Ikaruga on XBLA

[Necronom]

1. The animation of the pilot panning around his ship at the start has been removed.

2. Some of the useful GameCube modes are not present.

So they simplified the front end menu, removing the animation playing in the background. Hmmm, I liked the animation...but, what's the big deal here? Seen it countless times.
Regarding the useful GC modes - well, I think that might be Treasure's decision. I remember reading an article some time ago that those modes, indeed very useful for practising, were a condition on behalf of Nintendo. Quite honestly, I haven't messed around with nulldc emulator yet but if it supports save states and slowing down like most emulators do nowadays than this might be an alternative for people who don't feel like practising the "arcade way".
The whole Ikaruga HD thing seems to be a nicely priced, streamlined and visually enhanced port of one of the most marvellous arcade games ever produced. It's also fully customizable in order to "fit" on every possible screen (16:10!) which is personally more important to me than the GC modes. Sorry, don't see any problems here.

"And the direction where Shigi's (Chapter 3 sub-boss) lasers go, has been inverted. So it's not arcade perfect."

Again, seems to be Treasure's decision. Not identical to the arcade version, maybe better

[bcass]

Emitting a beatifull animated sequence that sets the tone for the game as it's about to begin is a bad thing IMO. I can live without the GameCube modes though.

[professor ganson]

Thanks, bcass. Regrettable, I agree, though not HUGE problems.

[kengou]

1. The animation of the pilot panning around his ship at the start has been removed.

2. Some of the useful GameCube modes are not present.

So they simplified the front end menu, removing the animation playing in the background. Hmmm, I liked the animation...but, what's the big deal here? Seen it countless times.
Regarding the useful GC modes - well, I think that might be Treasure's decision. I remember reading an article some time ago that those modes, indeed very useful for practising, were a condition on behalf of Nintendo. Quite honestly, I've haven't messed around with nulldc emulator yet but if it supports save states and slowing down like most emulators do nowadays than this might be an alternative for people who don't feel like practising the "arcade way".
The whole Ikaruga HD thing seems to be a nicely priced, streamlined and visually enhanced port of one of the most marvellous arcade games ever produced. It's also fully customizable in order to "fit" on every possible screen (16:10!) which is personally more important to me than the GC modes. Sorry, don't see any problems here.

"And the direction where Shigi's (Chapter 3 sub-boss) lasers go, has been inverted. So it's not arcade perfect."

Again, seems to be Treasure's decision. Not identical to the arcade version, maybe better

Sorry, Ikaruga doesn't work very well in NullDC. In chapter 2 and beyond, there are a lot of bullets that are invisible, making the game virtually unplayable.

The conquest modes aren't a huge deal, practice modes are more important than conquest. I hope they haven't taken out practice, at least. And as to the animation at the beginning... who cares?

[Hentai]

SHUMPS --(Thought process?!?)> Skinny girl with fake boobs?

Also no.

I think I have found my soul mate! Welcome Hentai!

Holy shit, wow. That just made my day.

I wouldn't call it unplayable on nullDC, the only thing I hate about it is how theres no savestates. I would rather just pop Jeff Ma's shmups into my Dreamcast though.

[kengou]

I wouldn't call it unplayable on nullDC, the only thing I hate about it is how theres no savestates. I would rather just pop Jeff Ma's shmups into my Dreamcast though.

You consider a game playable when half the bullets aren't visible?

[Hentai]

I wouldn't call it unplayable on nullDC, the only thing I hate about it is how theres no savestates. I would rather just pop Jeff Ma's shmups into my Dreamcast though.

You consider a game playable when half the bullets aren't visible?

Hey, memory.

[Syndicate]

I'm going to cryogenically freeze myself because I'm sick of waiting! When the hell is it gonna come out?

[Hentai]

I'm going to cryogenically freeze myself because I'm sick of waiting! When the hell is it gonna come out?

Just plug your wired controller into your PC and play it.

[PPA]

This is not about 2d over 3d at all. Graphic wise Ikaruga would have been much better if it played fully 3d. Of course gameplay would have suffered.

As it is, Ikaruga could be likened to a really skinny baby with big, fake boobs. I guess most men find that attractive. It ain't pretty though.

SHUMPS --(Thought process?!?)> Skinny girl with fake boobs?

Also no.

Also yes. Ibara docet.

[Ceph]

If you want to play Ikaruga right now and arcade perfect, then buy a DC, for crying out loud. DCs are a dime a dozen, and they are small. There is no excuse not to have one.

[KNTain]

Nothing wrong with waiting to spend ten bucks instead of buying the DC version right now for $60-$70.

[evil_ash_xero]

Are there any big differences between the GC version and the DC version. I own the GC version, and have downloaded the DC version, and see some differences, but nothing really that big. It has the nice japanese story text, so that's good.

The GC version looks really good with progressive scan, but I always hear the DC version looks better with VGA.

Well, what's the deal?

s/m

[crithit5000]

DC version features better sound and the visuals are more detailed, but there's slowdown here and there. The chain counter is limited to the VMU screen, which is almost useless.

