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Hmm... nostalgia... haven't had that lately. Ikaruga is a game that is only for certain people. Let me tell you that right off the bat. Newbies won't play it, and people that, for some ungodly reason, hated Galaga, will not take much of a shine to this game either. As for the rest of us, we will relish in this game as a throwback to 1979, when Galaga was first released, and we will relish in the fact that Nintendo has an insanely challenging game that does not know the meaning of the word fair, which is the way it should be. It won't become too unfair, but the odds won't always be in your favor, so watch it.
There is no story to go with here, which is something I would definitely prefer for a game of this stature. This is nothing more than shooting the bad guys in front of you.
The graphics have almost kaleidoscopic-like effects on you as the screen dazzles you with pretty colors and lots of flashes that would make an epileptic have a seizure right away. The effects are superb, there is absolutely no slowdown, and the entire thing looks very lush and beautiful from start to finish. Treasure is well-known for making good graphics games, and this is definitely no exception. One of their best efforts yet.
The controls are remarkably simple. Shoot anything that gets in your way and dodge anything that is coming in your way. The hit detection is remarkably sharp, so if you get hit, well, I guess it is your fault, and not the machines.
There is nothing much to say about game design here except that the levels are well-designed and the learning curve in them is very sharp, and the hardcore gamers will revel in this, and the newbie will quiver in his little footsteps, which is how games should be designed.
Music is very well produced, and the sound effects and editing are up to the usual par for a game like this. Treasure generally does a good job in this department, and they obviously let their imagination run away with themselves a little bit. Not spectacular, but solid nonetheless in every category.
Is the game fun? Yes, for the hardcore gamer, but not for the newbie. The newbie should wait a few years before sinking his teeth into this one. The hardcore gamer should buy or rent right now and stop reading this review. Ikaruga is one of the few delights I've had so far this year in video games, and that's because I'm not a newbie, but a hardcore gamer. -- Chris Vavra, PGNx Media
---- Jul 14, 2003
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