Ikaruga

Ikaruga is a 2001 arcade shoot-em-up game by Treasure, later ported to Dreamcast, followed by ports to Gamecube, Xbox Live and Windows (Steam).

Prologue: Cirrus

"I will not die until I achieve something.

Even though the ideal is high, I never give in.

Therefore, I never die with regrets."

Chapter 1: Ideal

"Alas, Ikaruga is going . . .

Undesired, unwanted them, What makes them go?

It is nothing else than the principle of the man who has the reason for being."

Alternate Translation

"Alas, the Ikaruga departs.

What could make those people move,

Who were secluded against their will?

This is probably none other than

The very basic will to live."

Chapter 2: Trial

"The stronger the will you have, the more you will face various trials.

Although you can choose to escape, "Trial" has a message for you to conquer yourself.."

Alternate Translation

"The more stubborn your own will is,

The more Trials you will be blessed with.

Of course, if you can avoid the Trials before your eyes,

It is also possible for you to flee them.

But the real purpose of a Trial

Is to make your soul stronger."

Chapter 3: Faith

"There is no "absolute" in this mundanity.

Occasionally you get lost facing unreasonable burdens.

In order to overcome, you need a firm conviction, penetration, and the ability to take action."

Alternate Translation

"In this world there is nothing absolute,

One may someday feel unsure

And sometimes even feel lost.

In order to overcome this

One must have a strong Faith

And know how to take action."

Chapter 4: Reality

"And "Reality" is unveiled.

What did it want . . .

What did it see . . .

What did it hear . . .

What did it think . . .

What did it do . . ."

Alternate Translation

"And then Reality reared its ugly head.

What did you seek...

What did you see...

What did you hear...

What did you think...

What did you do..."

Final Chapter: Metempsychosis

Level Introduction

"Finally, Karma returns to the place once belonged.

It recalls the genesis of consciousness carved for abyss of memories.

Hence Ikaruga is going. . ."

Alternate Translation

"And then the Karma will go back

To the will it belonged to before,

And will shake awake the First One,

The first conscious being still present

At the deepest corner of one's memories.

And so, the Ikaruga departs..."

Boss Encounter

"I make you alive so that you can walk along the right way. But can't you understand it?"

"You can't feel the visible things. How can you feel the invisible things?"

"It is impossible to cut off this metempsychosis forever. You can also see it, can't you?"

Alternate Translation

"I am the One who allows you to live.

I told you to seek to walk down the right path...

Are you telling me you don't understand this?

You can't feel what you see...

But you can feel what you don't see.

Is that what you're trying to tell me?

You are aware of this, too, aren't you?

Until the very end of Time, you won't ever escape this Metempsychosis."

Second Boss Encounter

"Thus achieve your mission without any regrets.

I will not die until I achieve something. Even though the ideal is high, I never give in. Therefore, I never die with regrets.

We were supposed to understand it. . . Can we see the liberty and freedom?"

"Releasing restraint device. Removal of the limiter will cause overheat and possible destruction of the ship. Was I helpful for you? I am deeply grateful to you." -Ikaruga

"Is this what we wished for?

Don't worry, we will understand each other some day.

And the life is succeeded into to the distant future."