This week on XBLA: IKARUGA!!!! (finally)
The Gamerscore Blog brings word that this week's release is the much anticipated classic shmup Ikaruga. Originally released as a Japan-only title for the
Dreamcast it was later ported for the GameCube for a worldwide release, and this Wednesday, April 9th, it arrives to the Xbox Live Arcade service.
Officially announced back in September 2007 (rumored existence since February 2007), Ikaruga is known for the nerve-inducing mechanic of your ship having 2 color schemes, which you have to manage in order to deal maximum damage and shield yourself from the enemy fire.
Costing the standard price of 800 Microsoft Points (~10$USD), Ikaruga on XBLA will feature 2-player coop (offline or over Xbox Live), HD graphics, video replays and online leaderboards.
Full press release and some screenshots after the jump:
Press release:
Hi,
The Japanese arcade hit "Ikaruga" receives the full Xbox LIVE Arcade treatment and is poised to launch on the platform this Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (1:00 a.m. PDT).
"Ikaruga" is a fast-paced scrolling shooter with a twist – players must constantly switch their ship's polarity to maximize their damage output and avoid incoming enemy fire of the opposite polarity.
"Ikaruga" on Xbox LIVE Arcade features a two-player co-op mode both locally and over Xbox LIVE. Newcomers can also easily bring their skill up to speed by using the game's slow motion training mode.
"Ikaruga" is a perfect combination of beautiful, manga-style storytelling and challenging arcade heroics, all brought to life in a gorgeous HD environment.Gamers itching to obtain a moment of "Ikaruga" glory will be wise to master the chaining system that detects when enemies of the same polarity are destroyed consecutively. Doing so will reward players with huge score bonuses, which will be key to topping "Ikaruga's" leaderboards.
The ability to relive a particularly harrowing battle is also possible thanks to the game's record and replay function, which is new to the Xbox LIVE Arcade version of the game.
From the Japanese developer Treasure, "Ikaruga" will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more details on "Ikaruga" please visit:
Screenshots:
From: Gamerscore Blog
Comments
strategykinq92
18105
finally, I can see what all the damn fuss is about.
SechoDB
35957
As much as I would like thig game I'll just wait and see.
Yes, some reviews are popping in the 90's but, if judging by the latest games that have appeared on Live Arcade, and as anyone who has played Mr. Driller could attest to, Online funtionality comes out broken.
If everything works fine I'll get it though, I love the genre.
Tawse and Turn
11849
Having played the original today I will post an comparison review as soon as I can after release.
Coffee comes first then school then games.
Viewtiful Bob
2869
The only thing that could prove a problem for this is the widescreen view - a TATE screen ends up looking like a vertical letterbox on a 16:9 screen, like in Triggerheart so much screen is wasted.
It'll be weird playing with a 4 button pad too as I have never played the Dreamcast version, but otherwise I can't really see any reason why this game won't be the best XBLA game so far. If only it had some new content - one new chapter even, can you imagine? Even being as niche as it is that alone would sell a good few thousand Xboxes and Xbox Live subscriptions, I'm surprised Microsoft don't cotton on to these things.
Rob
thebiggameover
8505
yesss! now i just need some MS points lol...
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=ikaruga
Viewtiful Bob
2869
Well, it looks and plays great, bit weird at the moment with the Xbox pad but I'll get used to it.
Think the game structure is a bit pants though - where the hell is the instant restart for practising individual chapters, and the Conquest mode for individual bits. It's driving me mad getting a little way in, fluffing it and having to quit back to the level select screen just to start again, same old problem as I had with Pinball FX until they kindly patched it. Especially unlike Treasure to miss something like that, seeing as the GCN version was like that.
Also, I've unlocked all the chapters on any difficulty already by just whacking up the lives, extend and continue - in the old game you had to single credit it as far as you could to unlock each stage in Practice - and on each difficulty individually!
Otherwise, great game, still the unrivalled king of its genre.
Rob