Ikaruga

The polarity system elegantly solves one of the main challenges of constructing a good curtain/bullet hell shooter: how do you maximize the amount of projectiles on the screen while still having it possible (if not easy) for the player to dodge them? The answer: there are two different "polarities" of projectile, and if your craft matches the polarity of one it doesn't damage you; instead, it charges your super meter. If you're encountering more projectiles of the opposite polarity, just switch the polarity of your craft! It's a beautiful keystone mechanic and it makes this one of the greatest shooters of all time

I have to preface this review by stating that my experience with shmup games is very limited. I have played quite a few legendary games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era, but always with cheats, be it either with unlimited coins or rewinds. This makes me a total noob, that barely understands the genre, but definitely enjoys the frenetic soundtracks, flashy graphics and heart-pumping gameplay. Ikaruga is a weird one. It does not follow the typical shmup recipe. It introduces a colour-based invulnerability system, based on which your ship can absorb all damage from bullets of the same colour of your shield. A dedicated shield colour-switching button makes you feel like a space-ninja, blending with bullets when the switches are performed correctly. Ikaruga does not shy away from spamming you with enormous patterns of bullets. It simultaneously manages to overwhelm you and satisfy you with its patterns. The controls are very tight which is the most important aspect of an arcade game of such difficulty. Despite the coolness of the shield mechanic, the awesome bosses and the fitting soundtrack, I felt that something was missing. At first, I found the game far too difficult to enjoy with its normal rules. Yeah, I know, "git gud". Fortunately, turning on infinite continues, allowed me to not only see the entirety of the game, but also created some room for experimentation and light-heartedness, without the stress of going back to the beginning after just 3 minuscule mistakes. That's when I realized that apart from the combo meter that allows you to shoot some homing-missiles, there are no upgrades or alternative weapons. This makes each run less interesting. The whole addicting nature of the game solely depends on its difficulty, combined with the satisfaction of overcoming a previously impossible hurdle. Even though I enjoy difficult games very much, Ikaruga was far beyond my skill level and would never finish without infinite continues. I think that if I had "seriously" play some easier shmup games and then re-visit Ikaruga, I will enjoy it more. I cannot shake off the thought that there are better shmups out there though, and you actually lose nothing by skipping this one, except for having played such an arcade legend. Its price is fair, but unfortunately it felt like a 6/10 to me, which feels wrong for such a legend.

Addictive and frustrating in equal measures but always on my favourites