In the end, if you've played Ikaruga on any other previous platform, then you've played what is available on the Switch. However, that's also the beauty of it all. Ikaruga is a timeless classic and a game that is worth picking up again and again. The main question is should you pick it up. With the obvious answer being, HELL YES. Casual gamers will...
Ikaruga2001
Ikaruga
2001 Treasure85Great
Playtime
ModerateTypically 20 hours
Playable on
Available on
- $9.99
- $14.99
Game modes
- 2 players
- 2 players
Details
Overview
In this vertical scrolling spaceship shooter, you control a ship that can change its polarity at will. As blue/white, the ship can easily destroy red/black enemies, and vice versa. Bullets of your polarity can be collected to fuel your energy gauge, but those opposite will kill you. Destroying an enemy ship causes them to fire revenge bullets which can be absorbed and fired back by the player. Different difficulties exist to change exactly how you interact with polarized points, or how they appear. It is the spiritual successor to Radiant Silvergun, featuring similar level and boss design, as well as it's buddhism inspired themes and aesthetics. Both are directed by Hiroshi Iuchi, who also composed Ikaruga's soundtrack.
Screenshots
Reception
Press86
Players95
GreatMasterpiece- Metacritic85from 52 reviews
- OpenCritic88from 24 reviews
Ikaruga has gone down in history as one of the most difficult games ever, but in recent years, between one Dark Souls and another, the perception of difficulty has changed. This edition for Switch is the perfect opportunity to (re)discover one of the most beautiful shoot'em ups ever, a title that had made the "severe but fair" its flag before the much-talked-about...
While the latest package of Ikaruga isn't quite the grand celebration it should be for a classic title, Treasure's shooter has aged fantastically well. The puzzle-like shooting is just as thrilling and demanding as it was back in 2002, and it's sure to challenge any fan of shooters. Ikaruga's themes of polarity help it stand out from the bullet hell...
Ikaruga has a reputation that is known well enough in the shoot'em up genre: its gameplay mechanic and difficulty level helped it build its name and now, Nintendo Switch players have the chance to enjoy this classic. While it does not add anything new to the original, Ikaruga on the Nintendo Switch expands the game's audience further and allows players...
Overall, Ikaruga is a great shooter but not quite what I was expecting. The length of the game combined with the difficulty may deter most people but the game is customizable enough to be fun for anyone. The game even features a couple 2-player options so you can invite a friend along for the ride. If you're a fan of shooter games, Ikaruga is definitely...