Ikaruga on XBLA

[iatneH]

Soldering iron + Dremel, use your favourite pad/joystick on any system.

[WarpZone]

16:10 support as well, nice

This might sound dumb, but is there support for non-widescreen TV's as well? I know the game field itself is always 3:4, but some XBLA games are shown as a letterbox even on a standard TV. All the screenshots I've seen are widescreen.

[PepsimanVsJoe]

The achievements have been posted:

Target: Eboshidori - Destroy Eboshidori! (10 G)

Target: Buppousou - Destroy Buppousou! (10 G)

Target: Uzura - Destroy Uzura! (15 G)

Target: Misago - Destroy Misago! (15 G)

Target: Tageri - Destroy Tageri! (15 G)

Good Grade - Complete Chaper 1 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Final Grade - Complete Chapter 2 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Excellent Grade - Complete Chapter 3 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Stellar Grade - Complete Chapter 4 in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Star Player - Complete the Final Chapter in any mode with a grade of A or better (20 G)

Unstoppable - Clear the game in any mode without using Continue (25 G)

Dot Eater - Clear a certain chapter in any mode without shooting at all (10 G)

Hey these are actually...pretty easy?

[EOJ]

Yeah, those are all really easy. Too bad they didn't try and actually challenge the players (s++ rankings, 1 life clears, Hard mode achievements, high chain achievements, etc).

[Geezer]

16:10 support as well, nice

This might sound dumb, but is there support for non-widescreen TV's as well? I know the game field itself is always 3:4, but some XBLA games are shown as a letterbox even on a standard TV. All the screenshots I've seen are widescreen.

I think it will have it. Treasure have shown much more care than other devs by including a 16:10 mode, I don't think they would neglect the owners of standard TVs

[Necronom]

Yeah, those are all really easy. Too bad they didn't try and actually challenge the players (s++ rankings, 1 life clears, Hard mode achievements, high chain achievements, etc).

Imo the challenges are just right when it comes to giving new players a fair chance/incentive. Let's be honest, setting up challenges like the ones you suggested will result in having a handful of veterans dominating mercilessly and completly alienating new players.
Maybe they add new challenges over time.

[jpj]

it's all about the online leaderboards, yo

[EOJ]

Imo the challenges are just right when it comes to giving new players a fair chance/incentive. Let's be honest, setting up challenges like the ones you suggested will result in having a handful of veterans dominating mercilessly and completly alienating new players.
Maybe they add new challenges over time.

I just think they should have added in some of the harder challenges in addition to all the easy ones. And I'd bet hundreds of players can get S++ on at least one level in the game. Far from a 'handful'.

[bcass]

The achievements are aimed at the XBox Live demographic, which is probably about as far away from your hardened shmup fan as you can imagine. For the vast majority, those achivements will be quite challenging.

[jp]

The achievements are aimed at the XBox Live demographic, which is probably about as far away from your hardened shmup fan as you can imagine.

Kind of a weird statement, since thus far the 360 has been the definitive next-gen shmuppers console.

Though you're right, the general Xbox owner probably isn't much a shmupper. Then again, the general gamer probably doesn't care much about shmupping either.

[bcass]

It's true that the 360 seems to be turning out to be the console of choice for next-gen shmups, but I think that's only by virtue of XBox Live Arcade, which probably constitutes a fraction of all software sold on the 360. Lets face it, for most people, the 360 is a Halo 3 box.

[jp]

It's true that the 360 seems to be turning out to be the console of choice for next-gen shmups, but I think that's only by virtue of XBox Live Arcade, which probably constitutes a fraction of all software sold on the 360. Lets face it, for most people, the 360 is a Halo 3 box.

Well, to an extent, yes. But on the other hand, the 360 has gotten Senko no Ronde and Shikigami no Shiro III, with that Raiden Fighters collection coming as well as Treasure's new 2D shooter.

But yes, most of the shmupping love is on XBLA, for sure.

[Necronom]

Sure, to most people the 360 is mainly an FPS box but there's also a certain amount of people who played Geometry Wars or Mutant Storm Empire and are actually very much interested in arcade style acton games. They're certainly not hardcore shmup players but at prices around 10$/€ they are far more likely to try some of the stuff out than shelling out 60 bucks for an import. Imo XBLA is quite a good "new home" for a lot of shmup titles.

[MathU]

But on the other hand, the 360 has gotten Senko no Ronde and Shikigami no Shiro III, with that Raiden Fighters collection coming as well as Treasure's new 2D shooter.

Shikigami no Shiro III is on the Wii too, and in fact that's the version that's going to get an American localization.

[PepsimanVsJoe]

1up.com is saying Ikaruga should hit this week.
Hopefully it's true.

[Necronom]

"Shikigami no Shiro III is on the Wii too, and in fact that's the version that's going to get an American localization."

