Kotaku: Treasure

Treasure Yasushi Suzuki's Art From Games Like Ikaruga, Sin & Punishment

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:00:00 EDT

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While not a games artist per se, seeing as he does work for everything from books to comics, Yasushi Suzuki still has his fans in the world of video games. Particularly amongst followers of Japanese developers Treasure. More »

Radiant Silvergun Flies onto Xbox Live

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:20:00 EDT

In Japan, Venerated shooter Radiant Silvergun is coming to the Xbox 360 on September 14 for 1,200 Microsoft Points. [Treasure] More »

Privacy is a Game for Zynga

Brian Crecente — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:40:00 EDT

Zynga's bajillion dollar bid to go public came with oodles of fun insight into the company, thanks to that filing with the securities and exchange commission. It also landed around the same time that the Facebook game developer launched a new game, one all about your privacy. More »

Get a Good Look at Guardian Heroes HD In Motion for the First Time

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 05 May 2011 23:40:00 EDT

GameSpot takes a look at Sega's newly announced Xbox Live Arcade port of Saturn classic Guardian Heroes in the latest On The Spot. Whether you prefer the original Saturn sprites or the filtered visual upgrade—not my cup of tea—you're probably going to get excited about Guardian Heroes one more time today. More »

Guardian Heroes for Xbox Live Arcade Looks Awful, But Don't Lose Hope!

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:20:00 EDT

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Sega announced earlier today that it would bring Sega Saturn great Guardian Heroes to Xbox Live Arcade. Awesome, right? Everyone loves a Treasure game! Not awesome? First screen shots of the XBLA port of Guardian Heroes. More »

Sega Saturn Classic Guardian Heroes Coming to Xbox Live Arcade

Mike Fahey — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:40:00 EDT

Sega is bringing an enhanced version of Treasure's Saturn beat-em-up Guardian Heroes to Xbox Live Arcade this fall, complete with enhanced HD graphics, online cooperative play, and an online versus mode supporting up to 12 players at once. Rejoice! More »

Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury Is Out Next Month

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:41:00 EDT

We won't have long to wait to get our trigger fingers on Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury, as it's been revealed the game will be out on Xbox Live Arcade on May 4. More »

Bangai-O HD Says There Is No Such Thing As "Too Many Missiles"

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:20:00 EDT

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Classic explosion simulator Bangai-O is getting a HD re-release on Xbox Live Arcade this Spring. While the graphics have been improved since the N64/Dreamcast original, the batshit crazy obsession with missiles remains. More »

Oh My God, There Are Bullets Everywhere

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:30:00 EST

Over ten years since it was first released on the Dreamcast, Bangai-O is back, and boy, are you in for some bullets. More »

Model Of Classic Shooter Painted In Pure Beauty

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

Ikaruga, the 2001 shoot'em up, is a gorgeous looking game. So if an Ikaruga model is going to be an accurate reproduction, it needs to be gorgeous. This finished model does not disappoint. More »

In Praise Of The New Game Plus

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Last week, I played through Dead Space 2. This week, I'll see it through to the end one more time, perhaps having more fun, feeling less stressed, better appreciating its immense technical and visual artistry. Let's hear it for New Game Plus. More »

The Return Of Radiant Silvergun Spawns A Pricey Arcade Stick

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:40:00 EST

Beloved, coveted Sega Saturn shoot 'em up Radiant Silvergun is coming to Xbox Live Arcade in 2011, thanks to developer Treasure. So too may a Radiant Silvergun arcade stick from Hori, but only if you really, really want it. More »

Treasure's Bangai-O HD Delayed For A Very Good Reason

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:20:00 EDT

Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury, the Xbox Live Arcade update to the Treasure series that gets a surprising amount of attention, will not be coming out this year as originally planned. Don't worry, there's a happy ending to this story. More »

Radiant Silvergun Coming to Xbox 360

Owen Good — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:21:37 EDT

Radiant Silvergun, the spiritual progenitor of Ikaruga, is coming exclusively to the Xbox 360 next year, Microsoft said at its Tokyo Game Show news conference. The title is being developed by Treasure, the original studio behind both games. More »

Call It Bangai-O HD, Or Call It 1000-Shot Insanity

Stephen Totilo — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EDT

For those of you who like to play games that make you worry your console might melt, consider the frenetic Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury. The game, debuting here at PAX, is as calm as a Fourth of July fireworks finale. More »

Bangai-O Brings The Missile Fury To Xbox Live Arcade

Mike Fahey — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:20:00 EDT

Treasure's classic puzzle-shooter for the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast gets the big-screen sequel it deserves this fall with Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury for Xbox Live Arcade. Giant robots and fruit for everyone! More »

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor Review: #1 With A Bullet

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:40:00 EDT

Nintendo fires a shot at the hardcore Wii owner with Sin & Punishment: Star Successor, a new shooter from the shooting game masters at Treasure. It's brutally difficult and a sequel to a relatively obscure Nintendo 64 game, a Wii library anomaly. More »

Are You As Good At Gaming As This Person?

