G-Darius Review

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(More customer reviews)With many PlayStation-owning shooter fans singing the praises of Einhander and R-Type Delta, this one has sort of been lost in the shuffle.That's a shame, because G Darius has lots to offer both hardcore and casual fans of the genre.
I fear that, since almost all of your foes in this game are robot aquatic creatures (sharks, crabs, sea horses, etc.), some people may dismiss it as "silly".In fact there is nothing silly or stupid about it.It's a fast-paced side-scroller with intensity to spare, and it boasts some of the most hectic bullet-dodging mayhem you'll ever encounter.
Your spacecraft has two weapons which are fired simultaneously:the standard, straightforward gun (horizontal) and grenades (vertical), both of which can be upgraded by snatching orbs from defeated enemies.What makes the game unique is the capture ball, a weapon you can launch at your foes to turn them into your sidekicks.They'll follow you loyally and attack whenever you fire, like the "options" in the Gradius series.There are quite a few different enemies you can do this to, and all of them have unique offensive capabilities.Some fire a very basic shot;some fire a "spread" shot;some hurl themselves at the opposition, causing damage by brazenly crashing into them at high speeds.
Speaking of speed, G Darius rips along at a pretty brisk pace,although the stages themselves are of satisfactory length.Minor slowdown sometimes occurs when you're doing battle with a boss and it launches about 100 bullets in your direction at once.In those rare cases, the slowdown is actually a blessing in disguise, because it affects everything on the screen, not just you.
Yes indeed, the screen can get mighty cluttered at times, but never to a hopelessly overwhelming degree.Unlike some shooters where staying alive is a strictly academic process of trial and error and moving into the right spot at the right time (cough, R-TYPES, cough), G Darius never "punishes" the player for an unwise maneuver by condemning him/her to an instant death.If your reflexes are sharp enough and you never release the rapid fire button, there is always at least a fashion model-slim chance that you'll be able to blast your way out of an extremely sticky situation and emerge victorious by the skin of your teeth.Your shields can be powered up much like your weapons can, a fact that brings new meaning to the term "life-saver".
Mind you, you can do more than dodge and peck away at the opposition to elude destruction at the hands (well, fins anyway) of a big, bullying barracuda or a cluster of kamikaze catfish.Foes bound to your service by the capture ball can be detonated if you want to take out any surrounding adversaries (or if you just plain get sick of having the stupid beasts follow you around).Even better, you can use them to power up your Alpha Beam, a weapon that will easily cut a swathe of carnage through standard enemies and lay some serious pain on the bosses as well.Don't start thinking you're omnipotent, though;each boss has a similar weapon (imaginitively titled the Beta Beam) and when yours meets theirs head-on, a struggle for supremacy ensues, with both beams growing in size and power until A) the duration of the beam expires, B) the battle concludes, or C) the entire screen gets filled by a glorious outpouring of blazing destruction originating from one side or the other.
The graphics here may not be terribly impressive but they get the job done.The designs of the enemies sometimes leave a bit to be desired (there's only so much you can do to make robotic fish look exciting, y'know?).The backgrounds are the game's strongest visual point, with some cool animation telling miniature stories while you're fighting for your life.There's one stage where a planet in the distance is doomed to be destroyed every time you play.Poor planet.My favorite stage has the ruins of a human city floating around;check out your ship's reflection in the mirrored windows of a skyscraper torn from its foundation, silently drifting through space.
The soundtrack has some forgettable fare with a 16-bit feel, but a few tracks are really striking.There's one (in the stage I just described) that can only be described as sounding "spacy" which is devoid of percussion and is so laid-back, it makes the on-screen chaos seem like some bizarre new age therapy.The final battle music is suitably catchy and adrenalized...you can also hear it when you first load the game, before pressing start, but obviously it won't have the same impact.And the "game over" tune is...dare I say it...beautiful!It almost makes it pleasant to end the game prematurely.
At the end of each stage, you'll have to choose between two adjacent stages to move on to.There are fifteen stages in all, and you'll have to beat five of them to win the game.Plus, each stage splits into an upper route and a lower route at the half-way point, and the boss will use different attacks against you depending on which route you take.Therefore, you'll have to play through the game quite a few times before you can truthfully say that you've seen it all.This, plus nine difficulty settings and the ability to adjust your reserve lives, credits, and capture balls makes for very high replay value for shooter fans of all skill levels.
If you still enjoy 2-D shooters, either passionately or casually, I cannot recommend this game enough, as long as you're prepared to PLAY it rather than just look at it.Whatever it lacks in graphic intensity, it more than makes up for with the IMPORTANT kind of intensity, and that's in the gameplay department.I've had this game for several years and I can't imagine it growing tiresome anytime soon.

