How I took 10 months to beat Ikaruga, a 23 minute long game. - Games

I got the Gamecube version of Ikaruga last year as a Christmas present. I played it almost every day at school since I got it. And on October 7th of 2010, I beat the game for the first time in an 'offical' ranked game (Normal difficulty, normal game, extend type 2, 3 lives) with a final score of around 23 million points. If you don't know what Ikaruga is (shame on you,) here's what I've been up against for the past 10 months. [hd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCkJuMt2TZU[/hd] I used to be pretty confident that this was a game I could have never beaten last year. And even when I got better, there were parts that I thought I would never be able to get past, or chains I wouldn't ever execute correctly. But over and over again I proved myself wrong. Even something as simple as getting past a level without dropping a chain, or perfectly defeating Chapter 1's boss with 74 seconds left felt like a major milestone even greater than finishing many of today's modern games. It's what kept me going to the end. What surprised me was how little memory of the game's patterns helped me. Sure, you won't get anything done if you don't at least play the game thorough a few times so you know what you're up against, but even after I've completely memorized the game start to finish (which was before I even started playing the game) I still did horrible. All that got me through was long and hard practice, memory became less and less important. Thankfully though, it's not over yet. 23 million points is relatively weak, compared to the highest scores of around 36 million, and there's still hard difficulty to master, and Prototype mode since I got the lovely Gamecube version. And maybe one day I'll do the famous double play. I have only achieved S++ on chapters 1 and 2, and only S or S+ on 3, 4 and 5. I still have a ways to go to complete the game and I don't plan on stopping (at least until RSG comes out on XBLA) I'm gonna write a more detailed post about this on my blog at some point, since I need to get a use for it someday. But before that I'd thought I'd let FP know about how awesome I was and answer any questions y'all all have about how or why. And if anyone else has also conquered the game, tell me about your story. Anyway, you should all play this game. It's only 10 bucks on XBLA and will last you for months.

I salute you, and anyone else who masters Ikaruga to any extent. I consider myself pretty decent at Cave-style shmups, but Ikaruga still manages to slaughter me.

looks cool i should see what it's like on XBLA

It's a game I really wanna be good at cause it looks fun. But I can't ;( Its like Street Fighter for me

[QUOTE=wasphone;25341877]It's a game I really wanna be good at cause it looks fun. But I can't ;( Its like Street Fighter for me[/QUOTE] I can assure you, Street Fighter is much easier than Ikaruga.

Yeah, I'm sure it is. Bullet Hells. Crazy shit

[QUOTE=wasphone;25341877]It's a game I really wanna be good at cause it looks fun. But I can't ;( Its like Street Fighter for me[/QUOTE] It's worth practicing both fighting games and shmups at least a little because they're both awesome genres.

I want this game but the copies are SO expensive.

[QUOTE=ProgramFiles;25346928]I want this game but the copies are SO expensive.[/QUOTE] Ten bucks on XBLA is an excellent price. It wouldn't surprise me if it were on PSN, too.

This game will kick your ass.

[QUOTE=ProgramFiles;25346928]I want this game but the copies are SO expensive.[/QUOTE] I actually got the Gamecube version for like 10-20 bucks at a random gamestop that just happened to have a copy. Worth trying if you're desperate. And no it is not on PSN. XBLA version has online leaderboards though and that's a pretty important feature if you ask me. GC version has more gameplay modes though. (THREAD GETS BACK ON TOPIC AT [url]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?1012307-How-I-took-10-months-to-beat-Ikaruga-a-23-minute-long-game.&p=25392312#post25392312[/url])

Don't worry, I've spent the last six years on HL2 after I bought it at release and I'm only up to the third chapter

Man, I've gotta commend you for persevering and beating that game. I can't do those goddamn bullet storm games, way too much shit and it makes my brain hurt. :saddowns:

Fucking ace dude. I can hardly pass level 2. [QUOTE=postmanX3;25348808]Ten bucks on XBLA is an excellent price. It wouldn't surprise me if it were on PSN, too.[/QUOTE] It isn't. The 360 is what most SHMUP developers have pledged to for whatever reason.

I applaud you. I cannot for the life of me get good at Shoot 'em ups. I love the genre but I suck at it.

I might have to get this... I have Xenoheart Excilica or whatever it's called on XBLA, which is a bullet hell shooter.

[QUOTE=slayer20;25353862]I might have to get this... I have Xenoheart Excilica or whatever it's called on XBLA, which is a bullet hell shooter.[/QUOTE] Triggerheart Exelica. That's prob one of the easiest SHMUP's I've played.

I have the GCN version of Ikaruga, and it's rather fun for a Bullet Hell game. Great job for completing it, Ikaruga gets rather difficult in the later levels. Did you ever get "Bullet Eater"? I tried, but I always somehow fired back and lost my chance for it.

What the fuck is GCN?

[QUOTE=wasphone;25354025]What the fuck is GCN?[/QUOTE] Gamecube Nintendo?

[QUOTE=wasphone;25354025]What the fuck is GCN?[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Banned?;25354130]Gamecube Nintendo?[/QUOTE] It's the abbreviation that is used for the Nintendo GameCube in western regions, whereas in Japan it's referred to as the NGC.

Uh, GC?

GCN =/= Nintendo Game Cube.

Definitely one of the best shmup/bullet hell game around. I still got my GC and DC versions and still play it often and even got the Dot Eater ranking. Also Butsutekkai is still one awesome theme. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpKZCg22pXA[/media]

PSN. And because it's stupid to call it that. GC if you need to make an acronym out of Game Cube

I kinda miss the days when games were batshit insanely hard to complete. [editline]06:49AM[/editline] Well not really, but it's no fun playing through a game on it's release day.

Games were hard back then because they were poorly made or were like Mega Man

Did you enjoy the time you spent on this game?

[QUOTE=wasphone;25354567]GCN =/= Nintendo Game Cube.[/QUOTE] How so?

[QUOTE=chunkymonkey;25355176]How so?[/QUOTE] GCN is Game Cube Nintendo. If GCN stands for Nintendo Game Cube then USA means States of America United. It sounds bad.