Posted on April 9, 2008, Chris XBLA Wednesday 4/9: Ikaruga is Finally Here
Perhaps the top game on my Xbox Live Arcade wishlist has finally been released: the superbly-awesome and simultaneously incredibly difficult vertically scrolling shooter, Ikaruga. For just 800 Microsoft Points ($10) you can own this underappreciated masterpiece that previously could only be found in arcades or on Dreamcast or GameCube. With support for both split-screen and online co-op play, as well as a replay feature, you’d have to be crazy to not give Ikaruga a try.
The game’s polarity mechanic, where only bullets of the opposite color can destroy you, is still as unique and refreshing as it was years ago. As a longtime fan, I’m very happy to see the game get another shot at a larger audience, as a port to GameCube just didn’t do Ikaruga justice.