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Product Description:
Jump into a ship and defend the planet from mechanical fish in G DARIUS. Blast through 15 branching levels of action and excitement as you capture enemy ships, and use their special skills to help you work your way through every level. If the action becomes too intense, have a friend help you out with the cooperative Two-Player mode. Only you can save the world from becoming a fishbowl in G DARIUS.

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Raiden 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)Chances are that if you are a long time gamer, you'd have heard of the Raiden series.A scrolling shoot 'em up kind of like the classic Capcom arcade shooter 1942, the Raiden games have always offered simplistic fun, and Raiden 3 is no different.Raiden 3 doesn't really do much to change up the gameplay elements of the series, and for new fans it is easily accessible.The game is pretty challenging, and the two-player co-op mode is undoubtedly the best way to play the game.However, the generic gameplay can get boring really quickly, and there really isn't much here in terms of replay value or total game length either.Not to mention that there is basically nothing here that you haven't seen before in other games in the Raiden series, or other scrolling shooter games before or after it either.All that being said, Raiden 3 isn't a bad game one bit, and it's definitely worth a look for longtime fans of the series or genre, but there's just not enough here to warrant any more than just a quick checking out.

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Product Description:
SHOOT. EVADE. DESTROY!FIGHT YOUR WAY THROUGH COUNTLESS ENEMIES AS YOU PILOT THE LEGENDARY RAIDEN FIGHTER IN THIS LATEST INSTALLMENT FOR YOUR PLAYSTATION®2!One of the most beloved shooter franchises makes it way back to the PlayStation®2 with Raiden 3! All of the features that fans have grown to love are back, with even better graphics, sounds and gameplay that made this series legendary!Modes - There are several new modes within this title that can be unlocked, including Boss Rush (which lets you battle against bosses you have conquered) and Score Attack Mode (replay levels to obtain the highest score).There is also a Replay mode, so you can analyze your play as well as that of the bosses, and a gallery mode, which holds images, easter eggs, etc. when it is unlocked.There are also several new options so the player can tailor fit the game to maximize their experience, making for the most complete shooter on the PS2.

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Deathsmiles Limited Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I can't stress enough how excellent this game is(provided you like the genre).Cave has long been known as one of the kings of bullet hell type games, but this is surprisingly the first Cave game to be localized for a US release on a console.The only other I know of to get on shore at all is Espgaluda II, which was released on iPhone and is also an excellent port.

Synopsis

There are basically 6 different versions of the game.They are split up into the original arcade port, a version 1.1 arrange version and an xbox 360 specific version.There are 2 versions of each of those, the normal and the MBL(mega black label) version.MBL versions are a special edition of sorts.In that version there is 1 extra character playable and 1 extra level.

Anyway, you are presented with a choice of 4 different girls to play and you play through an other world where you are attacked by monsters and spirits typical of a Halloween setting.You will fight flying pumpkins, ghosts, goblins and Death himself.As you progress farther the difficulty increases and you eventually reach the your goal.Don't worry about whether or not you'll make it here.There are different difficulty levels selectable per level, and you can continue after deaths.Difficulty levels range from a relative easy to blisteringly hard so you can suit that to your own tastes.There's even a "Level 999" option if you really want to hurt yourself.

As far as controls go, they are spot on.You'll never feel like you're fighting the game to do what you want.Everything is fluid and solid.

Finally, there are several nice extra features.You get online leaderboards, a score attack mode, replay saving so you can watch how you did and a practice mode for attacking a specific level until you get it right.

