a constant flow across the screen, blend also fit well into the futuristic landscape, but still are distinct enough to allow the player a chance to avoid and absorb the respective colors. Perhaps the most impressive graphics of all are found in the boss battles. Bosses, which usually cover the upper 1/3 of the playing field are even more carefully designed than the normal combat fighters. The bosses range from a Gundam-like robot to the more traditional alien mothership type, each having its own unique style and creative design. More than once I caught myself just watching the bosses move around on the screen instead of focusing on dodging attacks; needless to say, the graphics in Ikaruga far surpass what is expected of a simple Shooter/Ship game.

Gameplay 2/3 :
The reason that gameplay losses a point is the way that the game introduces itself to newer players. Next-Gen gamers who are not familiar with games like 1952 or Gradius will find themselves as fish out of water. The game obviously does not cater to the needs of newcomers to the Shooter/Ship genre; and that fine, since it really wasn't marketed towards those people anyhow. The game was intended for elder gamers who are familiar with the style, and that's that. But, even if the game is meant for elder gamers, it is apparent through the sales that it's not only elder gamers who are buying the game. Internet hype has been so immense, that there were tales of game shortages through out the U.S. during the release week. Those without reservations found themselves sulking away from their game stores ''Ikaruga-less'' due to the hype this game recieved. And from what people that I've discussed the game with say, Ikaruga has lived up to the hype and brought the Shooter/Ship genre back for another round.

The gameplay itself seems simple; on paper. Use the Analog or D-Pad to move the ship, press B once to fire a single shot or hold for continuous fire, use A to change polarization, and use R to release the charged weapon. Ikaruga doesn't stray too much from the traditional Shooter/Ship except for the fact that there are no ''power-ups'' and except for the polarization idea. Polarization itself is quite simple: Each color can absorb enemy fire that is the same color, and is vulnerable to enemy fire of the opposite color. But, to your advantage, attacking an enemy who is a different color than your polarization will result in 2x the normal damage.

Already the game seems to be easy when you simply read about it, but the first level makes it very apparent that there are relatively few easy things in the game. The screen is almost constantly covered in enemy fighters and shots; these enemies attack in waves, taking the occasional pot-shot at you to throw off your groove. Most of the enemy shots come from turrets and special enemies; these enemies usually fire either a wave of single shots or one powerful and wide laser at you. The mixture of shot colors forces the player to focus more on the shots than the enemies themselves. Needless to say, despite the seemingly easy controls, the game is quite difficult.

The option of two player mode is both a blessing and a curse. With the similar fighters, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between 1p and 2p when they have the same polarization. But, if you actually work with your partner, the game becomes considerably easier. (note: Two player mode is a great way to train someone to play Ikaruga.)

Controls/Music 2/3 :
Personally, I have little to say about the music. Though it is usually appropriate for the level or situation, I find that I am usually inclined to turn the sound off and listen to some familiar music to help me focus. The noises in game are nothing too special, excluding the voice for ''Chains'', which informs you what level chain you have reached. Most of the time though, you will ignore the voice because you are too busy keeping count in your head.

The controls are where this section looses a point. Not for the in game controls, but for the HUD instructions and options. The ingame controls are fine; the only problem I had was occasionally I wanted to use A to fire instead of B, but it is a rare event and has yet to cost me a life.

The HUD displays themselves are fine except for vertical mode. Many people bought this game hearing about the ability to tip your TV on its side to create a more arcade like screen (since the length is larger than the height on most TV screens). The problem is that generic TVs are not designed to be tipped around since it moves the components inside, ultimately breaking the TV and becoming an electrical hazard. There are special TVs you can buy which can be tipped, but most people don't have an extra $100 lying around to go out and buy one.
If you really want to tip your TV, unplug it first, tip it slowly and lay it down gently, being sure to support eh unit in back as well if your TV juts out in back. Wait about 15 minutes to get rid of the color distortion, then you ought be able to play without worry. If by reading this you are afraid you'll break you TV by using the Vertical option, don't bother trying.

Overall : Generally, I was impressed with Ikaruga; Good graphics, familiar gameplay, and overall relaxing. It is easy to get really pissed at this game, but the best idea is to keep a clear head. If you get frustrated, just stop and calm down, then try again. It'll take time, but you'll know when you've hit a milestone in your gameplay. Enjoy, and keep your sanity as best you can!

Rent, Borrow, or Buy?
Buying is the best option, since that is the only true way to get everything from this game. If you need to be convinced to buy it, borrow it from a friend for a week or so. Renting probably won't give you enough time to become comfortable with the game, and will create an unneccessary hatred for Ikaruga.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/23/03, Updated 04/23/03