Product Description

Ikaruga is a scrolling space shooter (with options for either a vertical or horizontal display) set in 2-D against a rich 3-D backdrop with a combination of rich Japanese storytelling and high-powered fighter-pilot heroics. Players take the role of hero Shinra, the lone survivor of a freedom federation that was massacred by the evil, power-hungry conqueror Tenro Horai. Now Shinra, in his newly built ship, the Ikaruga, must fight for aging, exiled people who are depending upon him for their survival. Join the sole warrior as he battles the evil Horai in the hopes of restoring peace.

Those already familiar with Ikaruga from the Japanese Dreamcast release will appreciate vital game upgrades such as enhanced graphics, a new demo mode that clues players in to the "perfect" round and private passwords; high scorers can post their accomplishments on the official Ikaruga web site and establish bragging rights within the worldwide Ikaruga community.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6739 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Atari
• Released on: 2003-05-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Platform: GameCube
• Original language: English, German
• Subtitled in: German

Official Nintendo Magazine
"The ultimate fix for hardcore action junkies. Trust us, you'll get hooked. 8/10."

NGC Magazine
"Undoubtedly one of the finest examples of the [2-D blasting] genre you're ever likely to find."

Customer Reviews

Less is more ... much more
How can a 2D top-down shooter, with no power-ups, weapon or ship upgrades, and only 5 stages that would last a total of about half-an-hour, be one of the best games on the Gamecube (and therefore on any console)?

Anyone, of any age, who ever hung around a grimy arcade with a pocketful of sweaty coins, oblivious to the outside world, obsessively chasing that Holy Grail of gamers, the High Score, will understand. Ikaruga is an arcade experience like no other on a home console, requiring pixel-perfection, lightning reflexes, and a knowledge of the game's dynamics that no sane human being would ever admit to.

Two simple rules produce hours of hellishly difficult gameplay. First, all enemies are either black or white, but your own ship can switch 'polarity' between these two colours. Firing at opposite-coloured enemies inflicts double damage, but a single hit from an opposite-coloured missile will destroy you. Sounds straightforward, but in the more frantic firefights you'll need to switch polarity several times per second! Power from same-coloured missiles is absorbed, allowing you to release up to 12 homing missiles at any time.

Secondly, bonus points are earned for destroying enemies in same-coloured groups of three. The bonuses go up with each successive, uninterrupted group destroyed, but breaking the 'chain' -- say, by hitting two black then one white enemy -- resets the bonus to zero.

Ikaruga isn't about getting to the end -- you don't even have to destroy the bosses to progress. That might baffle players of all other types of games, but serious shooter fans know that missing out on that massive boss bonus is as bad as dying. The Score is all. Remember coming out of that sweet shop in 1980, all your dinner money having gone into the Space Invaders/Galaxian/Phoenix machine you just couldn't leave alone? Imagine it, but with 21st-Century visuals and sound. That's Ikaruga.

Yet another 5-star review, let me tell you exactly why!
Ikaruga is the best 2D shooter I have ever played, bar none- and I have played a lot of them! The fact the there is a practice mode where you can re-play every specific section of every level over and over again just shows how difficult this game is. It's not frustratingly difficult however, as every time you play it you will improve. You just feel drawn to having another go, to rack up a better score, get further than you did last time or play it perfectly like the included demos suggest!

It's a stunning game which works on a single, yet incredible gameplay feature: you can change your ship from white to black. No doubt it's been described in detail by another reviewer, so I won't go into much here. I'll just say that this very simple addition makes a whole lot of difference to the way you play. Without it this would be a standard 2D shooter. With it it's one of the most intelligent and challenging games ever made.

It's also getting harder to get hold of- so buy yourself a copy quick!

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!
YES!!! Thank you Infogrames! This game is a real gem. Originally published in Japan for the now (sadly) defunct Sega Dreamcast, it sold by the bucket load. Apparantly almost every Dreamcast owner in Japan had a copy. No wonder there was a shortage!

This game is a sequel to Radiant Silvergun which was released for the Sega Saturn in Japan. Ironicly enough, that was never published in the U.S. or Europe, and Ikaruga almost suffered the same fate! But somebody at Infogrames stood up and made a stand. Great! This title takes what made the Saturn original so damn hot, and improves it ten-fold.

The graphics, although partly 2D, are some of the best on the Gamecube. Every animation has been given great attention and not one frame has been overlooked. The lighting effects are amazing, as are the backgrounds. This version even improves on the Dreamcast variant, with more sprites and polygons on-screen that you can count!

The extra audio capabilities of the Gamecube are put to good use, as the soundtrack has more depth and atmosphere. Thankfully, the background music fits the plot perfectly. There's no plinky-plonky stuff in sight!

The amount of variety the game has is immemnse. It'll take you twenty seconds to learn how to play, but years to master the game, never mind unlocking all the extras. Add a fun two player option, and you have the most fun game ever!

Looks like Gamecube owners have got another one over PS2 owners. Good on ya!

All Gamecube owners must own this!