[quote name='RollingSkull']Or, hell, people who like a few of their games I found so bad that I could not even conceive of a universe where such a game was not reviled (Biggest example is Bangai-O DS. What a stinker.).[/quote]
i own Bangai-O on the DS, but i've not played it yet. i have played the DC version extensively though, and that version i really like. Sin and Punishment, Gunstar Heroes, and Dynamite Headdy are also personal faves.
Of course, Ikaruga doesn't even benefit from Treasure's typical "throw as many bosses in as you can" habit, which hurts it considerably.
yeah, this seems to be the polarizing debate (no pun intended) amongst fans: some seem to love the "boss every 60 seconds" type of game, while others prefer their games to be a bit more traditionally-hewn, with longer stretches of pawns and mini-bosses between. i tend to reside
mostly in the latter camp, as i feel that the boss-after-boss-after-boss thing can ultimately make the game feel like a hyper-challenging demo; cases in point: Alien Soldier and Stretch Panic (boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, game over, you win...?).
for me, Ikaruga is refreshing: it retains the uniqueness and left field thinking that i've come to expect from Treasure, while eschewing some of their more debatable design choices (absurd, non-sensical character dialogue and bosstastic levels).
what i'd really like to see is a
new vertrical shooter from Treasure. no "spiritual successors", no ports... something completely new. here's hoping...!