Ikaruga is a vertically manic shooter that was developed by Treasure. Initially published for Japanese arcades in 2001, and then Sega Dreamcast in Japan and worldwide on Nintendo Gamecube. The enhanced version was released on the Xbox Live Arcade in 2008 and later ported to Microsoft Windows in 2014. The PC version is based on the Xbox 360, but removes the online co-op which never really worked well. However, the game adds the ability to play as both player 1 and 2 on one controller as well as numerous screen rotation options. As the spiritual succesor of Radiant Silvergun, the concept of two attributes in Ikaruga was inspired by Treasure’s earlier shooter called Silhoulette Mirage. Even today, Ikaruga still considered as the most successful arcade shooter in any platforms.
Several years ago, on the island of Horai, the nations leader named Tenro Horai discovered a powerful objects the Ubusunagami Okinokai, or “The Power of the Gods”. The energy from this artifact gave her unimaginable power. Along with her followers known as “The Divine Ones”, she began conquering other nations one after another in the name of “peace”, but a group of freedom fighters called the Tenkaku arose to oppose them. They fought back against the Horai but were defeated, except for one man named Shinra who survived the attack and landed in a remote village known as Ikaruga. After recovered, the villagers entrusted him with their very own fighter plane also named Ikaruga. This fighter is capable of using both types of polarity energies. With Ikaruga in his possession, Shinra launched from the transportation device called the "Sword of Acala", and this is where the game begins.
Ikaruga can technically be completed in a half-hour run, but only if player lucky enough survive in this cruel bullet hell perfection. The gameplay in Ikaruga revolves polarity mechanics, where players are able to freely change the polarity of their ship between dark and light. All enemies are either black or white. Hitting enemies with same color only does 50% damages, therefore the best option is hitting them with their opposite color and does additional damage. In other terms: black bullets damage white enemies better that white bullets do, and vice versa. The player ship also able to absorb same-colored enemy fire to charges secondary attack; a powerful of polarized missiles. Take a hit from a fire of opposite polarity will destroy the player, however.
Whilst dodging all the incoming fire, Ikaruga also provides surprising amount of tactics known as chain combo system. A chain combo occurs when player destroys three ships of a certain color in a row. For example if player destroys three white ships, then another three white ships, and then three black ships, that is three chains (so 3, 3, 3, 3, etc). If player shoot a black ship then a white on the chain is broken. Chain combos can be a major challenge for maximum scores and encourages memorization of the enemies' patterns. Anyway, if players have zero experience with shooter games, focusing on survival is the best choice.
Behind the scene, Ikaruga has some interesting facts. First off, many of the ships are named after bird species. The name Ikaruga itself literally translated as Japanese Grosbeak as well as 2nd ship Ginkei, refers to Lady Amherst's pheasant. Interesting to note that both birds have some shade of black and white on them. Ikaruga also has some ties to Buddhism. The titles of each chapter; “Ideal” “Trial” “Faith” “Reality” and “Metempsychosis” are representation of the struggle human faces on the path of enlightenment.
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