Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga are part of a Trilogy

[D]

German news site gamefront.de:

Radiant Silvergun und Ikaruga Teile einer Trilogie

06.11.05 - Die beiden Shooter Radiant Silvergun (Saturn, Arcade) und Ikaruga (DC, GC, Arcade) sollen Teile einer Trilogie sein. Das sagte Masato Maegawa, Präsident von Treasure, in einem Interview der Zeitschrift Play.

Maegawa hätte bereits Ideen für eine dritte Episode. Allerdings wüsste er nicht, wann er Zeit finden würde, um ein Team für die Entwicklung zusammenstellen zu können (Danke an Tsubaki)

translated:
Radian Silvergun and Ikaruga of parts of a Trilogie 06.11.05 - The two Shooter radian Silvergun (Saturn, Arcade) and Ikaruga (DC, office, Arcade) should be parts of a Trilogie. That said Masato Maegawa, president of Treasure, in an interview of the magazine Play. Maegawa would have already ideas for a third episode. However it would not know to be able to arrange, when it would find time, in order a team for the development (thanks at Tsubaki)

[Super Laydock]

This news will make a lot of people very,VERY happy!

The thought of the inevitable trilogy compilation pack will probably make even more people ('s wallets) happy!

[neorichieb1971]

Well I sold my RSG so a trilogy pack would be welcome here.

[M0nk3y]

I'll be interested to see how they expand on the whole chaining and colours concept from the previous games.

Considering the timeframe, if the game comes out in the next 3 - 4 years we'll see a PS3/X360 conversion. And yes, hopfully a triplepack. Which leads on to the many inevitable 'not as good as the original RS' threads, no matter how good the conversion is.

Quite dissapointing that a trilogy started on a Sega console won't finish on a Sega console. It'd be great if there was a next-gen Sega, and they could do a triple pack boxset with a re-print of the Saturn RS, re-print of DC Iky, and the new game.
[/day dream]

[Super Laydock]

Quite dissapointing that a trilogy started on a Sega console won't finish on a Sega console.

Hey, someone should already make a "Dreamcast version, please!?" petition
just in case.

[D]

I'll be interested to see how they expand on the whole chaining and colours concept from the previous games.

Considering the timeframe, if the game comes out in the next 3 - 4 years we'll see a PS3/X360 conversion. And yes, hopfully a triplepack. Which leads on to the many inevitable 'not as good as the original RS' threads, no matter how good the conversion is.

Quite dissapointing that a trilogy started on a Sega console won't finish on a Sega console. It'd be great if there was a next-gen Sega, and they could do a triple pack boxset with a re-print of the Saturn RS, re-print of DC Iky, and the new game.
[/day dream]

Perhaps it will be released on the Lindbergh if that helps....?

[M0nk3y]

Nah, Treasure are blatantly gonna pull off some next-gen graphical wonderment that the DC/NaOmi/Atomiswave/Lindbergh can never handle.

[Thunder Force]

Masato Maegawa, president of Treasure, in an interview of the magazine Play. Maegawa would have already ideas for a third episode. However it would not know to be able to arrange, when it would find time, in order a team for the development

Ikaruga really connected with a lot of gamers, and brought many new people in the mainstream into appreciation of shmups, so it'll be exciting to see what gameplay and thematic concepts Treasure brings to the table for a follow-up. Could be another masterpiece in the making...

[greng]

While there is no official announcement, Treasures Hiroshi Inouchi reported in an interview with Arcadia Magazine that Project RS is to be a trilogy. Wasn't Ikaruga meant to be an original title and not a sequel to Radiant Silvergun as so many people reported (and still do) at the time of release? Well, while Ikaruga is to be regarded as a seperate game, there nonetheless exists the notion of a trilogy of titles. Indeed, the NAOMI and DC attract sequences both indicate quite clearly that ikaruga is Project-RS2. The underlying relationship of these three titles is their themes. Radiant Silvergun's theme is 'World'. Ikaruga's is 'Will' and Project RS-3? In the interview, Mr. Inouchi implies that the theme will be 'future'.

Radiant Silverguns theme is very dark, starting off in a hopeless situation. The crew of the Tetra witnessing what appears to be an almost complete destruction of life on Earth, their vantage point from Earths orbit. We know that Buster and Reana do not manage to defeat the stone-like in this telling, although they did rescue life on Earth (but not mankind).

While in Ikaruga, the stone-like appears again, it is not certain what the future of mankind will be after the events that occur throughout the games events. While the protagonists face the ultimate sacrifice, it is unknown whether this is carried out in vain or not (whever mankind survives the attack)

The prologue of Ikaruga has a dream sequence where the voice of man and voice of woman speak to Shinra. This could be Buster and Reana seeking to pass on their knowledge to those of future times. Undeniably there is a connection between the times and events of Radiant Silvergun (past) and Ikaruga (present).

