Keith Mitchell
The Outerhaven ProductionsIkaruga (Switch) Review
Published 7/9/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
100
+11 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
Making subjectivity useful.
Arcade / PS4 / NGC / Android / PC / X360 / Switch / DC - 5/29/2018
Ikaruga
In this vertical scrolling spaceship shooter, you control a ship that can change its polarity at will. As blue/white, the ship can easily destroy red/black enemies, and visa versa. Bullets of your polarity can be collected to fuel your missile gauge, but those opposite will kill you. Destroying an enemy ship will make them drop points for you to pick up, but they are polarized, too. Different difficulties exist to change exactly how you interact with polarized points, or how they appear. Ikaruga is a balls-hard shmup with lots of difficulty even at the easiest level, and lots of replay value for those willing to face the challenge.
- Developer
- Treasure
- Publisher
- Nicalis, Inc., Entertainment Software Publishing Inc., Treasure, Atari, Inc.
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Critic average
89
Average of 15 scored external reviews.
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Highly replayableDefining · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Reflex / execution-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedDefining · Curated baseline
Punishing / high-pressureDefining · Curated baseline
Unconventional / experimentalDefining · Curated baseline
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityDefining · Curated baseline
Show 12 more descriptors
Serious / dark / groundedStrongly · Curated baseline
Side-content richStrongly · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedModerately · Curated baseline
Short / focusedModerately · Curated baseline
Whimsical / playful / lightheartedSlightly · Curated baseline
Story / character-drivenSlightly · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenSlightly · Curated baseline
Run-based / proceduralNot present · Curated baseline
Exploration-drivenNot present · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureNot present · Curated baseline
Buildcraft / customization-heavyNot present · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialNot present · Curated baseline
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidenceMostly aligned
Critic avg
89
15 scored reviews
Total coverage
15
All coverage currently scored
Score range
80–100
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Mostly aligned
Score range is 11–20 points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 89 across 15 scored reviews, with a 20-point spread. Critics mostly agree, but there is some useful variation in the individual reviews.
How to read this
The average is useful broad context, but the high and low reviews may explain what different critics valued or penalized.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 90–100 band.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
15 included scored reviews
90–10011 reviews · 73%
80–894 reviews · 27%
70–790 reviews · 0%
Below 700 reviews · 0%
Showing 1-10 of 15 matching critic reviews. 15 total critic reviews. Page 1 of 2.
Tyler Treese
Digitally DownloadedReview: Ikaruga (Nintendo Switch)
Published 6/26/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJustin Sharp
Pure NintendoReview: Ikaruga (Nintendo Switch) - Pure Nintendo
Published 6/11/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-9 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalRudy Lavaux
Cubed3Ikaruga (Nintendo Switch) Review
Published 6/7/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalMichael Chow
COGconnectedIkaruga Switch Review – Challenging, Charming, Captivating
Published 6/1/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
85
-4 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalUnknown reviewer
Metro GameCentralIkaruga Switch review – shooting for classic status
Published 5/31/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalRichard Seagrave
GameSpewReview: Ikaruga is Yet Another Essential Switch Port – GameSpew
Published 5/30/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalNindie Spotlight
Nindie SpotlightNindie Spotlight Ikaruga Review
Published 5/28/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-9 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJordan Helm
Hardcore GamerReview: Ikaruga (Switch)
Published 5/26/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+1 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalZachary Miller
Nintendo World ReportIkaruga (Switch eShop) Review
Published 5/25/2018
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-9 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
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