I really can't recommend this title enough if you enjoy these types of games.We don't often even see bullet hell shooters on US soil.It would be a shame to pass up one of the best ones.

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Product Description:
Deathsmiles is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up game for Xbox 360 full angels and demonic bosses. The first shooter developed by noted game developer Cave to be released for a game console in the US, Deathsmiles allows players to play as one of four female angels, using character specific powers to battle gothic and occult inspired enemies. Additional features include varying levels of difficulty, leaderboards and an online co-op mode. This limited edition includes an exclusive faceplate, CD soundtrack and boxart.

Choose from 4 angelic characters.
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An all-new scoring system.
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Online co-op play option.
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Enter the world of Gilverado, a kingdom plagued by hideous monsters and tortured souls. Choose from four angels with unique demonic familiars and battle against a storm of enemies pouring out of Hell's gates. Fight your way out of tight spots as you are surrounded by enemy units and bullets from both sides of the screen. The unique left/right shooting mechanic of Deathsmiles will keep you on your toes as you dodge and weave through complex enemy fire, beautifully crafted by the game development team at Cave.

Gameplay
Deathsmiles is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up game. The four playable warrior angel characters possess "life points," instead of lives, which sustain them throughout the game and can be replenished. The game features a variety of play modes, including Power-up mode, which will unleash great streams of golden crowns, white tiaras, and grey skulls as you cut through enemies with your little Angel's mighty magic shot. Try not to get distracted by the bling as you collect these gorgeous trinkets en masse and pump your high score to the limit. Additional engrossing functionality includes a co-op game mode and leaderboard available to players over Xbox LIVE.

Deathsmiles Limited Edition for Xbox 360 Includes:

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Deathsmiles for Xbox 360.
Deathsmiles faceplate for the Xbox 360 console, featuring four cute angels trapped in a creepy gothic cage.
Deathsmiles Premium Arrange Album soundtrack CD featuring 15 spooky high energy tracks selected by Manabu Namiki, director of Deathsmiles.
Deathsmiles horizontal artbox and game to compliment the side-scrolling shoot 'em up orientation of the game.

Key Game Features

Five Characters to Explore Gilverado - Choose Windia, the foppish English girl; Casper, the sassy German; Follett, the cautious French girl; or Rosa, the California valley girl or Sakura the faithful witch of the swamp wastes. Travel down the roads of Gilverado and discover hidden conversations between the angels.
Mega Black Label - Test your supernatural powers against the onslaught of the Ice Palace and its forgotten protector. Put your skills to the test with a new scoring system that demands more, but pumps out even more explosions of shiny tokens.
Choose Your Path and Difficulty - You can choose your own route through the game's stages and set the difficulty for each, from a level of 1 to 3. These difficulty levels allow you to customize the bullet count and boss toughness. Watch out if you choose level 3 five times, though.
Save and Play Back Replays - Save replays of your own games to watch later for your own enjoyment. Players can also download the top 20 scoring runs on the leaderboards.
Online Co-op -Two-player cooperative play is also available via Xbox LIVE.
Leaderboards - Check out your score on the online leaderboard, with rankings for each character and game mode.

