Ikaruga/Stage 1

This guide for chapter one is based on the gameplay in Ikaruga for the Gamecube with vertical display and normal difficulty.

Chapter One is given the name IDEAL; perhaps because it is easy, straightforward and so very neatly ordered. Chapter One has five parts, the last of which is a timed boss fight.

Survival strategy
Welcome to Ikaruga.

Section 1
This section is very short and very simple. There are 60 enemies, organized into 6 groups.

The first four groups arrive alternately from the upper-right and left-hand corners. Try to kill them immediately. The more quickly they die, the less likely they are to kill you. It doesn't matter what polarity you are; these enemies require only one shot. You can stay one color the entire time. Some switch between white and black, but unless you can see a distinct change in your score, its not worth it. If you're just starting out, you should practice switching just to get the hang of it.

The next two groups will come down together as 3x6 rectangular columns. The left side is completely white, and the right side is all black. Initially they will take formation side-by-side, briefly forming a larger 6x6 square. The two groups both maintain rectangular column-shaped formations as they slowly move in opposite directions. You want to kill each group quickly, so hold fire and move to cut through them like a knife through butter. For now, just shoot to kill. Eventually you'll want to take out each colored column separately, thus "chaining" them.

At this point; if you were quick enough, bonus enemies will appear. Either 1 or 2 groups of 3 small ships. They arrive from the top corners, they don't shoot, and will make easy targets as long as your ready to fire.