Review of the addictive "Ikki Unite". The legendary "shitty game" is back with 16-player multiplayer!

The original "Iki" game, a "shit game" that created a legend on the NES, has been revived in the modern age. ......

Ikki Unity" is a "unity roguelike action" game released by Sunsoft. Retro game lovers will feel nostalgia and excitement just by hearing the company name "Sunsoft". Sunsoft, a long-established game brand that has produced numerous masterpieces such as "Mystery of the Atlantis," "Super Arabian," "Route 16 Turbo," and "Hebereke," is back in 2025 with a full-fledged release of its first title. The first game released by "Sunsoft," a long-established game brand that has been a "cloud of retro games" that produced numerous masterpieces, is "IKKI DANKOKU.

Before introducing "IKKI DANGEKI," let's start by asking what kind of game is "IKKI" in the first place.　Let's start with an introduction.

Ikki" is an action game released by Sunsoft in 1985 for the Family Computer. The Famicom version is a port of the arcade version that was released in July 1985, but the Famicom version seems to be better known. The arcade version was released as "Arcade Archives Ikki" and is currently available on PS4 and Switch.

As the title suggests, "Ikki" is an amazing game about a peasant revolt, in which you control the characters "Gombe" and "Tago," two peasants who can no longer stand the heavy tribute they are being forced to pay. The game's unique theme and the many comical elements that decorate it have made it a title that still shines brilliantly in the annals of video game history. The fact that it could be played by two players at the same time, which was rare at the time, was one of the elements that made this game widely known.

The most famous thing about "Ikki" is that it is the "originator of shitty games. The word "shitty game" is now widely used among gamers, but it is said that the word "ikki" is the origin of the word "shitty game. It is said that the word "sh*t game" was coined by teasing about the fundamental setting of this work, saying that "a revolt is not something that can be started by just one or two people.

Nowadays, a game that is simply boring is sometimes called a "shitty game," but the term "shitty game" was used affectionately for "Ikki" because of its unique worldview and many silly elements. In fact, although the game's difficulty level is extremely high, the game's content is so interesting that even if you get beat up, you find yourself saying, "One more time! The more you play, the more you feel that you are improving, and the more you play, the more you feel that you are improving. Anyway, "Ikki" was the first game in Japan (......) and the first game in the world to be certified as a "shitty game" (?). Iki" is, without a doubt, a "legendary game.

The game "Ikki" has been revived with a significant evolution in this "Ikki Dansai". The game's dot graphics, the top-view perspective of the stages, the strangely catchy and lively background music, and the tranquil top menu screen with a blue background and mountains all have a modern and beautiful quality, but the characteristic elements of the original "Ikki" are still present throughout the game, and the game is a great success. If you are a gamer who knows the "Ikki" of those days, you may be moved to tears (?) when you play this game. If you know "Ikki" from those days, you might be moved to tears. This is neither a remake nor a remaster, but a completely new version of the original "Ikki".

Defeat hordes of enemies, collect money, and strengthen your character!　Aim to defeat the evil lord!

Let me now introduce the game content of this title.

The main objective of the game is to defeat the bosses in each area and defeat the final boss, the "Evil Dajokan". The controls are simple and easy, with only movement required. All attacks with weapons and activation of "main item" abilities with special effects are performed automatically, allowing the player to concentrate only on positioning. Even the NES version of "Ikki" required pressing a button to attack, so it can be said that this title is easier to play than the original Ikki.

The basic controls of "Ikki" seem easy for an action game, but "Ikki" is not so easy to play. The game is officially titled "Bullet Survival Multiplayer," and as the name suggests, the main feature of this game is that enemies come at you in large numbers, like a barrage of bullets. The auto attacks have a cooldown and cannot be unleashed without interruption, so if you make a mistake in positioning, you will be surrounded by enemies and downed in no time.

The game has a time limit, which is extended by defeating the boss. This is where the reinforcement element comes into play. The player collects a certain amount of coins (money) dropped by enemies, and when the player finds and touches a "yorozuya," a store is opened. The player can then choose one of three items displayed to acquire it.

At the blacksmith shop, you can strengthen your weapons and acquire new subweapons; at the teahouse, you can restore your strength and increase your character's status; and at the banya, in addition to acquiring and strengthening sub items, you can acquire the unity items needed to use the "unity skill" described below... and so on. ...and so on...the enhancements available differ depending on the type of store. The items that can be acquired vary depending on the type of shop.

