Game

Ikaruga

2001 · Arcade · Shooter · Puzzle · Indie

89IGDB player score
54 ratings

Previously Take

An 89 average flying under the radar. Worth knowing about before everyone else finds it. A shooter with science fiction in its DNA — loud, fast, and built for repeat runs. Come for the campaign, stay because your friends won't let you leave the lobby.

About this game

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.