Ikaruga

Ikaruga fills all the requirements: It has simple, yet deep, gameplay, it's addicting, challenging and has enough game modes to increase its longevity. I can't find a reason not to recommend it.

Ten years since the last home console release and some fifteen since it was last on a Nintendo platform, it’s great to see this classic game available again. It’s a timeless blast from the past that’s easy to recommend to anyone looking for not only a piece of gaming history but a game that still thrills to this day.

Being able to easily bust out the Joy-Con controllers for co-op and flip the system on its side for a vertical screen orientation is the real deal. Ikaruga is a timeless classic, and for those of us without a swiveling monitor, the Switch is just about the ideal way to experience it.

Ikaruga on Switch instantly becomes the definitive version of Treasure's masterpiece, without any misstep in a truly excellent package.

The presence of online rankings and all desirable options makes this conversion the perfect one for Ikaruga, at least until the holographic screens are invented.

While the latest package of Ikaruga isn’t quite the grand celebration it should be for a classic title, Treasure’s shooter has aged fantastically well. The puzzle-like shooting is just as thrilling and demanding as it was back in 2002, and it’s sure to challenge any fan of shooters. Ikaruga’s themes of polarity help it stand out from the bullet hell crowd, and make it one of the finest shoot ‘em ups that can be purchased on Switch.

Not only is it enjoyable and fully featured both at 1080p60 in docked mode and 720p60 in handheld mode, but it is obviously way more enjoyable on the go than the version available for smart devices due to real built-in controls but also, for the first time, portable two-player mode on the same device with split Joy-Con, which happens to work really well. It is still as challenging a romp as it ever was, but for anyone remotely interested by the genre, it will prove indispensable.

This is the best version of the best (or one of the top three, in any case) shoot'em up ever, with a glorious TATE mode and a 2-player coop that will both blast you. Do we need to say more?

Treasure’s cult 2D shooter remains as uniquely entertaining as always and works extremely well on the Nintendo Switch.

If you've ever been a fan of Ikaruga and own a Switch, this port is absolutely essential. It's also essential if you've never played the game before but have an interest in bullet hell shooters. Demanding you to remain alert at all times and change polarisation to suit your situation, Ikaruga is a shooter that stands in a class of its own. Its ingenious twist on a tried and tested formula makes it an unforgettable classic, and being able to play it on Switch is simply glorious.

As it always has been, Ikaruga is a must-play for anyone even remotely interested in shoot ‘em ups. Truthfully, its budget price and extreme quality make it a worthwhile foray into the genre even for those who have never been interested in shmups. The difficulty is daunting, but does not detract from the rewarding experience, and polarity-switching makes for a unique and addictive experience.

Not just a cult-classic, but a classic full-stop.

karuga is simply a work of art. It has aged significantly well and still feels profound and fresh even by today’s standards. Its high difficulty will undoubtedly put a lot of gamers off, but the deep and addictive replay value will concrete its status as one of the finest offerings of its kind. Add that to the portability of the console along with plenty of helpful tools to improve your game, and you have the perfect arcade shooter that you can possibly own for your Nintendo Switch.

It’s long been known that Ikaruga is one of the true classics of the top-down shooter world, but going back to the game again on the Nintendo Switch really cements that legacy. This is a brutal but beautiful, relentless yet rewarding, and frantic yet fun bullet hell challenge that feels as fresh now as it did 17 years ago in its original arcade release.

If you're a Switch owner with a penchant for arcade games or shoot-em-ups, this is an easy recommendation. Just be sure to put on your learning pants if you're a newcomer: Ikaruga is a difficult beast to wrangle.

Ikaruga is not so highly revered by chance, despite its near accidental creation. It is the result of a combination between an incredibly talented team making the most of excellent hardware, bringing in the unique double polarity gimmick that stealthy introduces puzzle solving mechanics into a bullet hell shmup. So it's no great surprise it not only remains an incredibly compelling experience but it lands smoothly on top of the currently available shmup list on Nintendo’s hybrid console library. Beyond portability what truly drives this version above all others is the possibility of throwing a Joy-Con to a friend for a spot of co-op play anytime, anywhere as easy as your ship switches polarity. The perfect shmup on the perfect system. The old king sits once again in its rightful throne atop the shmup mountain.

Ikaruga is undoubtedly one of the best games in the shoot'em up genre. A game with its own personality that stands out for its mechanics of polarity change, which makes it as fun, frenetic and challenging as few.

Ikaruga remains a treasure in the shoot ‘em up genre due to its tight gameplay, challenge, and overall design. While the game continues to stifle me at multiple points, its smart design and ease of entry keep me coming back for more punishment.

Ikaruga is a classic shoot 'em up in every sense of the word and I'm happy to say that it holds up beautifully after over 15 years. Its polarity mechanic and breathtaking atmosphere certainly put it head and shoulders above many other entries in the genre.

Ikaruga is hard. That may be the conclusion you've already drawn from the review, but rarely before has it been so apt. This is bullet hell with emphasis on the hell - don't think you're going to breeze through it.

Ikaruga and Switch are a perfect match. Flawless in both portable or television modes, Ikaruga demonstrates that it still reigns among today´s shooters. A true classic that truly holds up, a lot of time after storming a genre.

Ikaruga is great—everyone should play it unless you’re fundamentally opposed to the genre. It can be frustrating but I found that I got a little farther almost every run. Maybe someday I’ll even try to get through Arcade Mode with the default settings (on Easy) so that I can actually post a high score!

While this does not add anything to the shoot'em up classic, it brings this short but frantic challenge to more players as it allows the Switch audience to enjoy one of the most iconic arcade style shoot'em ups of the last two decades, even if less experienced players will find it frustrating.