Brian Crecente — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EDT

Due out this Sunday, shoot-em-up Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is a bullet-filled video game that paints a tapestry of enemies and damage for you to weave your way through. More »

Don't Use The Word 'Shmup' Around The Creators Of Ikaruga And Sin & Punishment

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:40:00 EDT

Because, believe it or not, the people who designed some of the world's best scrolling shoot 'em ups, including Ikaruga, Gradius V and Radiant Silvergun, claim to have never seen the abbreviated term "shmup" used to describe their games before. More »

Sin & Punishment 2, Picross 3D Finally Dated For North America

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:40:00 EST

Nintendo has made today's Nintendo Summit in San Francisco the most exciting event of the day, dating two titles that have been TBA for far too long: Sin & Punishment 2 for the Wii and Picross 3D for Nintendo DS. More »

It's A Good Week To Buy Ikaruga

Mike Fahey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:20:00 EDT

If you've been avoiding spending 800 Microsoft points in order to let Treasure's beloved shoot-em up Ikaruga kill you repeatedly, then perhaps the Xbox Live Deal of the Week is for you. More »

Gunstar Heroes Micro-Review: The Perfect Shot

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EDT

The recent re-release of Gunstar Heroes on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network isn't the first port of the game we've seen over the past 16 years. But could it be one of the best? More »

Sin And Punishment 2 Hands-On: Up, Down, Up, Down, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:00:33 EDT

Nintendo's best evidence that its E3 2009 showing was all "about the games" were the four kiosks dedicated to Sin And Punishment 2. Treasure's sequel to the Nintendo 64 shooter was given prominent attention at the front of Nintendo's booth. More »

Microsoft Wants Radiant Silvergun For XBLA

Mike Fahey — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST

In an interview with Gamasutra, Treasure CEO Masato Maegawa reveals that Microsoft has requested the classic Saturn shoot-em Radiant Silvergun for Xbox Live Arcade, but Treasure has yet to say yes. More »

Tough Video Games and Why They're Played

Owen Good — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

In a brief look at Mega Man 9, the Wall Street Journal's Jamin Brophy-Warren notes that the game's deliberate flicker and slowdown were added in for reasons other than the retro-feel. They make the game more demanding. More »

Top Rated Ikaruga Player: "XBLA Version is Horrible"

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:20:21 EDT

Enjoy that XBLA Ikaruga? The current top-rated numero uno player Kingoro58k totally hates it. While he seems to put up with the XBLA port enough to reclaim his spot from a Finnish gamer, Kingoro58k writes on his
More »

Ikaruga Review: No Refuge For Wimps

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

For the uninitiated, Treasure's Ikaruga is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up originally released for arcades, with ports for the Dreamcast and GameCube released in 2002 and 2003 respectively. It uses a simple mechanic of polarity—your ship, the Ikaruga, can switch between black and white states; there are no traditional shooter power ups, black and white beams are your only weapon. It's a system that belies its complexity. When white, the ship can absorb all white-colored incoming enemy fire. When black, the ship can absorb all black-colored incoming enemy fire. However, when firing on ships of the opposite color, the Ikaruga does double the damage. Oh, but there's more to it than that, a layer of depth that makes Ikaruga one part shooter, one part puzzler, with a dash of rhythm and strategy tossed in. How does the Xbox Live Arcade port hold up, with Ikaruga now seven years old? More »

Treasure Tackling Two Wii Titles

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:40:00 EDT

The latest issue of Nintendo Power, which is in the hands of subscribers right now features an interview with Masato Maegawa, the president of the beloved action game developer, whose Bangai-O Spirits is due to hit the Nintendo DS stateside this quarter. The Xbox Live Arcade remake of Ikaruga just went live, but Nintendo Power wants to know when Maegawa and crew will get some WiiWare titles out. More »

Frankenreview, Ikaruga (XBLA)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Treasure's classic shoot 'em up Ikaruga has a simple premise. Turn your ship white, become immune to white attacks. Turn your ship black, become immune to black attacks. The casual onlooker would say the premise sounded simple. The seasoned Ikaruga player would say the premise sounded deceptively simple. More »

It's Official: Ikaruga Hitting XBLA This Week

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

In this week's XBLA update, we've finally gotten official confirmation that Ikaruga, the classic Japanese shoot 'em up (sorry, I despise the term "shmup") is coming to the platform this Wednesday, April 9th. Now in HD, players can enjoy standard leaderboards as well as online co-op and replay/save video support. It'll set you back 800 points. More »

Ikaruga For Xbox Live Arcade Finally Dated

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:20:18 EDT

The promise of Ikaruga for Xbox Live Arcade has been a constant tease since its official announcement in September. We know it's coming soon, but didn't know exactly when. Fortunately, the Japanese version of Xbox.com has put a date on it, pegging the release for Wednesday, April 9. That's a respectable distance from April 1, so we suspect our emotions aren't being stomped upon by cruel Japanese webmasters. Cross your fingers in hope that the world doesn't explode until at least April 10! More »

