Ikaruga Genre(s): Adventure, FPS, Online, Puzzle Developer: Treasure Publisher: Treasure/Atari Console(s): Arcade, Dreamcast, Gamecube, Xbox 360 (XBLA) Rated: E for Everyone

Ikaruga, a timeless classic and gift from Japan, has enchanted nearly everyone who has played it, mostly because its premise and gameplay style is so likable. I has been a tremendous amount of time since rumors of its release on Xbox Live began, and only recently have those rumors been confirmed. If you're one of the many people who enjoyed this game, and you have fond memories of it on the arcade or Dreamcast, let your nostalgia remember one thing: this game is hard.

Ikaruga comes on the Xbox Live Arcade as a nearly identical port of the arcade/Dreamcast/Gamecube versions, with some slight additions and alterations, including online multiplayer, video recording and playback (replays), a more accessible leaderboard, and of course achievements.

Veterans (and even people who've just played the game once or twice) will find the game naturally intuitive since it hasn't changed much at all since the older version. The largest portion of the game, which is of course the campaign mode, once more returns as a chaotic five chapter endeavor available for one player or two to experience via Local, Xbox Live or System Link connections -- all working relatively perfectly. Even so, I've experienced some delay lag on Xbox Live connections with lower-than-usual bandwidth, which is not a good thing to have in Ikaruga, where split-second timing is absolutely essential.

The new replay feature allows you to record and store up to 7 game sessions that you've played. It's also possible to save other player's replays and place them in those same 7 slots. It's nice that you can go to the top of the world-wide leaderboards and download the top person's replay, then study it in hopes of becoming better yourself. Though studying replays help improve your pattern memorization, you will not get better without actually playing and practicing -- that's a guarantee.

The controls and game premise return just as they were and just as simple -- you shoot, you change between black and white polarities to absorb the corresponding colored bullets (same color absorbs, different one damages) and all absorbed bullets can be later used in a massive AoE attack destroying pretty much anything around you, provided there was enough absorption. So naturally the controls are equally simple. You're allowed to customize your setup the way you want it to be and choose multiple buttons to do the same job if you so wish. For example, A B X Y could change your polarity, and RT LT RB LB could be your hold-to-shoot buttons and unleash power buttons.

As simple and easy as the controls may be, the largest irony is that the gameplay is anything but. Ikaruga is beyond chaotic, and you'll more often than not find yourself in a heap of bullets both black and white, scared and switching polarities, hoping that you'll make it out alive (if you're not an experienced player that is). So because of that, Ikaruga becomes a matter of pattern memorization that takes much practice involving a lot of trial and error. At first, failing and failing so easily becomes a large frustration, but if you have any sort of ambition, you'll find yourself really wanting to master a level to the best of your ability. I actually found myself thinking about how I can better maneuver myself in Ikaruga while going through my day or laying down in bed . It's that crazy.

Every chapter is ended with a boss fight, and once more, pattern memorization is key for mastery. I'll tell you wholeheartedly that these are some of the most unique and most difficult bosses, if not the most difficult, that I've fought in any shooter. You can also formulate new tactics when you're playing co-op with a friend, making the boss fights all the more interesting. They shine to a point where it feels like an epic achievement when you either get to a boss, or defeat it, since there are moments where you'll think its impossible and crave their annihilation even further.

Ikaruga does a couple things that other shooters don't even come close to doing as well. It keeps you on your toes so much that I would warn weak-hearted people about playing this game. The musical score is a tune you'll grow to love, and a true beauty, finely crafted by Hiroshi Iuchi. However, the game has a couple minor unpleasant spots, such as occasional frustration, quick deaths, and how its often easy to confuse your ship during the co-op since the two ships available look somewhat alike in the heat of battle. Although, you'll have to trust me when I say these are but SPECKS of dust that cloud the glory of Ikaruga.

In short, Ikaruga feels just as innovative as it felt when it was first published. It's hard not to love what it is and what it stands for, even if you're not a top-notch player or just (if I may so crudely put it) suck at it. Ikaruga has that charm and simplicity that shows us how important creativity is, and how far it can go, even with its simple premise. It is a timeless classic that has aged and will continue to age like fine wine. If you have 800 Microsoft Points laying around and you're looking for a game, look no further, because this is it.

Gameplay:		4.0		Average: (3.8 stars)
Graphics/Sound:		3.5
Design/Story:		3.5
Lasting Appeal:		4.0
Overall:		4.0

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