Whom were the man and woman whom ?? looked at in the dream? If it thinks simply, it will be thought that they are a buster and REANA. However, that existence was [ be / it ] the existence beyond such individuals. Though it existed in the world where "objects like a stone" and anti-? persons, such as a buster, REANA and ??, and ?, differ from such existence, respectively so to speak, "a thought" which it connects and has at the origin, and the monochrome which they embodied were [ be / it ] that moral existence.

It remains to be seen if project RS-3 will connect these stories and existences, drawing the series into a coherent world, or whever it will simply conclude the series with it's own interpretation of the battle of mankind against it's own failings to learn from the past.



Masahito Maekawa, the president of Treasure

Masahito Maekawa: Ikaruga is not what we can call a sequel to Radiant Silvergun, so there is not a real connection between these two titles. Of course, both are vertical shooting games, and both were developed first [as] arcade [titles] and then converted to consoles. But the concept of these two titles is quite different. Ikaruga is more focused on game system aspects and puzzle-like systems.

--------

When Treasure first announced that one of their next games was going under the working title of "Project RS-2", shmup fans around the world sat up and took notice. After all, the only game Treasure ever did with the initials RS was the legendary Radiant Silvergun, considered by many to be one of the finest overhead shooters ever created. The mere thought of a sequel to Radiant Silvergun was enough to make most hardcore shooter fans salivate. To me and a lot of other people, the thought of Treasure creating a sequel to one of their games was odd (but welcome, of course), considering that Treasure was formed because the programmers were tired of creating endless sequels when they were working for Konami. Because of that, one of Treasure's policies has always been "no sequels", no matter what game it is. Apparently though, Treasure had gone back on that policy, and Radiant Silvergun 2 was going to become a reality.



As it turns out, Radiant Silvergun 2 was not to be. "Project RS-2" was completed, but instead of being the hoped for sequel, it turned out to be an all new game. This new game does borrow a lot from Radiant Silvergun, and it also borrows a concept from another classic Treasure game, Silhouette Mirage. The end result? One of the finest shooters to ever grace arcades - Ikaruga. Unfortunately, to my knowledge the arcade game never made it out of Japan. Then, in a move which made most Dreamcast-owning shmup fans ecstatic, Treasure announced that they would be porting the game directly to the system - which is in itself kind of odd, as the Dreamcast is officially considered to be a dead system. But sure enough, it arrived on the Dreamcast as promised, and even though it too was not intended for release outside of Japan, at least now it's become infinitely more accessible to the average shmup fan.

-------

Sources Used:
Arcadia Magazine
GMR Magazine May, 2003
Treasure-Inc BBS (No longer viewable)
http://www2.incl.ne.jp/‾mo2/silvergun_rs2.htm

[captain ahar]

the next one will feature a ship that can switch between primary colors, and enemies that are colored the same way. scoring will based on mixing the colors to form combinations, at a fixed value for each secondary color. this, in combination with a chain meter, will make for some exciting gameplay.

[Valgar]

Which Arcadia issue is that?

Also, it says THIS in PLAY Magazine.

Masato Maegawa : They are part of a trilogy, and the basic ideas for the third one are there. The only problem is, when are we going to be able to make it (laughs)? Our staff is comparatively tiny, so we're only able to do one original game every two or so years. Please be patient (laughs).

This isn't a suprise since we have known Hiroshi Iuchi and the shooter team have been working on something now.

[chtimi-CLA]

interesting, the old trilogy rumours weren't bullshit after all

[5parrowhawk]

Radiant Silvergun had three colours (red, blue, yellow).

Ikaruga had two (black, white).

Does that mean RS-3 will have only one colour? It might be interesting if Treasure came up with an entirely new mechanic to replace chaining!

[landshark]

I just wish they'd port to the PS2 so the rest of us could play them. Enough with the damned "rarity" of RSG. Let people enjoy it.

[Guardians Knight]

its not rare its just expensive.

[freddiebamboo]

its not rare its just expensive.

Yeah there's 4 for sale on ebay right now in the UK alone. Far more common than people think.

I'd say batsugun is rarer, better and 1/4 the price.

[Moogs]

Radiant Silvergun had three colours (red, blue, yellow).

Ikaruga had two (black, white).

Does that mean RS-3 will have only one colour? It might be interesting if Treasure came up with an entirely new mechanic to replace chaining!

Nah, the next game will let you switch between different planes of existence. It's gotta be something pretentious like that.

[BulletMagnet]

Nah, the next game will let you switch between different planes of existence.

Pun intended?

