Ikaruga Reviews
Treasure’s cult 2D shooter remains as uniquely entertaining as always, and surprisingly well adapted for a modern PC.
Infuriatingly difficult, but perfectly constructed. Ikaruga is the PC's best bullet-hell shooter.
A timeless blast from the past that's easy to recommend to anyone looking for not only a piece of gaming history but a game that still thrills to this day.
Ikaruga is simply a work of art. It has aged significantly well and still feels profound and fresh even by today’s standards. Its high difficulty will undoubtedly put a lot of gamers off, but the deep and addictive replay value will concrete its status as one of the finest offerings of its kind.
Ikaruga is not so highly revered by chance, despite its near accidental creation. It is the result of a combination between an incredibly talented team making the most of excellent hardware, bringing in the unique double polarity gimmick that stealthy introduces puzzle solving mechanics into a bullet hell shmup. So it's no great surprise it not only remains an incredibly compelling experience but it lands smoothly on top of the currently available shmup list on Nintendo's hybrid console library.
If you're a Switch owner with a penchant for arcade games or shoot-em-ups, this is an easy recommendation. Just be sure to put on your learning pants if you're a newcomer: Ikaruga is a difficult beast to wrangle.
Ikaruga is great—everyone should play it unless you're fundamentally opposed to the genre. It can be frustrating but I found that I got a little farther almost every run. Maybe someday I'll even try to get through Arcade Mode with the default settings (on Easy) so that I can actually post a high score!
Ikaruga is one of those games I'll happily rebuy and replay every time there's a new port, but with this Switch version, I should be set. Being able to easily bust out the Joy-Con controllers for co-op and flip the system on its side for a vertical screen orientation is the real deal. Ikaruga is a timeless classic, and for those of us without a swiveling monitor, the Switch is just about the ideal way to experience it.
It's long been known that Ikaruga is one of the true classics of the top-down shooter world, but going back to the game again on the Nintendo Switch really cements that legacy. This is a brutal but beautiful, relentless yet rewarding, and frantic yet fun bullet hell challenge that feels as fresh now as it did 17 years ago in its original arcade release.
Ikaruga is an outstanding classic, which I find myself mentioning to anyone who will listen. It is a defining game in the shooting genre that all gamers should experience. The Switch version is true to the arcade, but goes above and beyond with the portable vertical play and global leaderboards. Don’t miss out!
After so many subsequent ports and re-releases, little love is lost in a game whose age only elevates its timelessness and whose gracious-but-clever philosophy on enemy engagement makes it a thoroughly unique affair in general.
Ikaruga is a classic shoot 'em up in every sense of the word and I'm happy to say that it holds up beautifully after over 15 years.
As it always has been, Ikaruga is a must-play for anyone even remotely interested in shoot 'em ups.
Ikaruga is a classic, but it’s not a game for everyone. It confidently dwells in its genre and is designed to cater to a specific audience. It won’t alter the perception of those who aren’t thrilled about shoot-em-ups, and neither is it meant to.
There's almost as high a degree of memorization to Ikaruga as skill as you can only improvise your way through challenges like this so much. True success will only come from having familiarity with where to go, what to do, and then almost a degree of muscle memory to help you perform ballet between bullets flying everywhere. If you've been looking for a game that's somewhat light on total content but that compensates with a demand for approaching perfection Ikaruga is as tough as they come. But, if you were hoping for something a bit more light and fun you can absolutely pass, this is a game that revels in its brutality.
If you've ever been a fan of Ikaruga and own a Switch, this port is absolutely essential.
Treasure's cult 2D shooter remains as uniquely entertaining as always and works extremely well on the Nintendo Switch.
Ikaruga on Switch instantly becomes the definitive version of Treasure masterpiece, without any misstep in a truly excellent package.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall, Ikaruga remains a treasure in the shoot 'em up genre due to its tight gameplay, challenge, and overall design.