Ikaruga gets Japanese release date
Live Arcade revamp down for April.
Microsoft plans to release Ikaruga for the Japanese Xbox Live Arcade on 9th April.
Confirmation comes from the official regional Xbox website, confirming the price at 800 Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60).
The platform holder is yet to announce a US or European date, but has been contacted for comment.
Ikaruga is vertical shooter originally developed by a quartet of brain-boxes for arcades in 2001. It went on to gain wider appeal through a limited run on the Dreamcast before appearing on the GameCube in 2003.
Central to its charm is the option to swap between black and white bullets. If you change to black then you absorb any incoming hostile black fire, but will explode if hit by a stray white bullet. And visa versa.
The Live Arcade port will have HD graphics and fit widescreen resolutions, as well as online co-operative play, replay mode and the usual leaderboards and Achievements.