I've had it sitting on my 360 since about a week after I bought the thing. But I haven't played it until now. I've always come to the 360 in a kind of brainless state, and I didn't feel like that was the right attitude to take towards one of the most legendary shmups of all time.
I speak, of course, of Treasure's infamous Radiant Silvergun.
The 360 revision looks lovely. Purists can play it in a low-res mode, and I might try that sometime for laughs – I'm an artist, give me sleek eye candy please for now. But that's not what I'm playing the game for. I'm playing it for its unique systems. I'm playing it for having seven different types of shots available to me at the press of a button, instead of picking up powerups. I'm playing it for levels designed around that.
And after a few plays, my fingers are starting to learn how to summon whichever shot type I want. My brain's beginning to figure out what's good for what purpose. I still don't know what the appropriate tactical use of the seeking electrical beam is but I'll figure it out. I haven't even cleared the first level yet but I had fun; I've made enough sense of it that I can see how Ikaruga's core system derives from ones in this game.
Interestingly enough, I found that it thoroughly sated my urge to do some video gaming tonight in only a half hour or so. Maybe that's because my brain was working hard to try and understand the weapon system.
I figure that once I can clear the first level in one credit, I'll be ready to start playing it. Maybe even consider continuing. I dunno, it always takes me a good while to decide to continue my way through a shmup if it's actually interesting – I want to savor its systems and understand them. It's pointless mastery, but it makes a part of my brain happy.
Stuff I got done today: one figure in a non-Rita comics project that's been lingering for too long. With the end of chapter 9, I've decided to take a bit of a break to clear out some commissions and other stuff. And make a 3d model of a hero prop for chapter 10. Hopefully making myself do these things will also get me to rebuild the loops in my brain that like to be in front of Illustrator for several hours, drawing. I miss those.