Ikaruga

Released in Arcades in 2001 and a year later for the Dreamcast in Japan, Ikaruga is a gem among the shoot em up genera. It wouldn't see a world wide release until 2003 for the Gamecube and it was also released on the XBL Arcade in 2008. The story is almost non existent in the game, I think the manual covers it, but I didn't have the manual so I can't comment on it. Anyway whatever the story is, the game is still fun to play.

The game works on a polarity system with your ship, the bullets, and the enemy ships. To put it simply, there are two colors, white and red. You do more damage to enemy ships if you're using the opposite color but you also die if the opposite color bullet hits you. However you absorb the same color bullet for an awesome special attack, but deal less damage to enemies of the same color. It can get chaotic from switching from color to color to keep your ship from dying. At the end of each level you're greeted with unique bosses that puts your skills to the test. If you're not quick enough to kill them, they'll just get board with you and leave.

As you play more and more the game becomes easier and easier. After so many hours of playing you unlock more lives to start off with, more continues, etc. There's a practice mode to practice at levels but for some reason, even though I beat the game multiple times all the levels aren't unlocked to practice in. You can even switch the game from horizontal view to a vertical view. Heck if you wanted to you can play the game without firing a single shot.

Ok I've ran out of things to say about this game. To sum it up, it's short, fun, difficult, and the music is spectacular. Pick it up if you want a good but short game.

Summary:

Good:

-innovative polarity system

-great music

-sweet bosses

Moderate:

-hard in an unfair way even on easy difficulty

Bad:

-Short

-almost no story

Graphics: 4/5

Gameplay: 4/5

Story: 2/5

Sound: 5/5 

Overall: 3.75