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R-Type Final Review

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(More customer reviews)So it's come to this, has it?
One of the most lauded side-scrolling shooter series in history has reached its last chapter.Irem's appropriately named R-Type Final has come to the PS2 thanks to Eidos' Fresh Games label, and it is a bittersweet occurrence.On one hand, Irem has said that this game marks the end of the venerable R-Type series.On the other, it's more than a fitting curtain call for the franchise.
The basic gameplay hasn't really changed much throughout the series.RTF is not a manic, reflex-frying bullet-dodger like last year's Gamecube masterpiece, Ikaruga.It's a more methodically paced, strategic game that feels different from most shooters.For one thing, R-Type has always been less about score and more about simple survival.Enemies approach from all sides, from waves of drones to screen-filling bosses.You won't dodge incoming fire as much as plan your progress, find and take advantage of tiny safe zones, discover weak spots, and time your counterattacks.R-Type tests your memory, reflexes, and anticipation, and can be demanding.You will have to learn attack patterns, measure to the pixel where to wedge your ship, and learn to manipulate the infamous Force Module (the ubiquitous detachable satellite that is immune to enemy fire).There is a measure of trial-and-error here, but the reward of reaching a new level or taking out a troublesome boss always makes the effort worthwhile.R-Type Final sticks to these well-worn conventions, but this is more than a simple case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
One major improvement is in the technical department.The last installment in the series, R-Type Delta (PSone), was a fantastically realized creation that sported some incredible level and creature design, some of which were updated versions of bosses and enemies from the original R-Type.RTF continues this tradition.There is a level that consists entirely of travelling along one huge spacecraft, taking it apart piece by piece.Fans will recognize this, and love it.Bydo mutants appear on all sides, and you'll battle mechanical, organic, and cyborg foes, all amidst a beautiful shower of effects and scenery.While there's no doubt that this is the best-looking R-Type, it still retains the details that identify the series.And don't worry - the occasional slowdown can actually be a help.Delta's speed control also returns, and the game has five difficulty levels.The easier levels will drag a bit for the shooter veteran, but jack it up to the insane "R-Typer" to experience the game as Irem intended.
There are, however, a new feature or two that must be mentioned.The first is branching levels.Depending on your performance within levels, you may visit one of several different sequences.It doesn't feel added on or superfluous, keeping the levels flowing like nothing happened.But it is a welcome addition, especially when considering the other, more drastic new feature.
R-Type Final has around a hundred ships to fly.That's right:100.Quite a difference from Delta's mere four!The ships vary wildly, from recon versions to transforming fighters, each with their own unique weapons.New craft are unlocked by performing various in-game tasks, like total flight time with specific ships or completing branching paths.This gives the game quite a bit of replay value, as unlocking all of them will take many hours.Some of the ships aren't nearly as cool as others, and some verge on being overpowered, but the constant reward process keeps you motivated.
You can now also customize your ships.Before you fly, you can pick ship & canopy color, missile type, bit type, etc.This helps you stick to your own style of play, and keeps the game fresh and interesting.How you equip your ship can have a lot of influence on how the game plays.
Yet another new feature is the A.I. Battle mode.Rather than being a head-to-head two-person battle, this lets you pit your ships against a friend's (or the game's A.I.) in computer controlled combat.It's fun to fool around with, but you'll more than likely be done with it quickly.
Irem says R-Type Final is the ultimate installment in the series, a "Thank You" to R-Type fans everywhere.It's hard to argue either point.While there will undoubtedly be those who question the new additions to the formula, in the end, RTF stands as a brilliant modern dedication to one of the premiere side-scrollers.It is sad to see the series end, but what a wicked way to go out, indeed.
Thank YOU, Irem.

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Product Description:
R-Type Final -- To defend against alien invasion humanity created biological super-weapons called the Bydo. But the Bydo were too powerful & turned on humanity. Each time they were repulsed -- but the remaining Bydo are planning an all-out, last-ditch assault on the Earth. Operation: Last Dance has begun, to finish the Bydo threat, once and for all!

