One slight issue...

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

Having had experience with other bullethell games, I expected the hitbox to be a bit smaller and more well defined. Paterns that I would have been able to get through in other games, including eXceed and Jamestown, are seemingly much harder to dodge in this game.

[<M.o.K> Samurai]

There is no dodge in Ikaruga, there is only polarity swap!

Seriously though, I believe the patterns are based upon.... encouraging? the use of the swap mechanic. But yeah, they can be brutal.

[cute girl farts]

Originally posted by VestedGamr:

Having had experience with other bullethell games, I expected the hitbox to be a bit smaller and more well defined. Paterns that I would have been able to get through in other games, including eXceed and Jamestown, are seemingly much harder to dodge in this game.

Picture of a dog with sunglasses on.

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

Originally posted by <M.o.K>Samurai Jack-ing Off:

There is no dodge in Ikaruga, there is only polarity swap!

Seriously though, I believe the patterns are based upon.... encouraging? the use of the swap mechanic. But yeah, they can be brutal.

This brings up another issue, though one that can be blamed on my muscle memory. Polarity swaping feels a little slow, at least compared to other games that have it like eXeed 2nd.

[antihro]

that's the way the game was designed. these aren't issues of concern just design decisions

dealwithit.bmp

[<M.o.K> Samurai]

Sadly, I don't have my DC on tap to test it out, but I don't remember it feeling particularly slow or fast. I'd be majorly surprised if they changed a core part of the mechanics in the port to the PC

[postmanmanman]

Yeah, this isn't a typical bullet hell. The idea is to use polarity swap rather than tight weaving to avoid death.

The swap is pretty quick IMO, if anything it's comparable to eXceed 2nd. It's just something you have to adjust to.

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

Originally posted by antihro:

that's the way the game was designed. these aren't issues of concern just design decisions

dealwithit.bmp

I guess I'm just too used to other games. It will take me quite a while to adjust to Ikaruga.

[antihro]

You will though in time and it will be worth it

[Vengador_Toxiko]

I wouldn' t call it a bullet hell, in my opinion it's a regular shoot'em up, playability is somewhat different.

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

Originally posted by Vengador_Toxiko:

I wouldn' t call it a bullet hell, in my opinion it's a regular shoot'em up, playability is somewhat different.

Lots of bullets everywhere in well defined patterns, small hitbox (though it could be a bit smaller), focus on bullet volume rather than accuracy... seems bullethell-ish to me.

[Vengador_Toxiko]

Don't know, maybe I'm used to playing Cave titles, Touhou and that kind of s*** XD, I didn't have the same experience with Ikaruga as with those, there is a lot of s*** but with some kind of order and not every damned second, a little puzzly I'd said. Different visions I suppose.

[V]

Hitbox is too large? Are you having problems with Bullet Eater on the second stage?

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

Originally posted by m.Locke:

Hitbox is too large? Are you having problems with Bullet Eater on the second stage?

No, just trying to dodge when I should be swapping polarities, or getting caught in situations where bullets of opposite polarities are in close proximity. In other words, I'm making mistakes because I'm too used to other bullethells.