43 replies to this topic

[Tempest]

Anyone got a copy of Radient Silvergun they want to trade me?

Ikaruga is great, but damn if it isn't HARD! That stage with the rotating space platform thingy (4 I think) kills me every time.

Tempest

[Paralistalon]

This is a game I'll probably buy. The only thing giving me worries is that it only has 5 levels. I don't want to put down all that money and be dissapointed by a short game. On the other hand, I'm the kind of person who likes trying to rack up a high score, and the high difficulty is a plus.

[theaveng]

TWO QUESTIONS:

(1) Is Ikrauga a *truly* good shooter... or are you guys just suffering from withdrawal and therefore would take any crap that came along? (no offense intended... but I've noticed that Skies of Arcadia was over-hyped simply because Dreamcast was RPG-starved)



(2) ATARI? Do you think the Atari brand could someday be revived as a successful third-party company?

[MegaManFan]

Paralistalon said:

This is a game I'll probably buy.  The only thing giving me worries is that it only has 5 levels.  I don't want to put down all that money and be dissapointed by a short game.  On the other hand, I'm the kind of person who likes trying to rack up a high score, and the high difficulty is a plus.

Not to worry - the challenge factor compensates for the # of levels, and it comes loaded with a whopping number of optional game play modes including one that generates a web password to post your best score (I haven't even had the balls to submit one yet, I'm just now getting good at chains). I mean you could say the same thing about Galaga - it's just the same wave over and over right - yet because it's such a great shooter you can still play it for hours. Ikaruga is THAT kind of game. It exudes quality from every pore.

[ubersaurus]

I've been trying for about a week now to get past level 3...first it was the first part of the level...then it was the waves of planes coming from above and below...and then it was the miniboss thing...and then the boss. And he's just being a pain in the ass!

Ikaruga is hugely good. Especially if you love the challenge of getting a high score. I like the slomo vids of that japanese player tearing through the game and getting huge chains and scores.

[Cafeman]

I can consistently get enough chains & defeat the boss quick enough to earn a "B" on level 1 now. I switched to Easy mode (in which the blown up enemies don't spew bullets) for a while and it is a lot easier during those situations of constant light/dark color changing.

Man, Ikaruga is really growing on me! I finally blew up the stage 3 boss (the circular rotating station) -- it's explosion was SO satisfying. Stage 4 put me down for the count though -- there is another circular station kind of thing in Stage 4 -- shields rotate around, you try to hide behind them as streams of shots & tons of ships fill the screen. I haven't gotten to Stage 5 yet, not even on Easy.

For that stage with the streams of ships -- light one descending, dark ones ascending -- althernate moving left & right as you keep shooting, allowing the ascending dark ships to miss you. Since you are light, the light bullets will not kill you.

Ikaruga is not a shooter you'll beat in a day, I believe, not even on easy. Each stage is filled with challenging light/dark obstacles & puzzles. Once you get good at the stages, then you can try to play them better (by better chains) and get an actually decent score. I love the music and graphics quite a bit too, no disappointments at all.

[chrisbid]

seriously, every complaint about modern gaming one can have is rebutted with this game. Kudos to Infogrames for releasing this classic.

[theaveng]

.

(2) ATARI? Do you think the Atari brand could someday be revived as a successful third-party company?

[chrisbid]

i dont think the atari name is going to do anything for the titles released under its name, its going to all about the games. despite how good Ikaruga is, the fact is that its not going to be a huge hit

[Paralistalon]

Add me to the Ikaruga Club. I got it and felt like spiking my Cube on the ground a couple of times because the game was so hard. I haven't felt that way in a long time. The combo system is genius. I'm stuck on the level 4 boss. When I beat it I'll be sure to bump this topic with an all-caps victory post.

[Paralistalon]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!

Yes, I finally beat level 4. Not only that, but I went into level 5 with 4 or 5 continues.

I thought level 4 was hard... LEVEL 5 WAS INSANE!!!

