ikaruga posts (Subscribe to this feed)

XBL 'Deal of the Week' has Ikaruga at a flipping nice $5

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 13th 2009 at 10:00AM }

Xbox Live's "Deal of the Week" has been pretty solid lately as evidenced by its latest offering: Ikaruga for a paltry 400

($5)!

The polarity flipping shmup is considered to be the thinking man's entry into the "blast everything" genre. This is about as good as an arcade deal gets, and with the prices of this year's "Summer of Arcade," we'll take all the savings we're granted.

[Add Ikaruga to your download queue]

Gallery: Ikaruga (XBLA)

Microsoft requested 'Radiant Silvergun' XBLA remake, Treasure considering

by Jason Dobson { Jan 5th 2009 at 1:13PM }

There may soon be a way of picking up and playing Radiant Silvergun that doesn't involve second mortgages or selling plasma. Talking with Gamasutra, Treasure CEO Masato Maegawa revealed that Microsoft has approached the developer about giving the cult classic arcade and Saturn shmup a makeover for Xbox Live Arcade.

While you reattach your jaw, it's worth noting that Treasure has yet to say yes to the remake, with Maegawa expressing concern that unlike Ikaruga, which blasted its way onto XBLA in April 2008, much more work would have to be done to Radiant Silvergun before it was given the green light. "If you play Radiant Silvergun nowadays," noted the exec, "it's certainly aged in assorted ways, and I'm not sure they're all good." Honestly Treasure, you can have our Microsoft Points, spit polish or not. Anything to keep our precious bodily fluids to ourselves.

Wii Warm Up: Virtual Console plus

by Chris Greenhough { Oct 30th 2008 at 8:00AM }

Okay, hypothetical question time. I recently acquired an Xbox 360 to keep my Wii and DS company, and have spent most of my time playing games on Xbox Live Arcade. My chief obsession in this short period has been Treasure shooter Ikaruga, which I previously enjoyed on the GameCube. The Xbox Live Arcade version is different, however, having been fleshed out with some neat additions, including the ability to upload/download replays and online leaderboards.

Now, I like these features. In fact, I like the leaderboard aspect so much that I began to wonder why Virtual Console games didn't offer such extras. Given the choice, would you like to see stuff like leaderboards and other additions (for example, some new galleries of old art, a developer commentary or interview, etc.) included with Virtual Console releases, or would you rather not spoil the pristine authenticity of the service? I used to be in the latter camp, enjoying the unspoiled genuineness of VC games, but now find myself wanting more!

The big gallery feature is approaching at full throttle. According to the data, it is identified as "Awesome Treasure Gallery."

A brief history of Treasure's shooters

by Ross Miller { Aug 12th 2008 at 1:00AM }

Whether you're a fan of shmups or wish to throw a pile of dictionaries at us for using such an egregious portmanteau, you could learn a thing or two from DS Fanboy's tribute to the shoot-em-up kings at Treasure. From 1993's Gunstar Heroes (released last year as a Virtual Console title) to this year's Bangai-O Spirits, the piece covers all of the developers' projectile-favored games (sorry Dynamite Heddy fanatics). Click here and get edumucated.

Points>Life: Recap Edition

by Xav de Matos { May 27th 2008 at 10:05PM }

Each week, X3F tips gamers to the tricks of the trade of Achievement hording in Points>Life. Every week a new achievement is unlocked to help you continue your unhealthy obsession with the Xbox 360 meta-game.

This week on Points>Life we're giving you nothing! Well, actually what we're doing is going back and recapping the tips we've given you and added a little postmortem comment. After releasing each feature the X3F Army shared best practices on other methods to obtain similar achievements.

This week we go back to the last eight weeks of tips and tricks, so if you're new to Points>Life ... today is your day!

Continued →

Rez, Ikaruga hold record for best XBLA launches

by Ross Miller { May 27th 2008 at 3:30PM }

In news post yesterday, Penny Arcade's Gabe revealed the top four best launches ever for Xbox Live Arcade, with the launch window being the first three days of availability. The list is as follows:

Rez HD, 25k units
Ikaruga, 22.5k units
Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1, 16.5k units
N+, 13k units

Honestly, we're a bit surprised by the initial success of Rez and Ikaruga. Not that we didn't want them to succeed (they really are awesome games), but we didn't expect to see Xbox Live community rally so quickly around years-old re-releases. Now, if we could only see data for worst XBLA launches, or even total Rez playtime using multiple controllers as trance vibrators.

Gallery: Rez HD (XBLA)

[Via X3F]

X3F TV -- Points>Life: Perfecting Polarity

by Xav de Matos { Apr 22nd 2008 at 3:00PM }

Each week, X3F tips gamers to the tricks of the trade of Achievement hording in Points>Life. Every week a new achievement is unlocked to help you continue your unhealthy obsession with the Xbox 360 meta-game.

This week marks our first venture into the XBLA points business with a tip that covers the recently released Ikaruga. Well, maybe tip is the wrong word. This week we're showing you the pattern to memorize that will help you get an A grade on the first level of the shoot-em-up.

This one isn't easy to get, but watch the tutorial and you should be chaining enemies in no time.

