Best port of ikaruga?

mehguy · Post by **mehguy** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:12 pm

Not counting the arcade port cause that is the best. What's the best port of the game? I've been thinking steam, but I prefer physical copies better.

ciox · Post by **ciox** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:31 pm

Trick question, and here's why:
DC - most faithful port, but not many frills
GC - some slowdown issues, slightly poorer graphics too iirc but has cool stuff like Conquest mode which is not in any other port (select stage + specific section)
XBLA - cheap, not very faithful port but only version with online multiplayer
Steam - cheap, most achievements, most customizable, some graphics / cutscene enhancements not in any other port (except Nesica after latest updates), 99% faithful

Pretas · Post by **Pretas** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:59 pm

Don't the PC and NESiCA versions have the latest update of the code?

Plasmo · Post by **Plasmo** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:12 pm

Dreamcast port is most faithful to the Arcade original, so it's easily the best. 360 and steam ports look like shit thanks to the HD.

PurpleTheGuy · Post by **PurpleTheGuy** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:23 pm

I haven't gotten Ikaruga yet (I will soon), but from what I understand (Hearing from Blinge and Erppo) and if I heard correctly, if you get Ikaruga from steam, you'll be able to get access to the leaderboards there, as well as being able to watch replays, so perhaps you can buy it off of steam as well for that reason (That, and it's not too pricey, anyhow), alongside purchase of either the DC or Gamecube version (I'm personally planning on getting the GC version, since I don't have a Dreamcast yet).

To Far Away Times · Post by **To Far Away Times** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:31 am

Gamecube has the best practice mode, Xbox Live has nice clean visuals. Never played the Steam version.

Pick what matters most to you.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:25 am

I voted DC. I would put Gamecube in second place if we were ranking them.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 5:06 am

Pretas wrote:Don't the PC and NESiCA versions have the latest update of the code?

Yes.

gray117 · Post by **gray117** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:12 am

1. Dreamcast - great version, technically creative, really well presented physical copy, a gem - it's a higher priced game, but probably due to increased availability it has not gotten a silly price.

2. Steam probably best alternative, often super cheap.

3. xbla acceptable and convenient means to get it in the front room for those types that don't really do pcs.

4. GC well it came out, and was nice to be able to recommend people pick it up locally (and cheap) ... but now there are better alternatives. Physical copy wise UK one had awful cover, and all have of course have the atari publisher and ugly gc branding.

DrVenom · Post by **DrVenom** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:45 am

I heard the Xbox 360 version is weird with certain stuff being mirrored and such.

mastermx · Post by **mastermx** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:08 am

Steam is the best port imo. Online leaderboards and replays, and it's faithful to the original.

The GC practice mode though really interest me. Might pick up that version just for the practice.

ciox · Post by **ciox** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:44 am

mastermx wrote:Steam is the best port imo. Online leaderboards and replays, and it's faithful to the original.

The GC practice mode though really interest me. Might pick up that version just for the practice.

Yeah, I really hope the "etc" in this tweet might possibly mean that practice mode https://twitter.com/TreasureCoLtd/statu ... 0304449536
I wouldn't have much to complain after that, well ok a shot autofire button would be nice so you can do that continuous single shot, I tried to make it with AutoHotkey and it didn't work well at all.

Despatche · Post by **Despatche** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:04 am

People really underrating the GC version here. GC version gets rid of (nearly?) all stage slowdown and instead there's almost cinematic slowdown for boss explosions. Think G-Darius PS2, except compare that to the arcade version instead. Accuracy is good, but people seem to like G-Darius PS2 so much... And no, the GC version does not have worse graphics at all; Treasure wouldn't make a somewhat worse game on somewhat better hardware like Sega did.

I even voted for it, though I like the rule changes made to the newer versions.

AntiFritz · Post by **AntiFritz** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 5:11 am

I hope they bring more of the arcade stuff back like the original menu and maybe an attract mode?

Cagar · Post by **Cagar** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 5:37 am

Steam port would easily be no. 1 if the neckbeard anti-drm-pcb-collectors would even give it a try

ciox · Post by **ciox** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:25 am

AntiFritz wrote:I hope they bring more of the arcade stuff back like the original menu and maybe an attract mode?

Should there be more in the attract mode than the tutorial and some demo play of stage 1? Cause that's in, it just takes a while to activate.

Blinge · Post by **Blinge** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:01 am

Despatche wrote: And no, the GC version does not have worse graphics at all

Totally does. It's blurry in comparison, but not by much.

AntiFritz · Post by **AntiFritz** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:22 pm

ciox wrote:
AntiFritz wrote:I hope they bring more of the arcade stuff back like the original menu and maybe an attract mode?
Should there be more in the attract mode than the tutorial and some demo play of stage 1? Cause that's in, it just takes a while to activate.

