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Shard · Mar 28, 2008

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What is Ikaruga?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikaruga

Ikaruga (斑鳩, Ikaruga? lit. Japanese Grosbeak) is a vertically scrolling shooter video game developed by Treasure Co. Ltd. It was released in the arcades in 2001 on Sega's NAOMI system and subsequently ported to Dreamcast in Japan and then worldwide to the Nintendo GameCube. It is a spiritual sequel to Radiant Silvergun, and the introduction says it is "Project RS2" (usually interpreted as "Project Radiant Silvergun 2").

The gameplay consists of shooting enemies who come in one of two polarities: either black(red) or white(blue). The player's ship can be either polarity, and can be switched at will. This yin-yang gameplay mechanic was previously explored in another Treasure game for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation called Silhouette Mirage. Ikaruga was well received by critics, with scores averaging around 85%.

Release Date

http://www.xblah.net/2008/03/whoops-ikaruga-release-date.html

Japanese website Xbox-News.com has had a watchful eye on the Japanese Xbox.com pages, and it appears the Ikaruga page went up a little early, and with a release date!

April 9th here we come! Check out the Xbox.com page here. Thanks to Rmk106 for bringing this to my attention

XBLA Features

http://www.arcade-renaissance.com/2007/09/treasure-launches-ikaruga-website.html

Ikaruga, Xbox Live Arcade
* 1-2 Players local (2 Player Co-op Mode over Xbox Live)
* Online Leaderboards and Rankings (with replays available for download)
* High Definition Support (Improved graphics for HD)
* When in Yoko mode, the game's resolution will maintain a 100% faithful arcade resolution.
* Vertical monitors will be supported
* 800 Marketplace points

Click to expand...

Screenshots:

Previews:

Team XBOX
http://previews.teamxbox.com/

IGN XBOX 360
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821513p1.html

Movies:

Chapter 1 HD

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-.../Chapter-1-HD/

Chapter 1 SD

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/6157/Chapter-1/

Chapter 2 HD

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-.../Chapter-2-HD/

Chapter 2 SD

http://xboxmovies.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/6158/Chapter-2/

TGS 2007 Blasting Cam Gameplay

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/25336.html

Achievement List:

Target: Eboshidori - Destroy Eboshidori! (10 G)

Target: Buppousou - Destroy Buppousou! (10 G)

Target: Uzura - Destroy Uzura! (15 G)

Target: Misago - Destroy Misago! (15 G)

Target: Tageri - Destroy Tageri! (15 G)

Good Grade - Complete Chaper 1 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Final Grade - Complete Chapter 2 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Excellent Grade - Complete Chapter 3 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Stellar Grade - Complete Chapter 4 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Star Player - Complete the Final Chapter in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Unstoppable - Clear the game in any mode without using Continue (25 G)

Dot Eater - Clear a certain chapter in any mode without shooting at all (10 G)

Reviews:

IGN XBOX 360

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/864/864903p1.html

9.0/10, Excellent, Editor's Choice Award

Narag · Mar 28, 2008

Can't wait for this.

Awesome OP as usual, Shard.

Dead Prince · Mar 28, 2008

yes please. oh god yes give me some Ikaruga all over my face

Shard · Mar 28, 2008

Bit of an update on the release date, the Japanese Ikaruga page has been taken down, you know what that means, two weeks baby, two weeks.

Space Runaway · Mar 28, 2008

Shard said:
Bit of an update on the release date, the Japanese Ikaruga page has been taken down, you know what that means, two weeks baby, two weeks.

Sorry, first thing I thought of when I read that.

CajoleJuice · Mar 28, 2008

oh god the frothing has reached critical mass

phalestine · Mar 28, 2008

I cant be the only one who read the Title as " The golden King Buffet-hell Shooter Ikaruga XBLA official Thread" there has to be at least one.

anyways I think this is going to be my first XLBA purchase, I always just play the demos :/

Shard · Mar 28, 2008

iby.h said:
I cant be the only one who read the Title as " The golden King Buffet-hell Shooter Ikaruga XBLA official Thread" there has to be at least one.

anyways I think this is going to be my first XLBA purchase, I always just play the demos :/

Well, that would have been funnier.

rollingstart · Mar 28, 2008

oh shit, you can rotate the screen?

awesome.

bumpkin · Mar 28, 2008

I'm going to be pissed if this release date doesn't turn out to be true. Do we have absolute 100% confirmation from anyone on the inside? I don't know if I can take one more delay.

