Radiant Silvergun / Ikaruga : history of a mythology (2nd part.)

Warning ! This text contains important revelations about the running of the scenarios of these two games. It is in fact a retrospective as well as a complete synthesis of these two titles. If you do not want to be "spoiled", please leave this page forever.

After making a synthesis of the rich and complex scenario of Radiant Silvergun in the first part, it is time to conclude this issue with an equally mythical game, adored by fanatic fans of "shooting-game". Stained with a mystical aura, since its release in 2002 on the Dreamcast of Sega, the recurrence of Treasure proves its attachment, once again, to the machines of the Japanese manufacturer. The determination of the developers will make the game come out on this medium well after the announcement of Sega, the latter declaring to want to stop the production and the support of the console to the spiral and its reconversion as simple publisher / developer. A risk-taking in full knowledge of the cause that will inspire many other studios that dedicate a passionate love to the dreamy white lady. (G.Rev will later launch his Border Down and Under defeat, Milestone will wear his arcade titles such as Chaos field, Radilgy and Karous during the period 2004-2007, well after the programmed death of the console ...)

Subtitled "Project RS2" (understand by, Radiant Silvergun 2), the game was quickly under the spotlight and quickly gained cult status as well as its elderly, carried away by the enthusiasm of a press Specialty, greeting its polarity based gaming system and part of the gaming community, who see this game as potentially more playable. Gained by this "hype", Ikaruga will see its sales stocks disappear in the blink of an eye. Faced with this success of esteem and in front of the crushing demand of gamers, eager to be able to exercise to the gladness of this new masterpiece, Treasure republished it, first, on GameCube Of an exit in Europe) and well after on the XBLA, dematerialized platform of Microsoft.

After this rapid retrospective, it is high time to focus on the central aspect of this article, namely its narrative. The name "Project RS2" would induce any credulous person to think that Ikaruga is a direct result to Radiant. This is not the case, however, it retains an essential and common element ...

Ikaruga: The end of a cycle

Above all, it is important to establish a little bit of culture in order to understand the very essence of Ikaruga, produced, as it were, by the influence exerted by nature and certain places on popular beliefs and Many Japanese lifestyle. No one is to be ignorant that the Japanese spirit, contemplative and respectful of fauna and flora, is the basis of a religion more assimilated to a style of life, Shinto. And it is on this principle that many cultural works of all kinds take root on the archipelago. Ikaruga does not derogate from the rule since the first kanji of the title designates the personification of a small bird emblematic of a region of this country (Hokkaïdo), more commonly called "Ikaru".

It is instantly understood, in view of the bird's dress, that the principle of polarity of binary colors, white-black, as well as the purified graphical bias, automatically refers to this bird. But that's not all…

As we shall see, much later, through this article, the prologue of the history of the game takes us to a village called Ikaruga. Curious coincidence, because Ikaruga is indeed a city of Japan located in the region of Nara. This site contains a Buddhist temple (Horyu-Ji / Ikaruga), whose buildings date from the Asuka period (around 607 AD) and are considered the oldest wooden buildings in the world.

This small broth of culture finally finished, let us focus on this odyssey ...

Many years ago, in a small island, the Hourai nation, one of the most powerful men in the country lived: Hourai Tenrou. Thirsting for conquests and wishing to rally most of the neighboring countries to his cause, Tenrou discovered, by the purest chance, a celestial power allowing the creation of beings and objects of all kinds. Named Ubusunagami Okinokai: the power of the gods, man had no choice but to exploit this energy emitted by an artifact coming from the depths of the earth. So he dug up the Stone-Like (it does not remind you of anything?), Which will give him a power hitherto never equaled.

Declaring himself "the divine", Tenrou and his men began the conquest of other nations, considering themselves "chosen beings" and leading their conquests in the name of peace. But all these are but futile words which conceal a further tyranny, exercised for the self-interest and exacerbated greed of the despot.

In spite of everything, a free nation named Tenkaku intended to stand up to Hourai. Using ships named Hitekkai, they fought with the hope of freeing the world from the yoke of Hourai, but all their efforts were in vain. They lost battle after battle, and were virtually eradicated. Miraculously, however, a young man survived, his name was Shinra.

