Ikaruga on Live Arcade tomorrow

By Robert Purchese Published 8 April, 2008

Pretend to be surprised.

Microsoft has revealed that Ikaruga will be the Live Arcade treat this Wednesday.

The scrolling-shooter will cost 800 Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60) and feature co-operative support for you and a friend, as well as the usual enhanced graphics, Achievements and leaderboards.

Ikaruga differs slightly thanks to its light and dark system; use light bullets and you absorb enemy fire of the same type, and the same with dark.

You can also record and replay the action, just in case you did really well while drunk and want to show people as so often happens with Live Arcade games.

Look out for our Ikaruga review tomorrow.

Microsoft is also updating Poker Smash with fresh Environment and Puzzle packs. The former has a pair of Action Mode environments, while the latter has 15 fresh puzzles to tackle. Each will cost 100 Points (GBP 0.85 / EUR 1.20).

Pop over to our Poker Smash review to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (23) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eraysor #1 4 years ago

    I can remember watching that video of someone completing the final level on Youtube. Totally insane.

  • Kanselier #2 4 years ago

    /acts surprised

    Not interested in it though, my brain is not made to comprehend games like Ikaruga :( 1941 (and prequels/sequels), now that my brain can comprehend :)

  • muscleblade #3 4 years ago

    This game is extremely hard. Very good game though. I will give this to myself in present when im finished with Mr. Driller. ( also very hard imo).

    This is a game is for the hardcore gamer. People that play games just for points (why some people do that is beyond me) can forget about this unless they have mad skillz.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 08:42

  • lambtron #4 4 years ago

    Heh. I am guessing the achievements won't be easy.

  • thefilthandthefury #5 4 years ago

    Brilliant! Always wanted to play this but never got round to it. Can't wait.

  • Kanselier #6 4 years ago

    @lambtron

    'Get a S++ rating for every level. Worth 5 points'

    *made this up*

  • muscleblade #7 4 years ago

    The achievements is much easier than the Mr driller achievements actually. You need to be good at the game to get all the A rankings of course but its pretty doable for hardcore gamers.

  • barnard666 #8 4 years ago

    ATTTT LAST!

  • Dizzy #9 4 years ago

    Only real men need apply.

  • speedjack #10 4 years ago

    SOLD.

    I am crap at it though, which begs the question, why am I getting it when I suck so badly ?

    Masacism, I guess.

  • yagisencho #11 4 years ago

    This is another one of those brilliant Japan-only Dreamcast releases that I already purchased for the Dreamcast that I'm going to purchase again for my 360, and then never play. Isn't it? ISN'T IT?!

    (Dutifully adds gamer points to his XBox Live account...)

  • espibara #12 4 years ago

    Oh oh oh god .........lots of Jizz.


    But anyway what about some CAVE shooters such as Ibara, Espgalauda, dodonpachi??????????

    But the jewel in teh shooter crown must be UNDER DEFEAT!!!!!!!! The best dreamcast shooter I have ever played. I'd say its better and more accesible than ikaruga even.

    Come on G-rev brings us UNDER DEFEAT!

    Check out some you tube videos of Under Defeat you will see what i mean.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 10:12

  • macmurphy #13 4 years ago

    Have this on the Gamecube. I'm not even a big shooter fan but I loved this. Mind-numblingly tough but when you finally get it it sends you into a trance that's unlike much else. It's also two player. I can't recommend this enough guys, even if you're not a traditional shooter fan. This still goes for bucks on E-bay, it would be great to see this do good business. I'm guessing it will be an expensive title around the price of X-box originals, but if that means we get genuinely great last gen games that don't look out of place on the next gen consoles I'd be very happy.

  • gman7714 #14 4 years ago

    I'm buying this game - my first XBL arcade game purchase, probably play it for 10mins and then self harm, if its as hard as you lot make out!

  • muscleblade #15 4 years ago

    @gman7714

    If this is your first xbla game youre really missing out. Might aswell trade in your 360 imo.

    If you just bought your 360 youre excused of course.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 10:51

  • gman7714 #16 4 years ago

    @ muscleblade

    Had my 360 for just over a year, I guess I lied when I said its my first I did create an American account and download Aegis Wing and also got my free copy of Undertow. Wasnt overly impressed with either tbh. So I've tryed a couple. Struggle to find the time to play the full retail games at mo. Saying that I downloaded the trial for Alien Hominid last night and will give that a bash soon.

    Reccomend any others Muscle?

  • muscleblade #17 4 years ago

    @gman7714

    Many Xbla games are much more entertaining than a lot of retail games imo.

    These are fantastic imo:

    Marble blast ultra,Heavy weapon,Castlevania SOTN,Carssasonne,Omega Five, Sonic 1+2, Pinball FX, UMK3, SF2, REZ HD.

    Alien Hominid is also great btw.

  • bitesize #18 4 years ago


    sold!! i love this game, played it for many hours on the cube... still not very good at it mind, but i love it anyway.

  • muscleblade #19 4 years ago

    The thing with many XBLA games is that they demand that you have gaming skills to get the achievements. A lot of retail games mostly demand time.

  • gman7714 #20 4 years ago

    @ muscleblade.

    Thanks, I'll download the trials for some of those. I tryed Omega5 and quite liked it. Just ordered a 2100pts card from Tesco Jersey (a £12.97 + free del bargain btw) and will defo get Sonic for the missus. Which one is better Sonic 1 or 2?

  • muscleblade #21 4 years ago

    @gman7714

    Sonic 2 is the best for sure.

    I forgot my favourite btw: Pac Man Championship Edition! I loved that one.

  • tinners #22 4 years ago

    online co-op here we come, getting owned over and over again....

    seen the guy on you tube playing the game two player on his own using both hands, its silly just silly!!!!

  • slave23d #23 4 years ago

    hmm cod map pack or this.... 4 maps or a full game? no contest. Ikaruga ftw!