Shard · Mar 28, 2008

bumpkin said:
I'm going to be pissed if this release date doesn't turn out to be true. Do we have absolute 100% confirmation from anyone on the inside? I don't know if I can take one more delay.

Let me see, it is at this point highly unlikely that the release date is cake.

bumpkin · Mar 28, 2008

Shard said:
Let me see, it is at this point highly unlikely that the release date is cake.

*vader noooooooooooooooooooooooo*

Shard · Mar 28, 2008

bumpkin said:
*vader noooooooooooooooooooooooo*

That means it is true, all of the evidence points to two Wednesdays from now.

Manager · Mar 28, 2008

There are images without the option box:

bumpkin · Mar 28, 2008

Shard said:
That means it is true, all of the evidence points to two Wednesdays from now.

Ohhhhh, I gotcha. A Portal reference... The cake is a lie. :lol

I definitely wasn't on the same wavelength. Well played, Shard. Well played.

(and awesome work with your Wii Shop/XBLA updates!)

Shard · Mar 28, 2008

Thank you. Anyway, I have something ask to the rest of the community, I need a banner for this thread.

permutated · Mar 28, 2008

This is easily on my top 5 for 2008.

D-X · Mar 29, 2008

I paid £55 for this back in the day and it was worth every penny. I dunno how much this retails for but $10ish is a steal. Such a great game.

Assaulted Nuts · Mar 29, 2008

This good enough for your purposes Shard?

Shard · Mar 29, 2008

Most excellent.

Dr. Kitty Muffins · Mar 29, 2008

Are they gonna release a theme for this?

Shard · Mar 29, 2008

Dr. Kitty Muffins said:
Are they gonna release a theme for this?

Probably.

Barkley's Justice · Mar 29, 2008

meh...i dont know...

clav · Mar 29, 2008

Is there a reason why the game only takes up 33% of the screen?

Whe I played it back on Dreamcast, I didn't notice it as much, but now in HD, I feel like the borders are going to be annoying.

permutated · Mar 29, 2008

HaloFans said:
Is there a reason why the game only takes up 33% of the screen?

Whe I played it back on Dreamcast, I didn't notice it as much, but now in HD, I feel like the borders are going to be annoying.

Theres no way I'm turning my HDTV on it's side, just...no.

Big-E · Mar 29, 2008

My first live arcade game in a good while.

sixteen-bit · Mar 29, 2008

Damn the hype. New Avatar.

McBradders · Mar 29, 2008

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Praise be, the day is finally here!

besiktas1 · Mar 29, 2008

For those feinding to play see how quick you can beat the first boss
http://www.coolflashgames.fr/Shoot-Them-Up/Flash-Ikaruga,80.html

26 seconds... I'm sloppy. But can't wait, my ex2 stick is giddy with excitement.

edit:
Oh yeah this too
I have no japanese so can't get it to work, its meant to be the first level...
http://www.geocities.jp/yasu_xxx2000/ikaruga_FlashGame.htm

Livin_Lovin · Mar 29, 2008

People with widescreen, portrait capable monitors should be frothing at the mouth.

2DMention · Mar 29, 2008

Doesn't the GC version go for 200 bones nowadays?

sixteen-bit · Mar 29, 2008

2DMention said:
Doesn't the GC version go for 200 bones nowadays?

You're thinking of Radiant Silvergun for the Saturn

No_Style · Mar 29, 2008

besiktas1 said:
For those feinding to play see how quick you can beat the first boss
http://www.coolflashgames.fr/Shoot-Them-Up/Flash-Ikaruga,80.html

26 seconds... I'm sloppy. But can't wait, my ex2 stick is giddy with excitement.

edit:
Oh yeah this too
I have no japanese so can't get it to work, its meant to be the first level...
http://www.geocities.jp/yasu_xxx2000/ikaruga_FlashGame.htm

Neat!

soldat7 · Mar 29, 2008

Here's a really great article on Ikaruga over at Destructoid:
http://www.destructoid.com/the-thinking-man-s-ikaruga-stop-and-smell-the-duality-60929.phtml

And here's a really cool fan-site devoted to Ikaruga:
http://www.ikaruga.co.uk/

Soundtrack:
http://www.ikaruga.co.uk/downloads/soundtrack.php

Art:
http://www.ikaruga.co.uk/downloads/art.php

Shard · Apr 4, 2008

New USA Xbox.com SPlash Page: Ikaruga, it is coming this Wednesday.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/i/ikarugaxboxlivearcade/

Daigoro · Apr 4, 2008

is Ikaruga really considered a bullet hell game?

you know what, forget i asked.

besiktas1 said:
For those feinding to play see how quick you can beat the first boss
http://www.coolflashgames.fr/Shoot-Them-Up/Flash-Ikaruga,80.html

oh shit, you just reminded me. i just bought an EX stick with VF5 for my 360 (mediocre as it may be). now i can purchase Trigger Heart and possibly that other shmup that came out not too long ago.

but Ikaruga a third time... hm. possibly.

soldat7 said:

huh. where is that image from? i dont recall ever seeing it. must be blanking out.

