Ikaruga

released on Dec 20, 2001

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.


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Jogo fácil da porra, zerei com a tela desligada

(Winner of the "1CC Award" for best SHMUP of all time, speech below)

Ikaruga is the "answer" to the "question" that Radiant Silvergun presented. Cutting down Silvergun's wide variety of weapons to only two: a linear shot and a bomb-style homing laser.

It also adds-nigh invulnerability in swapping shot-polarities, and the game makes you use them all to their fullest.

Ikaruga needs none of the RPG-style grinding, power-ups, customization, and so forth seen in other "innovative" shmups.

It is a true S.T.G.at its core, stripped to the bone and refined to its extreme. Drawing power from the earliest classics and inspiring others that came after it, Ikaruga remains a Treasure for the hardcore gamer.

The same hardcore gamer who asked Radiant Silvergun this question: "Even through all of the developer frustration, retailer manipulation, and outsider protestation: Do you love me?" Ikaruga answers: "Yes. I do love you."

THIS GAME IS THE JOY OF MANKIND

This was the first danmaku I've finished.

difficult as hell but once you finally complete it, you feel peace and leave with a great experience