Shinra

Refusing defeat, Shinra went to fight a final battle against the armed forces of Tenrou. After a fierce battle with Kagari, the young man was defeated during the fight by trying to rescue the woman from the assassins. He eventually crashed in a village named Ikaruga, mostly inhabited by people of advanced age forced into exile by Hourai's conquests.

Kagari

The village chief, Kazamori, as well as the other inhabitants, succeeded in extracting it from the carcass of his ship and in caring for it. Shinra regained his strength and declared that he wanted to continue the fight against Hourai, risk everything in a final battle. The villagers then gave him the ship they had built: the Ikaruga.

Also gathered by the inhabitants of the village, Kagari, after finding strength, seeing his honor destroyed, envisioned suicide. By dint of living with the villagers, she eventually renounced this idea, and was impressed by Shinra's will. She then decided to join him in the battle, to see with his own eyes the world of peace of which he spoke incessantly.

So this epic story begins, Shinra after having recovered all his means, goes to his new ship, facing his destiny ...

Chapter 1 : Ideal

Introductory text: "Alas, here is the departure of Ikaruga. What could make these people disappear, who have been withdrawn against their will? It is probably nothing but the very will to survive. "

Hourai, fearing that the village of Ikaruga would compete with his power thanks to his technology, decides to besiege the village. Shinra and Kagari decide to make an exit and start a counterattack.

Chapter : 02 [Trial]

Introductory text: "The more tenacious is your own will, the more your will will be put to the test, the more blessed you will be. Of course, if you can avoid progress before your eyes, it is also possible for you to flee them. But the true purpose of progress is to make your soul strong. "

The country of Agi, which was trying to oppose the tyranny of Hourai, was defeated and is now under its control. Our protagonists make a surprise attack by entering the enclosure of an underground military base that is under construction.

Chapter: 03 [the faith]

Introductory text: "In this world there is nothing absolute, one can feel one day uncertain and sometimes even feel lost. In order to remedy this you must have a strong faith and know how to act. "

The military situation is very uncertain for Tenrou, who is suffering heavy losses following the attack of Shinra who manages to infiltrate the "Country of Hourai". Reaching the border, our heroes face a fortified dam ...

Chapter: 04 [Reality]

Introductory text:

"And then it's reality that reveals its true face
What are you looking for …
What do you see …
What do you hear …
What do you think …
What were you doing … "

This chapter tells us the crossing of this dam in the ravine at the borders of the Tenrou base. Commander Kira decides to fight in a melee to get rid at any cost of our companions who are determined to finish at all costs.

Final chapter: [metempsychosis]

Introductory text: "Karma returns to the will of the one who holds it. To awaken one's consciousness, as well as the deepest recollections of oneself. And that is how Ikaruga departs. "

Shinra himself is aware that his days are numbered. "I've never done anything right. But this time, let God hear my prayer once and for all. It is on these words that he faces his enemy, the incarnation of Tenrou, who reveals his true nature. A demon to rank in the ranks of abominations. Our hero is aware that this fight will end in a sacrifice on his part but he remains confident, without any regrets. And so he faces this entity called Stone-Like, the artifact that has governed life since the dawn of time ... A final, crucial choice is looming in his thoughts in order to destroy the cause Of all the evils that make the misfortune of this planet and it is the light heart that uses its last resort. The ikaruga addresses these last words to him:

"Release the restrain device. Using the released power may result in the destruction of the ship ...

Was I helpful for you? I am deeply grateful to you. "

A final discharge from the target ship, the monolith, instantly destroying the pilot and his machine. With so much fervor, the Stone-Like bends and disappears in a sparkling explosion. Shinra applied the sacrifice to make humanity free from all abusive yokes. In his last moments, he let slip these few words:

"Do you think ... we did the right thing?"

"It's alright ... I'm sure that sometimes, the day will come when we understand each other. And then we'll walk together into the future ... Because Life is given from one generation to the next one "

His last words were filled with hope for future generations so that they do not repeat the same mistakes, once again ... His mind arises for a few moments alongside a group of Ikarus who take flight in the guise of freedom in this new world ...