Music: "Mercy" by OURS

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Ikaruga

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 11th 2008 at 6:30PM }

This is the one everyone has been waiting for. Ikaruga has finally landed on Xbox Live Arcade. We took the game for a test drive and put together our usual video tour. Is Ikaruga worth the wait? You bet your bottom it is. If you like the bullet hell shoot-em-up genre, you need to play Ikaruga. Watch the video and find out why.

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[M4V] Download the MP4 directly.

Last chance: Win Ikaruga

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 11th 2008 at 11:00AM }

This is it, the final chance to win Ikaruga if you haven't already entered. Remember, unlike our typical giveaways, you can only enter once. If you've already entered, you're covered. Those of you who haven't entered, get to it (you have one hour as of this post). We don't know why you haven't already, honestly. Maybe you were away on business. Maybe you were tied up in the basement and have only now reached a computer, desperate to reach out for somebody, anybody who can help. We say wait just one minute before contacting the authorities and enter our giveaway first. Remember fanboys: swag first, rescue second.

Reminder: Win Ikaruga

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 10th 2008 at 3:00PM }

You there! Stop what you're doing right now because we've got something to say. Ahem, please don't forget to enter our latest giveaway. We're giving away two download codes for Ikaruga, the latest and greatest release on Xbox Live Arcade. All you have to do to win is visit our official giveaway page and follow the directions. As if that weren't enough, Joystiq is joining in on the fun and giving away three codes for the game. If you enter both giveaways, your chances more than double! Go for it. Live the dream.

Fanswag Weekly: Win Ikaruga for XBLA!

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 9th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Ah, the sweet taste of free. Granted, it's not always sweet. After all, people give away lots of crappy free stuff. A free coaster, a free button, free Yaris. None of that really seems to satisfy. Free Ikaruga, on the other hand, now that hits the spot. Here's your chance to snag a free download code for Ikaruga (valued at 800 Microsoft Points / $10). Simply do the following.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment with the name of your favorite Treasure-developed game.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Limit 1 entry per person.
This entry period ends at 12:00pm EST on Friday, April 11th. We'll randomly select 2 winners at that time (please check your email!).
For a list of complete rules, click here.

For another chance to win (well, three to be precise), head over to Joystiq.

Joyswag: Win a copy of Ikaruga (XBLA)

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 9th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Update: Entries are closed. We'll be alerting the winners via e-mail soon, so please keep an eye on your inbox!

Treasure's Ikaruga holds a special place in our hearts. If you're like some of us on the Joystiq crew, today's Xbox Live Arcade release will be the third time you pick up this classic shooter. At only 800 Microsoft Points ($10), this HD re-release is quite a bargain -- but, thanks to Microsoft, we're able to give three Joystiq readers a free download of the game. Just follow these rules for your chance to win:

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment with the name of your favorite Treasure-developed game
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
Limit 1 entry per person
This entry period ends at 12pm ET on Friday, April 11th. We'll randomly select 3 winners at that time (please check your email!)
For a list of complete rules, click here

For another chance to win, be sure to visit Xbox 360 Fanboy.

Ikaruga vertically scrolls onto the XBLA

by Dustin Burg { Apr 9th 2008 at 10:30AM }

Ikaruga, the Japanese arcade shooter that a few of our fellow fanboys have been salivating over, is now available for download off of the Xbox Live Arcade for a cool 800 Microsoft points. That means that the Dreamcast diehards among us no longer have any reason to track down an elusive Japanese copy of the game. Ikaruga supports two player co-op locally or over Live, video replays and (of course) the oh so unique and completely color coded polarity gameplay that we've all come to embrace. Go ahead and give Ikaruga a download already. Your inner vertical scroller will appreciate it.

Gallery: Ikaruga (XBLA)

This Wednesday: XBLA gets Ikaruga, Poker Smash DLC

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Apr 7th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Hey, it's tough to keep the lid on an exciting secret. If we knew Ikaruga was coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, we'd probably blurt it out at every opportunity too. Sort of like what we're doing now. In case you haven't gathered, Treasure's mesmerizing shooter is finally, officially coming to Xbox 360 this week -- f'realz, confirmed and for 800 MS Points ($10). You're all smiles now, but just wait until the game crushes your ego to a pulp in its unrelenting, unforgiving bullet-hell fist.

Those who prefer their gaming to be less hectic and humiliating should note that Poker Smash is receiving some downloadable content this week, with an "Environment Pack" adding two new Action Mode environments and a "Puzzle Pack" adding 15 new weapons. No, wait ... puzzles. Definitely puzzles. Each pack will set you back 100 MS Points ($1.25).

Gallery: Ikaruga (XBLA)

Confirmed! Ikaruga to the XBLA this Wednesday

by Dustin Burg { Apr 7th 2008 at 12:30PM }

Treasure told us last week, but today Microsoft made it officially official. The highly anticipated arcade shooter Ikaruga will make its way to the Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, April 9th for 800 Microsoft points. Ikaruga will feature five levels of shooter action, two player co-op gaming locally or over Xbox Live and include a video replay mode to watch all the destruction over, and over again. It's Ikaruga! It's releasing this Wednesday! It's Ikaruga!