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Einhander Review

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(More customer reviews)There's a reason why this game is held in such high regard among true blue shooter fans.Einhander has the trappings of a legendary game within its genre.Dazzling graphics, tight control, outstanding music and sounds, and a strong variety of weapons.They're all here, but that's not where the fun stops.There's also an art gallery that grows as the quality of your performance increases and an intriguing story, much different from the usual "an evil alien empire wants to destroy humanity, let's send one fighter pilot to stop all 500,000,000 of them" fare.In Einhander, you're on a suicide mission and you're painfully aware of it.Beautiful!
Einhander's visuals are beyond reproach.The backgrounds are vibrant and detailed without being garish or distracting, especially stage five.Ship designs are cool all around, and every enemy, from the mightiest boss to the lowliest peon, goes out in a blaze of glory when you destroy it, instead of merely blinking out of existence or disappearing in a bland red puff.
On the audio front, the sound effects are excellent.Launching rockets, shattering neon signs, and, of course, explosions.All well done.The intentionally emotionless female voice that addresses you after each stage is very credible, and the German commands you hear during boss encounters lend a terrific sense of atmosphere to the game.Moody and catchy techno tunes provide the musical backdrop and, for the most part, complement the corresponding areas perfectly.The operatic female vocals at the beginning of stage one clash very effectively with the destruction that ensues and let you know your ears are in for a treat from the start.And, the music for the sixth stage end boss (after the rocket with the time limit) is so rousing, you won't even care when he kills you 20 times in a row.
Eight special weapons are readily available and there's something for every taste, from the heat-seeking Wasp ("You can run, but you can't hide!") to the lightsaber-like Blade ("I don't need no Force to kick your sorry butt!") to the no-nonsense, wallop-packing Cannon ("JUST DIE!!!!").Plus, there are four others (each a sort of variation on one of the ubiquitous eight) hidden throughout the game.
Einhander's developers hit the nail squarely on the head (pun absolutely intended) where the challenge level is concerned.The game can get pretty rough, but it's the GOOD kind of rough.No shields or defensive power-ups are available (one of the game's very few flaws) so one hit will kill you, but it has to be solid, direct impact.Enemy bullets that travel at 2 MPH and just barely graze the little ball on the top of your radio antenna don't count.The last two bosses are tough to beat, and some of the earlier ones aren't exactly a cake walk either, but the only one that I think crosses the line between "challenging" and "frustrating" is the robotic ape mid-way through stage five.Oh, how I despise that banana-chewing abomination!
You get three lives per credit and nine continues for a total of 30 lives, though you'll earn an extra life or two along the way when you attain a certain score.However, there is one point in the game...the rocket you approach from behind...where, if you fail to defeat it within the given time limit, it's GAME OVER no matter how many lives or continues you have left!So, unless you want to see the "bad" (or should I say "worse"?) ending, I'd advise you to get yourself killed if it looks like you're not gonna get the job done in time.Then, you'll get another shot at it.
If proof was ever needed that 2-D games can still be plenty of fun, Einhander is that proof.I revel in the fact that it outshines many more modernized games on all fronts despite the old-fashioned 2-D gameplay.The only exception is the Wasp missile being able to seek and destroy on-screen enemies that have yet to align with your ship (and certain objects in the background, too...that's a hint).Some might complain about the lack of a two-player mode, but in my opinion the gloomy suicide mission aspect of the game would be jeopardized if it weren't played solo.With three ships to select from and no shortage of secrets (including two additional ships), the replay value is strong, but even if that weren't the case, you'd want to play it again and again anyway, because it's crafted with such tender, loving care and, on many levels, it's flawless.I have no qualms about calling Einhander one of the all-time great games for the PlayStation.Square would be well advised to re-release it (along with Final Fantasy Tactics and Xenogears).Don't hesitate to grab a copy if you come across one, as I for one am NOT selling mine!

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Product Description:
There's no denying that the space shooter isn't what it used to be. The once-thriving genre, championed by such classics as Gradius and Raiden, has boiled down to more of a nostalgic pastime. People just aren't as jazzed about blowing away hordes of alien space ships and racking up billions of points like before. While the occasional shooter still shows up every now and then, it seems like it'd take a miracle for a company to produce one that would rejuvenate the genre and renew public interest. Leave it to Squaresoft to accept the challenge. And while the fruit of its efforts may not be the miracle this genre needs for a complete revival, it's just about as good as shooters get. Einhander isn't particularly long, but shooters almost never are. The half dozen or so stages are seamlessly interconnected and demand just over an hour to plow through in total. Each stage - in fact, each part of each stage - grows progressively more difficult, such that you'll constantly face new challenges in the form of smarter, meaner enemies and more of them. Likewise, the mid and end-level bosses will constantly keep you guessing, as they tend to be both unpredictable and versatile in their attack styles. Even shooter veterans will have their hands full with Einhander, though multiple difficulty settings make the game accessible and enjoyable even for those whose hand-eye coordination isn't what it used to be.