Sub-weapons," which can be acquired at the blacksmith, are items that provide additional attacks in addition to the main weapon that the player has equipped from the beginning.
Since the number of attacks is very important in order to face a large number of enemies, it can be said that the existence of a subweapon can make a big difference between winning and losing a game. However, it is important to note that the use of subweapons consumes "materials," of which there are four types. Furthermore, it is important to note that the materials are shared by all players participating in the game. Materials can be collected from the vines scattered throughout the map, so players must be careful to collect materials as well as money.

Each player character is equipped with unique abilities called "Unity Skills. Unlike the abilities of weapons and main items, which are fully automatic, the procedure for activating the Unity Skill is rather complicated. First, the player must obtain a Unity item from the banya, then obtain "Protein A," which is dropped from a pickaxe, to activate the skill.

The effects of the Unity Skill include "stopping all enemies for a short while," "recovering the health of all all allies," "recovering coins that all allies have dropped on the map," and "reviving downed allies," all of which are powerful and have the potential to turn the tide in a pinch. Although it is difficult to adjust the timing of activation, use them at the right moment, such as in the middle of a boss battle, to turn the tide of the war in the right direction.

16 characters with different personalities!　A thorough explanation of the four types!

This title can be enjoyed as a single-player game, but the most important point is the "16-player multiplayer". The orthodox style of play in this game is to unite, or rather "unite in one fell swoop," with 16 other players, including yourself, in an attempt to defeat the evil lord, but what is important here is the type of character.

There are 16 different types of characters in the game, each with different abilities, but it is important to note that in the multiplayer game, the character cannot be chosen at random (in the single-player game, the player can choose any character he/she likes). Although you can redraw only once, as long as the decision is made at random, the key to success will be to have a firm grasp of each of the 16 characters' strengths and how to get around them.

The 16 characters are divided into four types: "search," "attack," "reinforcement," and "recovery," each with different strengths. The following is an introduction to each type, along with the characteristics of the characters who are the focus of attention.

First is the "search type.
This type is good at collecting items and coins and supporting their friends. This type has no outstanding characteristics and has no weaknesses, and can be called the all-around type. The main weapon is a "club" that bounces off enemies when it hits them, and the main item is a "body defense" that activates when attacked by an enemy and makes the enemy invincible for a certain period of time. The main item is "Kombou," which activates when the character is attacked by an enemy and makes him invincible for a certain time.

The "RENBANJI" (Unity) skill can stop all enemies for a short period of time, and is an excellent and easy-to-use skill that can save your friends in a pinch. As you may have learned in your Japanese history class when you were a student, "renbanjou" is a letter that people used from the Muromachi period to the Edo period as a token of their pledge to participate in revolts. In this sense, it can be said that this is a skill that is very characteristic of "ikki-unity.

Next is the "attack type.
As the name implies, this type of skill is focused on attack. In addition to having a powerful main weapon, some characters have an additional attack as their main item, which can greatly contribute to the elimination of enemy swarms and bosses. The character of note is "Yosaku," who is known for his powerful attacks with a giant hammer. The "Shia Obu Onigirizu" (unity skill) can heal all allies, making him a valuable character who can not only attack but also support.

Next is the "Enhanced" type.
This is the so-called buff type, which can power up oneself and one's friends. This type of player is not allowed to act individually, and is required to be a behind-the-scenes supporter of the team. The "minstrel," one of these enhanced types, is an eccentric character who attacks enemies with a large number of musical notes generated by his shamisen playing, while at the same time powering up his companions. The "Hagoromo," a unifying skill, grants all allies a shield against a certain amount of damage, which is a nice support effect.

Finally, there is the "recovery type.
As the name suggests, this type excels at healing their friends and is the lifeline of the team. Basically, this type of player will stick close to his or her teammates on the front lines and repeatedly recover, but because they are the lifeline of the team, it is extremely important to make sure that they do not run out of energy themselves. The most notable character of this recovery type is the "Koshimoto," who caused the despair of many players in the first "Ikki" game as a famous ojamama character. Koshimoto, who had an overwhelming presence on the game package, has finally made a full-fledged entry as a player character in the "Ikki" series, which should bring tears to the eyes of fans. While attacking enemies with a kiss, the main item, "Koishin," is used to visit allies and heal them with the power of love (?). The four types are all good at what they do.

Each of the four types has different strengths, but they all consistently share the same approach: "It is important to work together with your friends. It is difficult to fully demonstrate the abilities of each character individually, and the game is designed in such a way that everyone must work together to demonstrate their true value.