Ikaruga Rumored To Hit XBLA By April

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:40:33 EDT

When Microsoft announced the HD remake of Ikaruga last September, it said it was "coming soon." Then nothin'. Then, back in January, we thought that the Xbox Live Arcade release of Treasure's vertically scrolling shooter was just around the bend, time-wise. We haven't heard a peep from it since, just the sound of tears hitting the floor. More »

Bangai-O Spirits DS Trailer Is Somewhat Explosion Heavy

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:20:10 EST

We got a chance to play an extremely early version of Bangai-O Spirits for the Nintendo DS at the most recent Tokyo Game Show, but it really didn't do the game justice. You really do need fully functioning full-screen missile barrages and excited Japanese voiceover narration to properly understand Treasure's Dreamcast to DS port. Hence, this nearly perfect trailer. More »

Bangai-O Spirits Coming Stateside

Mike Fahey — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:20:13 EST

A happy day for fans of the Dreamcast classic Bangai-O, as D3Publisher of America and lovable, cuddly Japanese developer Treasure announce the DS version of the game for North American release later this year. Combining two of Treasure's greatest strengths - puzzle games and shooters - the original Bangai-O was one of the developer's most definitive titles. The DS version features local wireless co-op gameplay for 1-4 players, a powerful level editor, and probably the neatest feature of all - level transfer using sound. The level editor saves files as sound, which can then be transmitted to other DS systems via the built-in microphone, or save them on a PC for upload and sharing via the internet. Players can even use this Sound Load feature to transfer gameplay footage, which means someone needs to come up with a flash app that translates the sound files and set up a website ASAP. Bangai-O Spirits should be hitting US shores sometime in Q2 2008. More »

Bangai-O DS Hits Japan On March 19

Luke Plunkett — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:30:00 EST

It's been announced that Bangai-O Spirits, Treasure's upcoming handheld version of its cheek-pinchingly adorable slice of bullet hell pie, will be out in Japan on March 19. Same day as Echocrome! Which is of course relevant to everyone able to work an import store's online store, seeing as with Bangai-O an ability to understand what's being said comes a distant second to being able to make an entire screen explode. More »

Ikaruga Coming Soonish? (Please Hurry)

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:00:41 EST

Treasure's legendary shooter IKARUGA has recently appeared on Xbox Live's Partner Net (the "insider's" version of XBL). Previously, the 49MB game appeared on Partner Net, but it wouldn't load. This time around, it's downloadable and playable. The game will support both 16:9 and 16:10 widescreen. It's appearance on Partner Net doesn't mean it's going to be out anytime soon. Fingers gently crossed that it be, however. More »

More Treasure Coming To Wii Virtual Console

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:40:48 EDT

The ESRB has updated its ratings database with a few new potential Virtual Console candidates for the Nintendo Wii, with Treasure's Alien Soldier leading the list. The Sega Genesis (okay, Mega Drive) side-scrolling shooter was never released in North America, but did get a release in Europe, meaning stateside Treasure fans with a bent for bird-men in space suits should be furiously wiping palm sweat on their jeans upon the ultimate release. While I already have Alien Soldier in my possession, it's nice you will soon play it, too. More »

Ikaruga For Xbox Live Arcade Hands-On Impressions

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 13:30:22 EDT

A four-kiosk attack of Xbox Live Arcade games was nestled in the middle of Microsoft's Xbox 360 booth at TGS, showing off dozens of titles old and new. Only one contained the XBLA remake of Treasure's black and white shmup Ikaruga in playable demo form. Featuring the first level of the game, the demo station at Tokyo Game Show may not have shown the remake in the best light. While Ikaruga for XBLA looks spectacular in screenshots—and according to Flynn, "really sharp" on a 42" HDTV—seeing it in non-tate mode on a 22" LCD doesn't show off the game's graphical upgrades in the proper light. More »

Bangai-O Spirits Hands-On Impressions

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 06:00:33 EDT

Treasure's Nintendo DS sequel to the offbeat Dreamcast/Nintendo 64 shooter Bangai-O was available to play at a single kiosk at D3 Publisher's TGS booth. Just one Nintendo DS! It almost seems criminal. Clearly D3 underestimates the rabid demand for this fruit collecting puzzle-shooter sequel to the game that sold well into the tens of thousands. However, despite the broad appeal of shooting stuff, Bangai-O Spirits was surprisingly simple to get your hands on at Tokyo Game Show. Wrapping one's brain around the concept may take a bit more work. More »

Treasure Too Busy With Xbox Live For PlayStation Network

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:00:00 EDT

Clean-cut Treasure boss man Masato Maegawa talked to 1UP just before the kick off of Tokyo Game Show 07, putting a shine on details for every upcoming Treasure game. The recently announced Xbox Live Arcade Ikaruga remake, for example, is taking up too much of the developer's resources, putting a hold on the unnamed Xbox 360 shooter that's said to be in the vein of its most famous shmups, Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. Unfortunately for those in the PLAYSTATION 3 camp, Treasure isn't working on the PlayStation Network, devoting their resources to XBLA development. More »