With a title like Noitu Love 2: Devolution, we're fully aware that it sounds like the kind of inappropriate Japanese dating sim your creepy partner in junior high computers class would oft log on to Newgrounds to play -- but we hope that its unsettling eponym doesn't scare you off from what could be one of the best indie titles of the year. Observe the above trailer, and just try to suppress your glowing nostalgia for cult classics Gunstar Heroes and Mischief Makers.

Creator Joakim Sandberg recently made the full version of the game available to purchase on his website for $20 -- but we know that you, our thrifty readers, will download the free, recently extended demo, to see if the Treasure-esque, mouse-controlled action game touches your heart as it touched ours.

Update: Entries are closed. We'll be alerting the winners via e-mail soon, so please keep an eye on your inbox!

Treasure's Ikaruga holds a special place in our hearts. If you're like some of us on the Joystiq crew, today's Xbox Live Arcade release will be the third time you pick up this classic shooter. At only 800 Microsoft Points ($10), this HD re-release is quite a bargain -- but, thanks to Microsoft, we're able to give three Joystiq readers a free download of the game. Just follow these rules for your chance to win:

• To enter this giveaway, leave a comment with the name of your favorite Treasure-developed game
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• Limit 1 entry per person
• This entry period ends at 12pm ET on Friday, April 11th. We'll randomly select 3 winners at that time (please check your email!)
• For a list of complete rules, click here

For another chance to win, be sure to visit Xbox 360 Fanboy.

Hey, it's tough to keep the lid on an exciting secret. If we knew Ikaruga was coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, we'd probably blurt it out at every opportunity too. Sort of like what we're doing now. In case you haven't gathered, Treasure's mesmerizing shooter is finally, officially coming to Xbox 360 this week -- f'realz, confirmed and for 800 MS Points ($10). You're all smiles now, but just wait until the game crushes your ego to a pulp in its unrelenting, unforgiving bullet-hell fist.

Those who prefer their gaming to be less hectic and humiliating should note that Poker Smash is receiving some downloadable content this week, with an "Environment Pack" adding two new Action Mode environments and a "Puzzle Pack" adding 15 new weapons. No, wait ... puzzles. Definitely puzzles. Each pack will set you back 100 MS Points ($1.25).

The Japanese version of Xbox.com apparently posted the release date for the long-awaited XBLA version of Ikaruga. Xblah reports a Japanese website caught the alleged premature posting showing the game had an April 9 date attached to it.

Although the game still has no official release, UK OXM had a review of the game in its April issue with an image saying the game was "out now." Ikaruga has been on PartnerNet since January, so it'd be nice if it could make its polarity flipping public appearance sometime in the near future.

[Via Xblah]

The April issue of UK Official Xbox Magazine apparently believes that the XBLA version of Ikaruga is "out now," meaning the classic polarity-bending shooter may finally be close to release. Receiving a 9 out of 10 from the magazine, there's no clear release date for the game, but given the magazine's publication month, the only thing we can venture to guess is the title should be out by the end of April.

We were impressed with the port of Ikaruga during our hands-on time with the game back at the Tokyo Games Show. Ikaruga's XBLA premiere has been a long time coming, first popping up on our radar in Feb. of 2007 and finally being officially confirmed much later in the year. Hopefully the UK OXM piece means the wait is almost over.

As we reported last month, classic Treasure shooter Bangai-O will be getting a second life on the DS as Bangai-O Spirits, due for North American release in the second-quarter of 2008. The former Dreamcast game is being published by D3Publisher, and we learned during a special GDC event that it will feature one of the strangest uses of the DS's microphone that we've heard of in a while.

The "Sound Load" feature on Bangai-O Spirits will allow users to share custom levels, high scores, and replay videos as sound. Sound. When the mode is active, the selected data is converted into an audio track, which is played through the speaker of one DS, and can be intercepted by the microphone of another, where it is read and turned back into game data. The sound files can even be uploaded to computer, for easy sharing of content over the internet. We're as amazed as you are.

Bangai-O Spirits will also feature competitive and co-op multiplayer for 1-4 players through local wireless. For more information on the game, do check out DS Fanboy's colorful overview. We've also appended a gallery of new screenshots (which don't quite capture the game's hectic and explosive gameplay).

Treasure's crazed, color-coded shoot 'em up Ikaruga has been found on PartnerNet, an alternate form of Xbox Live for developers to use for testing code, according to a poster at the SHMUPS forums. The game was reportedly a 49.04 MB download, and captured screenshots show menus for the leaderboard and replay system. Also noteworthy is that the game supports both 16:9 and 16:10 aspect ratios.

Ikaruga's appearance on PartnerNet does not necessarily mean the game will be released anytime soon, although there does seem to be an indication that the game is nearing completion. Ikaruga was announced for XBLA alongside Rez, which is slated for release this month.