And it's also available on the PC which doesn't have any bullshit region coding and can be purchased for less than half the price of the console version...
Wii and shmups - not really imo.

[P_HAT]

And it's also available on the PC which doesn't have any bullshit region coding and can be purchased for less than half the price of the console version...
Wii and shmups - not really imo.

PC port a piece of crap.
What wrong with Wii?

[KNTain]

PC port a piece of crap.

How?

[Necronom]

@P-HAT

Well, the PC port should be arcade perfect since the original arcade hardware consists of rather standard PC components.
There's nothing wrong with the Wii, it's just that imo there are far too many people who believe that it will become some sort of Nintendo style PS2 which I don't think will happen anytime soon. Especially for arcade style games that usually target the non-casual gamers (or even hardcore gamers) the Wii is a bad choice - overpriced rehashes (Geometry) and late ports (Shiki3) is basically everything you get. Nintendo's region coding policy (have fun waiting for a Euro release...) and the overpriced online flea market for old roms they call VC also don't help.
Of course, that's just my personal opinion and many will probably disagree.

[Afterbirth]

No Ikargua this week guys. Its some 3-in a row Bunnie thing.

I think those achievements are pretty fare really.
Its not like you haven't got a high score table as well.

[system11]

I just think they should have added in some of the harder challenges in addition to all the easy ones. And I'd bet hundreds of players can get S++ on at least one level in the game. Far from a 'handful'.

I think you drastically overestimate the average 360 owner. To hit S++ requires a feat of skill + memorisation that I've never managed. You think many of the millions of XBL members are going to memorise a level from start to finish? They aren't. Of course, ridiculous impossible achievements have existed before (be #1 in the online leaderboards for example in GRAW I think it was).

[jp]

There's nothing wrong with the Wii, it's just that imo there are far too many people who believe that it will become some sort of Nintendo style PS2 which I don't think will happen anytime soon. Especially for arcade style games that usually target the non-casual gamers (or even hardcore gamers) the Wii is a bad choice - overpriced rehashes (Geometry) and late ports (Shiki3) is basically everything you get. Nintendo's region coding policy (have fun waiting for a Euro release...) and the overpriced online flea market for old roms they call VC also don't help.
Of course, that's just my personal opinion and many will probably disagree.

The problem with the Wii is that it isn't real gamers that are buying it. Its just random people being sucked in by the gimmick, pulling it out for a round of Wii Sports every so often, and letting ti gather dust in the meantime.

I mean honestly, the system's biggest seller in Japan is Wii Fit and the biggest seller in the US right now is Wii Play. Couple this with the fact that (generally speaking) only Nintendo games really sell on Nintendo consoles, and I don't forsee the Wii becoming most third parties' option for where to put their games.

[kengou]

There's nothing wrong with the Wii, it's just that imo there are far too many people who believe that it will become some sort of Nintendo style PS2 which I don't think will happen anytime soon. Especially for arcade style games that usually target the non-casual gamers (or even hardcore gamers) the Wii is a bad choice - overpriced rehashes (Geometry) and late ports (Shiki3) is basically everything you get. Nintendo's region coding policy (have fun waiting for a Euro release...) and the overpriced online flea market for old roms they call VC also don't help.
Of course, that's just my personal opinion and many will probably disagree.

The problem with the Wii is that it isn't real gamers that are buying it. Its just random people being sucked in by the gimmick, pulling it out for a round of Wii Sports every so often, and letting ti gather dust in the meantime.

I mean honestly, the system's biggest seller in Japan is Wii Fit and the biggest seller in the US right now is Wii Play. Couple this with the fact that (generally speaking) only Nintendo games really sell on Nintendo consoles, and I don't forsee the Wii becoming most third parties' option for where to put their games.

I play games constantly. Almost every genre (except sports games). I play FPSes, RTSes, puzzle games, adventure games, action games, and of course shmups, to name just a few genres. I have been playing games since I was a little kid, and I am not exaggerating when I say I was almost kicked out of college last year for my GPA, mainly because I played games instead of going to class a lot. I am, by most accounts, a "real gamer." The ONLY console I have this generation is the Wii. I stood in line at 5 AM about a year ago for the thing, and I have not regretted this purchase at all. I really doubt you've spent a lot of time with it because there's plenty of games that appeal to the hardcore gamers. Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, Super Paper Mario, and Zelda: Twilight Princess have all come out already and these are all amazing games. In terms of third-party games, I've been immensely enjoying RE4, Ghost Squad, Zack & Wiki, the Godfather: Blackhand Edition, and Battalion Wars 2. I play it almost every day (a little less lately since I finally got Galuda and DDP:DOJ for the PS2). It does not "gather dust". Third parties are also showing a lot of support for the Wii. Just look at the entire list of Wii games on IGN. There are a LOT. A lot of them aren't that good, and there are some shallow minigame collections, but that isn't every Wii game, not by a long shot.

