Ikaruga [DC, GC, XBLA, PC]

[Bonestorm]

I won't talk about gameplay either, as the arcade version has been reviewed quite a bit.

This game MUST be played in VGA (and of course in vertical mode). Of all the games that run in VGA mode, it's only rivaled by Guilty Gear X.

The detail in VGA is ridiculous- the backrounds are as detailed, if not more, than Radiant Silvergun's. The explosions, lighting, and particle effects are amazing- and look so much better than in the videos. The large enemies and bosses are extremely detailed- there is no way you can see all of the detail with a/v or svideo.

All the menus are in english, but some of the dialog-explanation type boxes are not. Also you can choose between normal and trial mode, which I'm assuming is DC and arcade mode. Even though it has them written in japanese when you start the game, there is a voice that tells you in english which is which.

There is also an appendix option on the start screen, that has a bunch of ???? for unlockable stuff. It also keeps track of play time like RS.

Its fun.

And go get a VGA box, they are no more than $15 and you can get them at a lot of places.

If you have any questions go ahead and post them. I feel obligated to answer any, since I was fortunate enough to pick it up today.

[Cheebs]

Originally posted by flashmastergrand
And of course the backrounds in Ikaruga are realtime whereas RS are not.

???
What on earth are you talking about? There's no way RS isn't real time. FMV on the Saturn doesn't look anywhere near that clean. I'd bet anything that RS's backgrounds are real time polys.

[Bonestorm]

Sorry I didnt clarify. I meant realtime as in realtime 3D polygons. I thought most of the levels in RS were 2D scrolling backrounds?

[Zerodash]

Last I checked, the backgrounds in RS are a mix.

The cityscape stage is made of polygons overlaid on a flat base.

The Moon boss background is clearly a rotating flat picture.

Many other portions are a mix of polygons and flat bitmaps

[Geruto]

RS's backgrounds are infested with immense parallax scrolling, sprite rotation and sprite scaling, with some 3D from time to time. And yes it's all realtime!! (hence the slowdown)

It's saddening to see that there's already a pirate rom of DC Ikaruga for download on the interweb.
*sigh*

[Prince Planet]

My copy just arrived and is ready for pick up. I'm tempted to go grab it, but I have quite a bit of work to do. Maybe I'll just finish my day, savoring the idea of playing the game at my leisure tonight. Hard to believe it's sitting there -- from rumor to reality. Pretty neat how things work out sometimes.

[mikey]

Originally posted by bbobb


Well I've got 2 inches... is that good?

Your avatar is Servbot/Kobun? Well 2 inches on Kobun would make him look like Ron Jeremy.

[kabuki]

Originally posted by Zerodash


Wow, I wish I could have played Ikaruga 3 years ago :jest:

I just HAD to screw up my 1000th post, didn't I ??

- Kabuki

[Sqoon]

Damn the powers that be...it happened:

I dreamt I was playing Ikaruga last night.

It begins...

[Chojin]

Originally posted by flashmastergrand


This game MUST be played in VGA (and of course in vertical mode). Of all the games that run in VGA mode, it's only rivaled by Guilty Gear X.

The detail in VGA is ridiculous- the backrounds are as detailed, if not more, than Radiant Silvergun's. The explosions, lighting, and particle effects are amazing- and look so much better than in the videos. The large enemies and bosses are extremely detailed- there is no way you can see all of the detail with a/v or svideo.

Listen to this man, he speaks the truth. Ikaruga+tate+VGA=bliss. The difference between standard tv and VGA is insane with this game. You'll never go back, you'd spit on your tv you would. It's games like these that makes me wish DC would have been pushed as far as it could go. I know the system must have plenty of other tricks up it's sleeve too.

Oh and it seems credits are time released so some of you will have to play it legit for awhile before you pansy out and give yourself continue world.