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Gradius V Review

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(More customer reviews)For longtime fans of the series, the latest installment of Gradius will not just meet your expectations, it will exceed them. This game feels like a big "Thank You" from Konami to all fans of not only the series itself, but the near-extinct genre of shooting games in general.

From the very moment you start playing, you won't be sure if you're more excited about how everything you know and love about Gradius has been kept intact, or about how damn good the game looks, sounds, and feels on a next-gen system. The frame-rate is silky smooth 95% of the time (it rarely falters, but even when it does, it's not that noticeable), and the backgrounds are well-done without being too distracting to affect all that bullet-dodging you'll be doing.

Speaking of which, V is certainly the most intense Gradius installment when it comes to throwing hordes of enemies and insane amounts of bullets / lasers / environmental objects at you. Even on the easiest difficulting setting, it is unlikely that you will be able to beat this game without first earning a good number of credits (every hour played = 1 more credit).

(Of course, if you're reading this it's likely that you have a lot of experience with other shooters, so you may be the exception. If so, I encourage you to get this game as soon as possible so you can enter the High Score contest that Konami is running until some time in October.)

Bosses. Hope you like 'em, 'cause Gradius V has a ton of 'em. Sometimes there are three or four *in a row*. Even if you manage to survive an entire level without getting blown up, chances are good that you'll need every Vic Viper in stock to survive the boss. Gradius V is a hard game, but that's part of the appeal. Personally, the harder the difficulty setting is on this game, the more I enjoy it.

Lastly, some random info:

-Options are now called Multiples. (boo!) You can have up to four of them at once.
-There are four types of weapon-upgrade options available when you start. You can unlock a weapon-edit mode, which includes throwbacks to older Gradius games.
-Two-player *simultanious* gameplay! Ah... fond memories of Lifeforce. :)
-There is a stage-select mode you can use to practice any level you've been to. You can start from the beginning, or any one of the pre-defined continue points you made it to in the normal game.
-Yes, many of your favorite Gradius and Lifeforce tunes are in this game, not to mention some of the bosses. :)
-The Easter Island Heads, however, are not. :(

Gradius V is the best shooter available for any system, period. You don't have to rely on nostalgia alone to justify purchasing this game. It looks, sounds, and controls great. Everything you want is here... not to mention a few things you probably didn't know you wanted, but will certainly appreciate. Oh yeah, it's also $30 new, so what are you waiting for? You have a high score to beat. :)

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Product Description:
Gradius V - the long-running space shooter comes to your Playstation 2, bringing all-new graphics and options, with the same classic gameplay!