This is what is so great about it!　My personal recommendation for "Ikki Unity

Now, let me introduce some of the author's "personal highlights" of "Ikki Dankai.

1, The sense of unity and accomplishment of 16 players fighting together

I believe that the greatest appeal of this title is the "unity" that is expressed in the title. The sense of accomplishment you get when everyone works together to survive the onslaught of enemies and defeat a powerful boss character together is incredible, and it is truly a thrilling experience that gets your brain juices flowing. The game starts with a team of four players, but as the players advance through the stages after defeating the bosses, they are joined by other teams, so the more the game progresses, the stronger the sense of "unity" becomes, which is another interesting feature of this title.

Also, fallen comrades can be resurrected by the surviving players. However, while they are in the cage, their weapons do not fire, so the situation is inevitably quite dangerous. This means that team play is important, with the player in charge of resurrection having other players take charge of destroying enemies around him or her, and everyone can enjoy the "sense of unity" of working together to save their friends.

Although text chat is not implemented in this title, players can communicate with each other by sending text messages such as "Nice! (or "Nice to meet you!" at the start of the game) and "Gather! at the start of the game) and "Gather! Although simple as a communication tool, this is another device that moderately accelerates the sense of "unity" among friends.

2、An addictive roguelike element that develops differently each time the game is played

As mentioned earlier in this article, this title is labeled as a "united roguelike action" genre. The term "roguelike" may be familiar to gamers, but a rough explanation is that it refers to a game in which a new map or dungeon is created each time the game is played. In "Ikki Dango," the structure of the map and the selection of goods in the store are randomized, and even which of the 16 characters you play as is decided at random, making each game a fresh experience for the player.

Rogue-like games, in which you can enjoy a different development each time you play, are generally highly addictive because of this feature. Ikki Danshi" is no exception to this rule and is highly addictive. As mentioned earlier in this article, the difficulty level of this game is set high, but I felt that the difficulty design also adds to the addictiveness of this game. I felt that the difficulty level of the game was addictive, and I could not stop myself from saying, "One more time! I hope that you will actually play this game and experience this feeling of never stopping "again!

3、Various loose and silly elements inherited from the "legendary shitty game

This game is a legitimate evolution of "Ikki," which has earned the name of "legendary shit game" with its unique and silly elements, such as "Brotherhood is not something that can be done by one or two people," and of course the silly elements have also evolved. It is a legitimate evolution.

For example, the first enemy the player fights after starting the game is "locusts. Although it follows the storyline of a famine caused by a massive outbreak of locusts and the heavy tribute collection that led to a revolt (......), the first enemy the player fights is the "locust". and the first thing you fight is a locust that jumps around, you feel a little weak, and the game has an indescribably silly feel to it. The enemies that appear after the locusts are snails, crows, frogs, and monkeys, with wild boars and bears as the bosses. Is ...... this really a "revolt" ......?

In terms of silly elements, the items lined up in the store are also noteworthy. The items that increase the maximum physical strength are "loincloths," the subweapons are "boomerangs" and "guardian spirits," and there are "fried chicken" and "steaks" in the teahouse. Despite the serious theme of the revolt, the game's overall sense of humor and relaxed energy is a dignified and dignified one, befitting the name "Ikki," which has been revived in 2025. The game is easy to operate and addictive.

The easy-to-use and addictive "Ikki Unity" is recommended even for those who are not good at action games!

So, that's my review of "Ikki Unity".

The sense of accomplishment from working with friends to overcome a massive onslaught of enemies and powerful bosses is combined with roguelike elements that allow for repeated play, making "Ikki Unity" an addictive game that you can't help but get hooked on. The game's easy controls, which basically only require movement, and the casually designed multiplayer elements make it very easy to play, and it can be recommended even for those who are not good at action games. If you are interested in this game, please try it out and experience the fun of "uniting" with others.

• Title Information
• Ikki Dankai " (SUNSOFT)
• Release date: February 15, 2023
• Price: 1,480 yen (tax included)
• https://www.sun-denshi.co.jp/soft/ikkiunite/

Author: Nero Hyakkabe

Freelance writer who buys too many games. Currently has a stack of more than 300 games. Also a novelist. His works include "Yubisaki Kaidan: 140 Scary Stories" (PHP Kenkyujo) and "Goa-ken: Unrated Edition" (Kodansha).

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