Xbox 360
How many times can you repackage the same game with a few new tricks? Many developers have expanded greatly on the simple space blaster template, some attempts were hugely successful, others not so. Ikaruga is one of those rare flashes of brilliance few cult game studios achieve in their lifespan, although developer Treasure are no strangers to genius. Missing out on Ikaruga however, would be a crying shame.
The game brings something new to the shooter stable by introducing a 'black and white' formula. With a simple tap of a button, you can flip the colour of your ship. You'll also notice the enemies also come in black and white varieties, shooting bullets of the same colour.
If a black enemy shoots at you and you happened to be in black mode at the time, you will absorb the shots, filling your smart bomb gauge in the process and vice versa. However, if you are the opposite colour, you get killed in one shot. It sounds mad and confusing, but this is where the genius lies.
Make no mistake, this is a tricky game, requiring a lot of patience but Treasure have nailed the 'one last go' ethos that makes games so addictive. With a bit of practice you'll inch that little bit further to the goal, overcome seemingly impossible odds and dodge thousands of bullets. The sense of achievement is epic.
The graphics remain intact from the excellent Dreamcast and Gamecube versions although borders remain (a bane of European gamers when a Japanese shooter is converted into PAL) but sod it, the extra-crisp layer of HD smoothness makes this shine. Chuck in an orchestral-synth soundtrack and you have a shooter full of character, which is often rare for scrolling blasters.
Ikaruga is the gaming equivalent of Marmite. It's slick and simple, yet dreadfully taxing and complex at the same time, when fused together with this level of veneer, you have a modern day classic on your hands.
800MS points if you love shooters, the free demo if you are unsure, it's as simple as that.
