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Wait — iconic shoot-em-up Ikaruga needs Steam Greenlight approval?

Treasure
Treasure is an incredibly difficult shoot-them-up.
Image Credit: Treasure

Honestly, “Ikaruga is going straight to Steam” would be the headline of this story in a more perfect world, but the game is actually on Steam Greenlight, which means you’ll only find it on Valve’s digital store if enough of its community members give the iconic shoot-em-up the thumbs up.

I mean, I think the process is a great way for smaller games to find their way on Steam, but Ikaruga? That shoot-em-up is a classic! Originally released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2001 and then making its U.S. debut on the GameCube in 2003, the title had one or two players weaving their ships through an endless hell of black-and-white bullets. You could also switch your own color between the two, and you had to often if you wanted to survive longer than a few seconds. Black ships absorbed black bullets and did extra damage to white enemies, and vice versa.

Ikaruga saw its first digital release on the Xbox Live Arcade in 2008. This Steam version would mark its first PC version.

Here’s hoping Ikaruga gets the greenlight. Maybe I’ll get the Steam version and find a way to get past the third level this time.