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Ikaruga Review

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(More customer reviews)If you'd have told me a year ago that Treasure's Ikaruga, the unofficial sequel to Radiant Silvergun, Grand Opera Master of Shooters, would make it to the States on Nintendo's Gamecube, I'd have called 1-800-LOONEYBIN personally and asked them to take you away quickly and quietly.This kind of thing just isn't supposed to happen these days, right?And least of all on the Gamecube - the seeming last place for a 2D Japanese old-school shooter.
But here it is - it's a small miracle that it's happened at all.
Treasure's opus Radiant Silvergun was released for the Sega Saturn in Japan only, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters ever created.Ikaruga was released for the Japanese Dreamcast last year (a miracle in itself whose authenticity was the matter of message-board debate for months before it finally happened).Rumors then started about a Playstation 2 and/or Xbox port.But to have it finally arrive not only for Nintendo's Gamecube, but also to be released domestically, is quite an event.
Especially when you consider that the game itself is practically as legendary as its predecessor.
Ikaruga uses a color-swapping mechanic very similar to Treasure's PSX game Silhouette Mirage.Your ship can change color from black to white with the press of a button.There are a couple reasons for this.All enemies in the game - from swarms of drones to massive multi-form bosses - are black or white as well.Like any good shooter, they flood the screen with bullets, which are also black or white.If your ship is white and is hit by a black bullet, you're dead.However, if your ship is white and is hit by a white bullet, your ship absorbs the energy, and your super weapon is charged.Also, when white, your ship fires its own white bullets, which do double damage to black-colored enemies.(The opposite goes if you have a black ship).
It may sound a little complicated, but the rules of the Ikaruga universe will quickly become ingrained in your head - mostly because it's an exceedingly difficult game which you'll need to play many times in order to finish.Add to this the fact that you get a score multiplier for each same-colored enemy you destroy in a row - most of the enemy craft approach in formation that allow the skilled player to ring up impressive chains of consecutive kills.
Non-shooter fans who want to give Ikaruga a try are in for one of the steepest challenges in modern gaming.The game may only be a handful of stages long, but shooters have always been designed for replay value rather than length.Extra continues are unlocked as you progress, but it will still take many hours of gameplay to clear Ikaruga on a single credit (generally considered the ultimate goal in shooters).Those who have played shooters in the past are also in for a unique challenge, because you'll have to learn to let bullets hit you, for one. But the payoffs are more than worth it:Ikaruga can give you quite a rush as you dance through the almost puzzle-like levels, avoiding and absorbing fire, and knocking down 40-hit chains.This kind of old-school rush has almost vanished from gaming nowadays, and Ikaruga is one of the most demanding yet rewarding games you could ask for.Beating your high score has become a largely ignored technique these days, but that's the entire focus here.You'll get quite a feeling of accomplishment, because you'll have to earn it.
Supporting the amazing gameplay are some pretty impressive visuals.Ikaruga was developed for the Dreamcast-based NAOMI arcade board, so it may be a little behind the times, but for a shooter, the graphics are marvelous.Enemy designs are inspired (although many resemble craft from Radiant Silvergun), and explosions are beautiful.A stirring orchestral soundtrack and perfect sound effects sweeten the audio, and the control is as pinpoint accurate as you could want.Ikaruga is an extremely impressive technical achievement.
Ikaruga seems almost out of place on a Nintendo console, but better that than nothing at all.And who knows - maybe this is the start of a new trend of Japanese shooters crossing the ocean.Gradius V and R-Type Final are in development, and will probably make it to the US as well.Shooters are rare enough as it is these days, and it's even rarer for one as innovative and excellent as Ikaruga to come along.Kudos to Nintendo for having the guts to release it on their system, and major thumbs-up to Infogrames for picking it up for the US.
Highly recommended - an absolute must-buy for shooter fans, and anyone else up for a serious challenge should definitely give it a try.

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Product Description:
Ikaruga is a 2-D scrolling space shooter (with options for either a vertical or horizontal display) set against a 3-D backdrop with a combination of rich Japanese storytelling and high-powered fighter-pilot heroics. Players take the role of hero Shinra, the lone survivor of a freedom federation that was massacred by the evil, power-hungry conqueror Tenro Horai. Now Shinra, in his newly-built ship, the Ikaruga, must fight for aging, exiled people who are depending upon him for their survival. Join the sole warrior as he battles the evil Horai in the hopes of restoring peace.
Those already familiar with Ikaruga from the Japanese Dreamcast release will appreciate vital game upgrades such as enhanced graphics, a new demo mode that clues players in to the "perfect" round and private passwords; high scorers can post their accomplishments on the official Ikaruga web site and establish bragging rights within the worldwide Ikaruga community.

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Raiden IV Review

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(More customer reviews)When Raiden Fighter Aces was released for the XBox 360 not too long ago, I was happy to see one of my all time favorite franchises make the leap to next-gen gaming.With Raiden IV, the leap of the franchise continues as the game provides a boat load of fun, old school, shooting action.There's a decent amount of play modes to keep you occupied, and the hi-res graphics are wonderfully rendered as well.If there's any drawbacks to Raiden IV, it's the same brand of drawbacks that accompany every other installment of the Raiden series: the gameplay is in itself shallow, and the game as a whole just isn't long enough.That aside though, the overall package of Raiden IV is lovely regardless, and the inclusion of a CD soundtrack with this Limited Edition is a nice little bonus in itself.

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Product Description:
THE ROAR OF THUNDER IS BACK! THE SERIES THAT CHANGED THE HISTORY OF ARCADE SHOOT'EM UPS IS COMING TO XBOX 360! Instill fear in your enemies with devastating attacks and earn the acclaimed title of Master Ace!

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