Before all the current generation consoles were released, I wasn't planning to get any of them, because I was (and still am) a big PC gamer, and the consoles were just not offering that much that excited me. I was hardly playing my PS2 at the time. As soon as I saw the Wii had motion controls and point-aiming, I was immediately more excited about a console than ever before, because it meant something new and fresh in gaming. I am firmly convinced that the Wii has the potential for some amazingly unique and innovative games that offer new ways to play. We'll probably see new genres and series emerge that will be remembered for a long time because of the Wii, and I want to be a part of that. The games I listed above have already been proving me right and I'm really excited to be along for the ride.

In my view, "real gamers" aren't the ones who are playing Halo with joysticks while yelling at other 10-year-olds over a headset (and I bet most of us here agree with that sentiment). They're the ones who enjoy good games and enjoy seeing new advancements in the industry. The Wii is an exciting advancement with a lot of potential, while the other two consoles are just more of the same, with better graphics.

Ok, sorry for the long rant.

[P_HAT]

@P-HAT

Well, the PC port should be arcade perfect since the original arcade hardware consists of rather standard PC components.
There's nothing wrong with the Wii, it's just that imo there are far too many people who believe that it will become some sort of Nintendo style PS2 which I don't think will happen anytime soon. Especially for arcade style games that usually target the non-casual gamers (or even hardcore gamers) the Wii is a bad choice - overpriced rehashes (Geometry) and late ports (Shiki3) is basically everything you get. Nintendo's region coding policy (have fun waiting for a Euro release...) and the overpriced online flea market for old roms they call VC also don't help.
Of course, that's just my personal opinion and many will probably disagree.

Shiki3 = bunch of bugs - freezes, only 60hz (i may be wrong), some others. Shiki2 port was much better.
About wii... 3 in 1 MileStone compilation... shmups from GC. Also you can mod you console to play games from other regions.

[Necronom]

Don't wanna turn this into a console wars thread, so I just add this to my earlier comment/rant:

@P_HAT
Imo the Milestone games are pretty weak, they probably also look better when played via VGA (DC).
Never encountered any bugs in Shiki3 (PC) - lazy port, maybe - bad port, hell no.
And no, there's currently no mod chip that let's you play all NTSC games on a PAL console.

@kengou
Your definition of a "real gamer" is heavily biased. Imo there's not much that would be worth its money on the Wii besides Nintendo's and Capcom's stuff. I know many people who bought a Wii for Wii Sports ONLY. They maybe buy Galaxy some day but that's about it. I think people like you are the minority and the horrible attachment rate of software per hardware pretty much proves this.

Back on topic...while not necessarily a big fan of their OS, I think that contrary to Nintendo, MS has a clear vision of what an "Online Arcade" should look like and a high def Ikaruga is one hell of a contribution to this.

[kengou]

Don't wanna turn this into a console wars thread, so I just add this to my earlier comment/rant:

@P_HAT
Imo the Milestone games are pretty weak, they probably also look better when played via VGA (DC).
Never encountered any bugs in Shiki3 (PC) - lazy port, maybe - bad port, hell no.
And no, there's currently no mod chip that let's you play all NTSC games on a PAL console.

@kengou
Your definition of a "real gamer" is heavily biased. Imo there's not much that would be worth its money on the Wii besides Nintendo's and Capcom's stuff. I know many people who bought a Wii for Wii Sports ONLY. They maybe buy Galaxy some day but that's about it. I think people like you are the minority and the horrible attachment rate of software per hardware pretty much proves this.

Back on topic...while not necessarily a big fan of their OS, I think that contrary to Nintendo, MS has a clear vision of what an "Online Arcade" should look like and a high def Ikaruga is one hell of a contribution to this.

If you don't like most of the games on the system, then that's a perfectly legitimate reason not to want one. But don't say that it's not a system for real gamers, because that's just not true.

Ok, that's all I'm going to say so that the thread doesn't get derailed too much.

[evil_ash_xero]

I have yet to get a WII because...well, probably the same problems I had with GC. If you don't like Nintendo's games, there isn't much else to choose from. And I don't like the controller. That said, No More Heroes looks like a winner, as does Vanillaware's upcoming game. Time will tell if i'll get one or not. I still haven't picked up a Xbox 360 or a PS3. I'm still waiting for more games to get stockpiled.

That being said, i've been getting a lot of cool games on the DS lately. I love the old-school.

s/m

[evil_ash_xero]

Any word on the game's improved visuals? Did they do anything to it?

s/m

[Necronom]

Any word on the game's improved visuals? Did they do anything to it?

s/m

See for yourself, HD gameplay clips inside.

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1834/Ikaruga/p1/

[320x240]

Ikaruga is as ugly as any game that has two graphic styles laid on top of each other. The 3d backgrounds make the game look very flat. There is no connection between the foreground and the background.