Ikaruga for GameCube

Pros: very challenging yet very forgiving, awesome graphical effects, decent music

Cons: not for the faint of heart, expensive and hard to find

The Bottom Line: This shooter will make you think while your palms are sweating.

Review: I've grown up with scrolling shooters. The drug store that was right up the road from my house used to have two arcade machines. Usually it had a scrolling shooter. At first it was R-type, then Life Force, finally the owner brought in Sky Shark. I became ...

Pros: Excellent gameplay and aesthetic design.

Cons: None worth mentioning.

The Bottom Line: Even if you're not a hardcore fan of these kinds of games, this is a title that belongs in your GameCube library.

Review: “Hi, my name is Mike, and I’m a shmup fan”.

Acknowledging that you’re a fan of the shoot-‘em-up (or shmup, as they’re lovingly referred to by the hardcore crowd) in this day and age of 3D graphics and epic games is sort...

Pros: Fun, 2 player, online rankings

Cons: Hard, some might not like the 2D graphics

The Bottom Line: Great game that is very tough at some points. Online ranking is great, as you can see how good you are. 2 Player is also a blast!

Review: Vertical shooters are steadily becoming a thing of the past. Originally found in arcades and home consoles during the Saturn era, there were great hits like Gradius and Radiant Silvergun. Ikaruga then made an appearance in the Japanese arcades,...

Pros: Very challenging, addictive and fun.

Cons: None that I experienced.

The Bottom Line: It's worth what you pay and a game that you'll never forget.

Review: Intro I went out and bought this game just based on the reviews I had read. I usually don't do that; I'm always preaching "Rent before you buy". But this game wasn't that talked about and wasn't really given a chance. So it was impossible for me t ...

Pros: Beautiful Graphics, Challenging Gameplay, Nostalgia meets New Ideas.

Cons: May be too challenging for novice or casual players.

The Bottom Line: This game couldn't be much harder, but it also couldn't be much more enjoyable. Pick it up if you want a fun challenge for your Gamecube.

Review: Allow me to preface this review with the fact that this game is EXTREMELY hard, moreso than almost any other game I have played, the only possible exception being Super Ghouls and Ghosts for the SNES. So if you aren't up for a challenge, don't even ...

Pros: Unique, fast-paced gameplay. Shooter heaven.

Cons: Short, with a VERY steep learning curve.

The Bottom Line: An artful shooter, packed with strategic choices and lightning-fast twitch action. A no-brainer purchase for shooter fans, and those who love the thrill of playing.

Review: Shooters are a dying breed, much to the dismay of self-proclaimed "hardcore" gamers everywhere. Manipulating a tiny sprite around a screen full of six-hundred other tiny sprites is a lost joy -- that "in-the-zone" feeling as you fuse with the game,...

Pros: Extremely high replay value! Great Soundtrack! Sweet game extras! It's fun to play!

Cons: I would have liked some more levels and extras.

The Bottom Line: A great shooter that is a must buy!

Review: Ikaruga, a shooter for the Nintendo Gamecube, offers an amazing experience. From a zillion enemy bullets on screen at one time to the detailed explosions of defeating the end level bosses, you will be amazed! Treasure put a lot into this game. From ...

Pros: Fly through the 30-minute adventure over and over...and find it's still new years later.

Cons: Where did the .2 go? More mysterious than a tootsie roll pop.

The Bottom Line: The game's developers already invented something clever, I'm just going to tell you to go buy it now.

Review: Ikaruga is a game about a Japanese boy, Shinra, who sets out on a ship, the Ikaruga, with a supply of unlimited firepower to infiltrate an enemy stronghold. The game is viewed from birds-eye as is space invaders but it is in true 3-D with interactive ...

Pros: Old School shooter, unique light/dark concept, one of the toughest games I've ever played

Cons: Arcade-style screen size, eyes burn from lack of blinking

The Bottom Line: Ikaruga is everything good about an old school shooter. No drama, no story, just shoot or be shot, and be as fast about it as possible.

Review: Since childhood, I believe I have spent a sum of money on arcade games equal to a small nation's gross national product, mostly side-scrolling shooters like Gradius, R-Type, or Life Force. What I didn't know was the value of that practice when the time...

Pros: Intense arcade action.

Cons: Hard as heck.

The Bottom Line: If you want something really different in your Gamecube then stick Ikaruga in.

Review: Good old fashion shooters like Raiden or Blazing Lazers are getting to be a rare thing in this day and age like a smart move by George W. Bush. Unlike Bush they are still somewhat popular and I'm Republican here. Enter the intense arcade-like ...