Oh my mistake, you're right. It also has stage 2 as well like arcade but you have to cycle through the tutorial twice for that as opposed to arcade.

coffeyrt · Post by **coffeyrt** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:44 pm

I've only played the GameCube version but I pay it on the Wii. I wanted a physical version and I don't have a dreamcast. I have to say, the practice option is very helpful. I probably spend half my time practicing certain areas and the other half doing full run throughs. The graphics aren't noticeably bad in any way but I can't compare

Special World · Post by **Special World** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 2:13 pm

Only have the GC version, played the hell out of it. Can't compare it to anything else, but it never felt even the slightest bit shoddy to me.

xxx1993 · Post by **xxx1993** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:49 am

Why bother making a poll out of this? Aren't all the ports the same? I mean, the Xbox 360 version is just like the Dreamcast version, just with a few differences, but both of them are pretty much on the same level. And I thought the GameCube version was inferior to all other versions... There's no need to make a poll out of this when they're pretty much all the same.

jasoncslaughter · Post by **jasoncslaughter** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:41 am

The Dreamcast port is easily the most faithful, but the hardware is so similar, it would have to be. Also, not to get too semantic, but the arcade version is not a port.

BareKnuckleRoo · Post by **BareKnuckleRoo** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:47 am

xxx1993 wrote:Why bother making a poll out of this? Aren't all the ports the same? I mean, the Xbox 360 version is just like the Dreamcast version, just with a few differences, but both of them are pretty much on the same level.

Sadly, you're wrong. On the surface, the XBLA is an acceptably playable port, but far too many things were changed unnecessarily (who knows why), rendering it a subpar port as far as accuracy goes.

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 4:41 am

I'm going to have to go with XBLA.

It does have a few things different, from the original. And it is missing the opening part where that guy is walking around.
But it looks amazing.

And it's not like the Under Defeat situation, where there's tons of differences. I can only think of one off hand, and that's where one enemy's pattern is reversed. They said they did it on purpose...but it's not a big deal.

It's cheap too.

EDIT: Well, obviously there are some differences. I still think it's great.

Dreamcast is the most faithful port, but unless you have VGA, you'll be stuck looking at it in 480i. And if you're playing on an HDTV, the XBLA version is going to look MUCH MUCH better than the DC version anyway.

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:30 am

It's a little bit like the old Star Wars movies, most people prefer the old versions of Episode 4 - 6...
But the truth is - just like George Lucas does with his special editions - Treasure themselves probably consider the Steam version the definite one. Contrary to what some fans think, they were not interested in arcade accuracy when porting it to XBLA or Steam.
Hate it or love it, Steam version is simply the most recent one with updated code, polished graphics and proper online leaderboards.

colaso · Post by **colaso** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 11:20 am

The steam one is simply terrific. Far better than the XBLA one.

Sir Arthur ahf · Post by **Sir Arthur ahf** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:39 pm

Most of the people here will keep playing the DC version, tho...

Anyway I red an interview where Maegawa said that the definitive version was the GC one, so probably for him the definitive vers will be the last one

ratikal · Post by **ratikal** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:49 pm

1. Dreamcast - Closest to NAOMI you'll get.
2. Steam - Best for ease of access, nothing glaringly wrong.
3. Gamecube - Has the aforementioned Conquest mode, but there's some glaring sound issues.
4. XBLA - Lasers and some enemy patterns are completely different.

Honestly, get the Steam version. If you really want the Conquest mode of the Gamecube version, just save state on a Dreamcast emulator (after you bought the Steam version of course.)

drunkninja24 · Post by **drunkninja24** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 6:33 pm

ratikal wrote:1. Dreamcast - Closest to NAOMI you'll get.
2. Steam - Best for ease of access, nothing glaringly wrong.
3. Gamecube - Has the aforementioned Conquest mode, but there's some glaring sound issues.
4. XBLA - Lasers and some enemy patterns are completely different.

Honestly, get the Steam version. If you really want the Conquest mode of the Gamecube version, just save state on a Dreamcast emulator (after you bought the Steam version of course.)

Wait, does the Steam version not have the pattern differences etc. of the XBLA version?

davyK · Post by **davyK** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 12:38 pm

Re GC version - I am assuming we are talking about the NTSC version? The PAL version is locked at 50Hz and skips frames. Play the NTSC version on a Wii (with a GC Freeloader if your Wii is PAL) using component cables and if you hold down B while it boots it plays in 480p which is rather nice. You will probably get a Wii and component cable for cheaper than an NTSC GC cable(!)

Does the DC version work with the VGA box?

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