i really didn't vibe with this one at all - but i do think it's a solid game. the color changing gimmick is fun (even though it takes a lot of getting used to), i really dig the early 2000s graphics, the boss designs are funky... it's not bad at all. it's got balls to the wall arcade-style difficulty, because it IS a shmup (duh), but i didn't end up enjoying it. mostly for personal reasons - other than the slight invulnerability delay when you swap colors, hit detection that doesn't always work, and the fact that lasers shove you hella back (usually into a wall), the gameplay is fine.

but this one's so fuckin' difficult and frustrating that i don't really see a point to playing it outside of free play mode. this is definitely getting into scrubquotes territory, but i didn't really get a whole lot out of ikaruga (outside of frustration on later bosses), and i definitely don't want to put into the time to master it. it REALLY lost me in the last two levels - if i admitted how many deaths i had, there would be twitter callout posts about me. i'll quit the whining there, just know that this one isn't for me.

again, though - i think it's an okay game. if i was crazy enough i could see myself busting my ass and dedicating time to practicing individual levels. even so, there are plenty of shmups out there that i like more.