Platforms
- PCFeb 18, 2014NAplayscoreNA0 Critics9.41.66K Players
- PlayStation 4Jun 29, 2018NAplayscoreNA0 Critics9.4950 Players
- Nintendo SwitchMay 29, 20188.1playscore8.621 Critics7.548 Players
- AndroidJan 18, 20137.3playscore8.02 Critics6.5603 Players
25 critic reviews · 3 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- Overall, Ikaruga is a great shooter but not quite what I was expecting. The length of the game combined with the difficulty may deter most people but the game is customizable enough to be fun for anyone. The game even features a couple 2-player options so you can invite a friend along for the ride. If you’re a fan of shooter games, Ikaruga is definitely worth checking out.
Justin Sharp · Jun 11, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Overall, 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. While I missed out on the title on the Nintendo Gamecube, I can safely say that Ikaruga will remain on my Nintendo Switch to challenge me for the foreseeable future.
Michael Chow · Jun 01, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - There’s little else I can say here. It’s still the same Ikaruga, one of the, if not the absolute best shooter ever created, but on-the-go. It still looks great, it still sounds great, it still plays great. It suffers a bit from some screen-related shortcomings, but I still recommend this game to all Switch owners, without a doubt. Just get ready to die a lot more than any other game you’ll ever play in your life.
Leo Faria · May 31, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - 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.
Richard Seagrave · May 30, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - One of the genre’s most accomplished works so far as gameplay mechanics, soundtrack and overall presentation goes — one that easily rivals the likes of R-Type III, Soldier Blade, Space Harrier and even Rez to name a few — Ikaruga remains, seventeen years on, a truly inventive shoot-em-up and addictive experience to master wholesale. Not just a cult-classic, but a classic full-stop.
Jordan Helm · May 26, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Ikaruga 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.
Darren Palma · May 25, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Ikaruga is one of those games I'll happily rebuy and replay every time there's a new port, but with this Switch version, I should be set. 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.
Jordan Devore · May 25, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - 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.
Gonçalo Lopes · May 25, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - 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!
Zachary Miller · May 25, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - 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.
Mollie L Patterson · May 25, 2018 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review
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Community Reviews
- Rated on PC
- Rated on Switch
- Rated on Switch
About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
Shoot! Dodge! and... Get Hit!?
Ikaruga is a vertical shoot 'em up that features an unique polarity-switching gameplay.
Switch the ship's polarity and "get hit and absorb" enemy bullets!
Achieve High Score with the chain bonus!
Developer: G-Gee