[Inky]

I have been trying to find this game, but it seems nobody in the Kankakee/Bradley/Bourbonnais metroplex has his in stock. Not even for rental! Not at Wal-Mart, TRU, Blockbuster..

[ubersaurus]

Did you check out Gamestops in the area? Thats where I got mine, and they may have some left in stock.

I can now perfectly chain the first half of level 1

[Paralistalon]

Update time. I've since beaten the game... on easy mode that is. My best accomplishment was getting to level 4 on easy without losing a single life. Then I got dealt the hand of misfortune and died before I could get to level 5 on one continue.

Yeah, ubersaurus, I'm pretty good at level 1 now as well. What's your high score for that level/max number of chains? I'll post my high scores later and we can revive this thread as the "Ikaruga Bragging Thread"

P.S. I don't think it is possible to beat the final boss's 2nd form on one continue. The one where it sends out the energy snakes.

[Paralistalon]

Okay, I'm back.

My top score in 1-Player Easy Mode ALL is 4874090 at level 4.

My individual level highs for Easy Mode are:

Chapter 1: 2185370
Max Chain- 62

Chapter 2: 2087700
Max Chain- 39

Chapter 3: 806360
Max Chain- 14 on that game; but 19 on another
Yeah, so what? I know I suck at that level score-wise!

Chapter 4: 1245742
Max Chain- 12 on that game; but 24 on another

Chapter 5: 1739224
Max Chain- 0 on that game
(I can't beat all 4 stages of the boss on one continue yet!)

Normal Mode? I haven't tried much on Normal yet, except I know the bosses are harder. I'm still trying to beat the game on Easy Mode on 1 continue right now.

[ubersaurus]

Paralistalon said:

Update time.  I've since beaten the game...  on easy mode that is.  My best accomplishment was getting to level 4 on easy without losing a single life.  Then I got dealt the hand of misfortune and died before I could get to level 5 on one continue.  

Yeah, ubersaurus, I'm pretty good at level 1 now as well.  What's your high score for that level/max number of chains?  I'll post my high scores later and we can revive this thread as the "Ikaruga Bragging Thread"  

P.S. I don't think it is possible to beat the final boss's 2nd form on one continue. The one where it sends out the energy snakes.

Well I only ever play it on Normal mode, and even then I took a break from it for a few weeks so I'm still a bit rusty ;p your score basically crushes mine under its foot and spits on it.

[Paralistalon]

I've recently been trying the "Net Challenge" Mode, where you play one credit on Normal difficulty and get a password to register your score online.

My highest score is 5,223,310.

Of course, that's basically from doing real good on Statge 1 and 2. My max chain routine for stage 1 is 75, and my max chain for stage 2 is 68. (yay I finally got an A+ on stage 1!)

I'm going to need A LOT of practice on stage 3 to get a good score. That stupid miniboss is just as hard as the final boss for that stage!

I LOVE this game! Anyone else still playing?

[edit] 6,118,320!

[ubersaurus]

I admit it, I've barely played lately. I just keep getting sidetracked by Zanac and Galactic Attack as far as shooters go.

[Defiance131]

theaveng said:

TWO QUESTIONS:

(1) Is Ikrauga a *truly* good shooter... or are you guys just suffering from withdrawal and therefore would take any crap that came along?  (no offense intended... but I've noticed that Skies of Arcadia was over-hyped simply because Dreamcast was RPG-starved)



(2) ATARI?  Do you think the Atari brand could someday be revived as a successful third-party company?

1) Yes, it is *truly* a good shooter. In fact, I think time will show it's a great shooter. We own almost all of the good shooters and pass on the crap. It's gorgeous, it controls wonderfully, and it's a beautiful game with a devilish hook (the whole polarity thing). I'm not even going to post my scores because they're not worthy, but I will say I have a higher score than my husband for many stages...

2) Not sure. But they're making a ton of money now with the licenses they have (Matrix, Neverwinter Nights, etc.)