In any event, like most others here, I'm curious to see what Treasure might come up with for this one, if they get around to it...there are things that I like (and others I don't like) about the first two, I wonder if the change between games this time around will be more drastic...

[Kiken]

When Treasure first announced that one of their next games was going under the working title of "Project RS-2", shmup fans around the world sat up and took notice. After all, the only game Treasure ever did with the initials RS was the legendary Radiant Silvergun, considered by many to be one of the finest overhead shooters ever created.

So Rakugaki Showtime doesn't abbreviate as RS?

[metallica_tyler]

i'm still a little confused here...

is Treasure releasing: RSG, Ikaruga, (new game) as 1 package on a new console?

OR

is Treasure just announcing that they're making Project RS3 on a new console?

[Kiken]

Which Arcadia issue is that?

Also, it says THIS in PLAY Magazine.

Masato Maegawa : They are part of a trilogy, and the basic ideas for the third one are there. The only problem is, when are we going to be able to make it (laughs)? Our staff is comparatively tiny, so we're only able to do one original game every two or so years. Please be patient (laughs).

This isn't a suprise since we have known Hiroshi Iuchi and the shooter team have been working on something now.

Well, remember, there was another interview recently with Hiroshi Iuchi, and he said that he had thought about making a true sequel to Ikaruga (literally Ikaruga II), but wasn't really sure where he could go with it.

As is, I prefer to call the RS games a tryptich, not a trilogy (each one stands alone as a self-contained entity and yet they each contain similar ideas and themes). The story is more about what happens to the Stone Like each time it meets humanity in varying plains of reality.

Specifically with Ikaruga, I would argue given the Buddhist nature of the game, that the male and female voices heard by Shinra at the end represent Yin and Yang, not Buster and Raena. But I suppose that is all interpretation.

[Kiken]

i'm still a little confused here...

is Treasure releasing: RSG, Ikaruga, (new game) as 1 package on a new console?

OR

is Treasure just announcing that they're making Project RS3 on a new console?

At the moment, neither.

Treasure are currently working on a new shmup for the X-Box 360, although they stated that it was not Project RS-3.

[Kiken]

Radiant Silvergun had three colours (red, blue, yellow).

Ikaruga had two (black, white).

Does that mean RS-3 will have only one colour? It might be interesting if Treasure came up with an entirely new mechanic to replace chaining!

Radiant Silvergun featured 3 enemy colours and 1 ship colour (per ship).

Ikaruga featured 2 enemy colours and 2 ship colours.

Maybe Project RS-3 will feature 1 enemy colour and 3 ship colours, meaning that chaining will be connected to how the player uses the ships' weapon systems, and not on the enemies themselves.

[Super Laydock]

i'm still a little confused here...

is Treasure releasing: RSG, Ikaruga, (new game) as 1 package on a new console?

OR

is Treasure just announcing that they're making Project RS3 on a new console?

At this moment the president of Treasure just said he thinks RS and Ikaruga should be parts of a trilogy.

So Project RS-3 (if it would bear that referrence) is not announced in any form. That means there is NO project RS-3 yet, let alone a timetable for release, platform or any plans of a Trilogy pack. He just mentioned he's thinking about some ideas for such a project if it ever sees the light of day. So it's not even on the drawing board!!!

[landshark]

its not rare its just expensive.

Yeah there's 4 for sale on ebay right now in the UK alone. Far more common than people think.

I'd say batsugun is rarer, better and 1/4 the price.

Same thing to me.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

They are in the sequel mood now . I hope they're working on Gradius VI.

[undamned]

Radiant Silvergun had three colours (red, blue, yellow).

Ikaruga had two (black, white).

Does that mean RS-3 will have only one colour? It might be interesting if Treasure came up with an entirely new mechanic to replace chaining!

Nah, the next game will let you switch between different planes of existence. It's gotta be something pretentious like that.

Yeah, it'll be like SNES Zelda, where you switch back and forth between light world and dark world and you can avoid bullets by switching worlds but somtimes you warp directly into a barage of bullets
-ud

[BulletMagnet]

Yeah, it'll be like SNES Zelda, where you switch back and forth between light world and dark world and you can avoid bullets by switching worlds...

Heh heh, that's sounding more like Chaos Field.

[Neon]

Quite dissapointing that a trilogy started on a Sega console won't finish on a Sega console.

What effect does the name brand of the console have on the gameplay?

[Valgar]

At the moment, neither.

Treasure are currently working on a new shmup for the X-Box 360, although they stated that it was not Project RS-3.

Where did you read this Kiken? I think all of the X-Box 360 Treasure rumors are just that, and nothing more. Masato Maegawa did say in the EDGE interview that the shooter team was working on a Type-X game. Now, with this new interview, maybe they were just in the design phase, but arn't anywhere in actual development yet.