Shard · Apr 4, 2008

Omega Five.

permutated · Apr 4, 2008

Shard said:
Omega Five.

Is not nearly as good as any treasure shooter, or Gradius...or G-Darius...or R-Type.

Cathcart · Apr 4, 2008

permutated said:
Theres no way I'm turning my HDTV on it's side, just...no.

Maybe you could just leave it as is, turn rotate mode on and play it like a left-right shooter instead of bottom-top

itsinmyveins · Apr 4, 2008

Hmm, I'm starting to feel like playing this game again :O

Cathcart said:
Maybe you could just leave it as is, turn rotate mode on and play it like a left-right shooter instead of bottom-top

I've thought about that too, they really should have that as an option with modified controllers for playing it like that :lol

soldat7 · Apr 4, 2008

ItsInMyVeins said:
I've thought about that too, they really should have that as an option with modified controllers for playing it like that :lol

Triggerheart lets you modify your controls as well so you can play it without having to rotate your TV or lay on your side. I'm still going to try and lay on my side tho. :lol

Shard · Apr 4, 2008

permutated said:
Is not nearly as good as any treasure shooter, or Gradius...or G-Darius...or R-Type.

Maybe, maybe not, the thing I like about Omega Five is that it is a new shooter.

sixteen-bit · Apr 4, 2008

Cathcart said:
Maybe you could just leave it as is, turn rotate mode on and play it like a left-right shooter instead of bottom-top

I thought it was confirmed you could do this.

DC and GC versions allowed rotating the screen without rotating directional controls.

sneaky77 · Apr 4, 2008

I look forward to trying out this demo

JSnake · Apr 4, 2008

Shard said:
New USA Xbox.com SPlash Page: Ikaruga, it is coming this Wednesday.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/i/ikarugaxboxlivearcade/

ALL OVER MY TITS.

permutated · Apr 4, 2008

Shard said:
Maybe, maybe not, the thing I like about Omega FIve is that it is a new shooter.

I hated how big the character models were in it.

Other than that, fucking fantastic new shooter, worthy of praise and $10 easy.

Assaulted Nuts · Apr 4, 2008

Shard said:
New USA Xbox.com SPlash Page: Ikaruga, it is coming this Wednesday.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/i/ikarugaxboxlivearcade/

I don't mean to be an ass, but the page still says "TBA" under Release Date.

Do we have confirmation that it's coming this Wednesday? Because I want it as much as the next guy!

Shard · Apr 4, 2008

Assaulted Nuts said:
I don't mean to be an ass, but the page still says "TBA" under Release Date.

Do we have confirmation that it's coming this Wednesday? Because I want it as much as the next guy!

Okay, let me break it down to you, do not worry about the date not being there, that is coming Monday, officially official confirmation is a mere formality at this point. The TBA is unimportant, it is the splash page itself that is important. Microsoft has gotten into the habit of listing coming very soon XBLA splash pages on the back pages of their site. This thing taken on its own, would mean that the game is on its way within the next few weeks. When connected with the other evidence (The JPN XBLA pages that was pulled, the magazines. the achievements showing up, Mr. Driller Online following the exact same pattern) it equals confirmation.

Assaulted Nuts · Apr 4, 2008

Shard said:
Okay, let me break it down to you, do not worry about the date not being there, that is coming Monday, officially official confirmation is a mere formality at this point. The TBA is unimportant, it is the splash page itself that is important. Microsoft has gotten into the habit of listing coming very soon XBLA splash pages on the back pages of their site. This thing taken on its own, would mean that the game is on its way within the next few weeks. When connected with the other evidence (The JPN XBLA pages that was pulled, the magazines. the achievements showing up, Mr. Driller Online following the exact same pattern) it equals confirmation.

Thank you Shard, that was highly informative (no sarcasm)

plaidtopia · Apr 4, 2008

Day 1 = purchase

Day 4 million = 200/200 achievement points

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