The GC version is a bit harder to compare to, because apparently the different regional ports vary in quality. As an example, I demonstrated the differences in sound quality to rjpageuk using my US version and his Japanese version. Then there's the PAL version, and there's some bugs with that (oh hi, I can't hit the Chapter 1 boss with my homing attack. Nice). Watch any of Dr. Ian's videos to witness that mess.

But the GC versions lack almost all the slowdown. I say almost because I remember a thread at ikaruga.co.uk/super-play.co.uk saying that it was possible to invoke slowdown in some parts while playing two player.

But really, they're both the same game with somewhat minor differences. If I really had to decide, I'd go with the GC version but only if you're looking to seriously play the game. The on-screen chain counter and the Hori SNES style pad are my deciding factors, I guess.

[EOJ]

DC version features...slowdown here and there.

That's a good thing, as it's more or less the same slowdown as the Naomi version. Much closer to the arcade experience than the GC version.

[Valgar]

"Ikaruga is the best game ever." - Thomas Jefferson.

[Ceph]

"Makes sense that he'd enjoy the black & white mechanism; Thomas Jefferson had sex with his slaves." - Ceph.

[Kiken]

But the GC versions lack almost all the slowdown. I say almost because I remember a thread at ikaruga.co.uk/super-play.co.uk saying that it was possible to invoke slowdown in some parts while playing two player.

The boss explosions on the GC rev in tate suffer from ridiculous amounts of frame-dropping (you can't call 2 frames per second "slowdown").

And the DC version actually has a little less slowdown than the NAOMI original in tate. Both the DC and GC have considerably less slowdown in any of their yoko modes though.

But really, they're both the same game with somewhat minor differences. If I really had to decide, I'd go with the GC version but only if you're looking to seriously play the game. The on-screen chain counter and the Hori SNES style pad are my deciding factors, I guess.

The GC version suffers from bizarre wind laser glitches in the preface to Chapter 3 (not to mention disappearing formations of utatsugumi as they rise into the forground).

The on-screen chain-counter really isn't very important (it is a nice addition though)... it's more important to simply know that you're completing chains (the dropped confirmation audio cues in the GC version quickly began to annoy and distract me as the DC rev never does this).

The GC version has minor loading between levels whereas the DC version has the levels progressing almost seemlessly into each other.

Also, I personally found that the Horii pad was very mushy (for lack of a better term). Snagging a Saturn controller adapter for the DC is definitely a better way to go (unless you're absolutely obsessed with having analog control, which only the GC rev has).

In regards to the Conquest Mode... I never really understood how this would acutally help anyone play better (well, outside of maybe selecting the last sublevel so you can practice the boss)... Starting at some arbitrary portion of a level with no wind-laser stock is awkward. Ikaruga's stages really need to be practiced as a whole.

[crithit5000]

The GC version suffers from bizarre wind laser glitches in the preface to Chapter 3 (not to mention disappearing formations of utatsugumi as they rise into the forground).

I've played over 200 hours of the GC version, and I've never experienced either.

The GC version has minor loading between levels whereas the DC version has the levels progressing almost seemlessly into each other.

There's always a nice pause in between Chapters 3 and 4 for me on DC, but never as bad as the wait during this transition of GC.

[PPA]

"Makes sense that he'd enjoy the black & white mechanism; Thomas Jefferson had sex with his slaves." - Ceph.

Who hadnt afterall?

[PPA]

is it supposed to hit Live this wednesday?

[genetik]

is it supposed to hit Live this wednesday?

Didn't hear anything about it coming this week. This week MS is offering a free download of the full version of Undertow to make good on their Xbox LIVE issues they had during the last month.

[Hardstepah]

Cool, but I have this on Dreamcast and on GC. I dont' need it again and I'm in the minority when I say achievements are stupid.

yes achievements are stupid, most of them are challenges anybody can do. i could care less if somebody sees what i've done in a game, i was always curious to see peoples top scores and who the best is not "i beat the game like everybody else so i could get 10 gamer points like everybody else did". the 360 is lame and treasure and any other company that will sign exclusive rights are F'd up. im trading my xbox and if i want to play certain games i have to get a system i already dont like just for a few games? theres more to life than FPS's america wake up!

[Lurky]

Looks like no new games came out.
undertow is free now.

[PPA]

Looks like no new games came out.
undertow is free now.

Yes indeed.

I've read somewhere that next week Europe will get Rez HD (precisely on Jan 30th, official infos)


Let's see if Ikaruga will be announced at least officially

[evil_ash_xero]

Any new news on this? I JUST got a Xbox360 and would love to check this out. All i've downloaded is Pacman CE....I want some HD Ikaruga dammit!

s/m

[sideshow]

REZ HD is the newest LIVE game so go ahead and download it now. Ikaruga has no release date yet.

[evil_ash_xero]

Rez..hmm...I've looked at it, but am not sure about it. I don't really get what's going on.

s/m