Let's get something straight right now. In my opinion, Ikaruga is the single greatest shooter ever (and I've played plenty). In terms of timing, graphics, music, and overall feel, it was everything that a shooter should be. So naturally, when Treasure finally got around to their next major release stateside, and it being a take on the brillaint Gradius to boot (the first Gradius for the NES is my favorite side-scrolling shooter), I was giddy with anticipation. The question is, is this another Ikargua, or another game like those mediocre Gradius sequels that came down the pike over the years?

Vic Viper T301

The first thing people are probably going to notice about this game is the option options (or multiples as they are now called). From the get-go you have four configurations to choose from, each with advantages and disadvantages. Later on (after you've beaten the game) you'll get configuration options for your major weapon as well as your secondary weapon (missles and the like). While this seems like a good idea in practice, as far as actual gameplay goes in my opinion this makes things too complex, leading to your preferring just one style, and then being crippled in the more difficult stages when the weakness of that style is exploited (in contrast to Ikaruga where it was all just a matter of timing and reflexes, here you can die repeatedly simply because you can't shoot behind you or destroy the overwhelming amount of enemies on the screen before they crash into you).

Let's Roll!

On the subject of gameplay this shooter is nothing if not diverse. It starts out similar to the first Gradius games in terms of level design, and then breaks away to become something else entirely at times (the level of green foggy liquid comes to mind). While the levels and bosses that pay tribute to the first Gradius game (my favorite moment in the entire game was when you fight a boss {second level third boss I think} who fires rows of tightly packed blue energy straight at you while an awesome remix of the music from the first Gradius plays) are a ton of fun and promise great gameplay to come, some of the levels in this game felt frustrating and just plain bizzare to me (again that green liquid, and get a load of the bug level ARGH!). Don't get me wrong, the level design is good, and the gameplay is good, I was just expecting something closer to amazing from the guys who brought us Ikaruga.

Impossible. There must be some mistake.

And then there's the music, the graphics, and the overall spectacle that are so important in a shooter. To be honest, while the graphics are beautiful, they rarely wow in the same way that the graphics in Ikaruga did. Green ooze and bugs just don't do it for me. The explosions are great, and the bosses again are wonderfully diverse, but there aren't that many truly great bosses where your strengths and their make for an epic battle (again, those bosses in the second level were probably the best in the game). When I think of how the last level of Ikaruga had you showered in blue energy, reflecting massive amounts of energy back at one of the bosses, just dodging and absorbing the final boss' energy and then doing a suicide attack, the final level of this game where you go back into the enemy craft to destroy the second of two brains feels incredibly weak by comparison. But then again...

I guess I have no choice.

If you're a big fan of side-scrollers you should probably at least give this game a rent. It had beautiful graphics, interesting gameplay, and lots of customization after you've beat it (tons of weapons options to select from). And let's face it, side-scrollers aren't exactly coming out every month like they are in Japan. If you desperately need a side-scrolling shooter, this just might be your golden ticket. Just don't go expecting another Ikaruga or Radiant Silvergun (or even another game like the first Gradius), because you won't find it here.
Let's get something straight right now. In my opinion, Ikaruga is the single greatest shooter ever (and I've played plenty). In terms of timing, graphics, music, and overall feel, it was everything that a shooter should be. So naturally, when Treasure finally got around to their next major release stateside, and it being a take on the brillaint Gradius to boot (the first Gradius for the NES is my favorite side-scrolling shooter), I was giddy with anticipation. The question is, is this another Ikargua, or another game like those mediocre Gradius sequels that came down the pike over the years? Vic Viper T301

The first thing people are probably going to notice about this game is the option options (or multiples as they are now called). From the get-go you have four configurations to choose from, each with advantages and disadvantages. Later on (after you've beaten the game) you'll get configuration options for your major weapon as well as your secondary weapon (missles and the like). While this seems like a good idea in practice, as far as actual gameplay goes in my opinion this makes things too complex, leading to your preferring just one style, and then being crippled in the more difficult stages when the weakness of that style is exploited (in contrast to Ikaruga where it was all just a matter of timing and reflexes, here you can die repeatedly simply because you can't shoot behind you or destroy the overwhelming amount of enemies on the screen before they crash into you). Let's Roll! On the subject of gameplay this shooter is nothing if not diverse. It starts out similar to the first Gradius games in terms of level design, and then breaks away to become something else entirely at times (the level of green foggy liquid comes to mind). While the levels and bosses that pay tribute to the first Gradius game (my favorite moment in the entire game was when you fight a boss {second level third boss I think} who fires rows of tightly packed blue energy straight at you while an awesome remix of the music from the first Gradius plays) are a ton of fun and promise great gameplay to come, some of the levels in this game felt frustrating and just plain bizzare to me (again that green liquid, and get a load of the bug level ARGH! ). Don't get me wrong, the level design is good, and the gameplay is good, I was just expecting something closer to amazing from the guys who brought us Ikaruga. Impossible. There must be some mistake. And then there's the music, the graphics, and the overall spectacle that are so important in a shooter. To be honest, while the graphics are beautiful, they rarely wow in the same way that the graphics in Ikaruga did. Green ooze and bugs just don't do it for me. The explosions are great, and the bosses again are wonderfully diverse, but there aren't that many truly great bosses where your strengths and their make for an epic battle (again, those bosses in the second level were probably the best in the game). When I think of how the last level of Ikaruga had you showered in blue energy, reflecting massive amounts of energy back at one of the bosses, just dodging and absorbing the final boss' energy and then doing a suicide attack, the final level of this game where you go back into the enemy craft to destroy the second of two brains feels incredibly weak by comparison. But then again... I guess I have no choice. If you're a big fan of side-scrollers you should probably at least give this game a rent. It had beautiful graphics, interesting gameplay, and lots of customization after you've beat it (tons of weapons options to select from). And let's face it, side-scrollers aren't exactly coming out every month like they are in Japan. If you desperately need a side-scrolling shooter, this just might be your golden ticket. Just don't go expecting another Ikaruga or Radiant Silvergun (or even another game like the first Gradius), because you won't find it here.