The visuals and music are what kept me coming back to it for years hah, but I’ve only beat it scrub style with the assistance of ROM rewinds. Some games are designed to eat quarters, I think Ikaruga was designed to drain paychecks.

I gave up on DoDonPachi. Same thing, 20 years of just grinding and sticking with it, even did the classic “final final true boss has one hit point and I choke” move.

Now I’m 49, my reactions will never be what they were when I was younger, the dream is over.