Ikaruga: The Art of Chaining

This is a video demonstration (with commentary) of me playing through Chapter 1 of Ikaruga on Normal difficulty (Xbox Live Arcade version).
The intent of this video is to show the art behind chaining, to explain to newcomers what is involved with chaining, and to let people get a peak inside my head to see just what I'm thinking about when playing the game.
Because there are so many pauses in the gameplay, I'm providing an uncut version for those who want to see what it looks like when everything is put together. That video is available here: • Ikaruga: The Art of Ch...
This video is part of a post from my blog about shoot 'em ups, called [SHMUPtheory]. To see more of my posts, click here: shmuptheory.blogspot.com/

[@berry.juice3]

I downloaded this game a long time ago but now that I have a fancy arcade stick for fighting games I'm gonna use it on Ikaruga. I always heard good things about it and I'm loving it so far. Thanks for this video, I didn't realize there was this much nuance to playing.

[@rebishaz]

"Poured hundreds of hours into without ever seeing the credits screen." Yeah.... I feel your pain.

[@SuperballsSupervidsOnYT]

While no stranger to SHMUPS, I've never been that seriously into them. But having owned Xevious, and the SMS RType, as well as Cloud Master, several R-Type sequels and the like, I've always had a passing love for the genre, if not the patience to get really good at them.
Just started playing Ikaruga, and this game is intimidating as hell.

[@agreedboarart3188]

It's hard as hell. I've never finished it.

[@jaykelley103]

This video got me into this game years ago. It is now my favorite game and ive cleared it several times on one credit. Thanks, Bean.

[@digitalworms]

When you love shmups but shmups don't like you -ikaruga

[@EviltoasterofFP]

This video just now helped me S++ Chapter 1. The tips shown here was enough to bump up my score by 200,000 or so points, which is what I needed.

[@findantu]

dude just by your short mention of how chaining works i realized what i was doing wrong . 3 at a time if i need to switch to other polarity to keep the chain alive . thank you .

[@coffeedude]

This is incredibly awesome

[@IronicSonic83]

Thank. I really enjoy this tutorial video

[@ghost2031]

Great Video, this Video deserves HD though :)

[@VGComps]

that was quick, cheers, ok so optimum power is with the oposite colour, i thought it was the other way round. and chaining is simply getting 3 in a row in that color, i get it now, playing on normal, right now actually. ill see if its better than silvergun

[@VGComps]

anyone do Radiant Silvergun tutorial, cant work out how to upgrade my weapons fast, i know how to achieve weapons bonus, getting certain amount of hits with a weapon, but they dont level up fast like i see in videos

[@sigcane8548]

so, did you see the credit screen?

[@onemrbean]

In 2019 I did finally beat the game on one credit!