[Via Arcade Renaissance]

There are many gamers that don't know of, let alone know how to pronounce, Treasure's Ikaruga. Unfortunate, considering it's the definitive shooter of the last console generation. With its arrival on Xbox 360, a whole new set of gamers can enjoy Treasure's masterpiece, which was previously only available on the Dreamcast and Gamecube.

Those that have already played the game can rest assured that the game is identical in every way to the original. Every enemy pattern that we've seen in our short time with the game remains exactly as it was years ago. There is one key enhancement: the video has now been upgraded to run in HD, making the game look as good as you remember it. Admittedly, you won't be concentrating at the backgrounds while playing the game, simply for the sake of staying alive. However, it's a good addition to know will be in this remastered re-release.

Those that haven't played the game will find Ikaruga to be one of the games that's easy to learn, but difficult to master. The game only uses two buttons: A and B. One button will let you shoot a barrage of bullets, while the other will let you switch polarity. Polarity becomes the big theme of the game, as your ship changes strengths and weaknesses when changing affinities. Being a white ship will allow you to destroy black ships twice as quickly, but it will leave you vulnerable to any attack from black fire. The opposite is true for black ships. Your ship can absorb the bullets of the same color, which you can then throw back at enemies. These rules are the construct for devilish enemy patterns and level designs that will have you memorizing each level just for fun. It's brutally difficult, but immensely satisfying, and easily one of the best additions to XBLA.

Die-hard fans of Treasure's shooters probably already own Ikaruga for either Dreamcast or Gamecube -- possibly both. So why would they buy the title yet again for the Xbox 360? According to Treasure president Masato Maegawa speaking to 1UP, new features to the game include online co-op, worldwide rankings and the ability to share replays.

Given Ikaruga's frantic pulsations of laser shots, we're hoping there's some code in place to fix any lag issues. There's a lot of quick, minute movements required in the shooter and being out of sync at all with your partner would lead to a very frustrating experience (see: Contra XBLA).

Maegawa also told 1UP that they are in the midst of developing a title for Nintendo Wii. The project is being handled by the "action" team (other teams include shmup and fighting) who also made one of our favorite Virtual Console titles, Gunstar Heroes. No other details are available, though we expect the title to retain much of the side scrolling action style as its spiritual ancestors.

Games based on the popular anime Bleach are coming to the US and Europe by way of Sega, according to a press release. Both Shattered Blade (Wii) and The Blade of Fate (DS) have been out since 2006, and the DS title has a sequel that came out five months ago.

Having played a Bleach DS game at the Tokyo Game Show last year, even without knowing much about the anime I have to say I was impressed by the fighter. Both games are due out in North America this fall and Europe in early 2008.

[Via DS Fanboy]

In some support groups, the words "Treasure" and "3D" are out-of-bounds. Populated mostly by readers of the now defunct GameFan Magazine, these are the many scorned by glowing previews of what would be an early PlayStation 2 tragedy, Stretch Panic.

It's been six years since that incident and from the sound of it, Treasure wants to give the 3D action genre another go. From animators to character modelers and more, Treasure looks to be seriously staffing up their Japanese office.

Though Treasure also has an untitled project in the works for the Xbox 360, this sounds like something entirely different as their Xbox project is said to feature 2D gameplay.

It's another game release Thursday in Kyoto, and the chilling haru ichiban wind is a-blowin'. Time to get the fire going, pour a hot cup of green tea, and make ourselves comfortable in that red leather armchair. It's time like these when games like Layton (see above) are most welcome. And alongside the noble Professor Layton's latest adventure with Level-5, we're happy to stuff a few other portable gems inside our carrier bag today:

• Bleach DS 2nd (more Treasure love; DS)
  
• Professor Layton's Mysterious Town (the talk of Kyoto town; DS)
  
• Lumines II (Japan has been very patient with you, Mr. Mizuguchi; PSP)
  
• Tales of Destiny 2 (because Namco doesn't know when to stop; PSP)
  

CVG has the scoop: Treasure's hypnotic, crushingly difficult and strikingly beautiful shoot-em-up, Ikaruga, is headed for Xbox Live Arcade. An early build of the game was spotted on the debug version of Xbox Live, which is only accessable through an Xbox 360 debug unit. Though the code wasn't functional yet, we imagine that Live co-op would make for an excellent addition to this particular version.

For those who missed out on Ikaruga's previous console ports on the Dreamcast and Gamecube, know that the game is one of the genre's best -- at least if you're willing to accept the irremediable psychological damage caused by the game's never-ending sea of pulsating bullets. Let the torturous wait for further details begin!

This is one recurring rumor we'd rather not toss away, instead warmly embracing it and gently scratching behind its furry little ears. Unfortunately, much like realizing the kitten in your hands is actually a squirrel infected with rabies, the truth about a sequel to NiGHTS may just upset you. And tear your face clean off.

If you follow the dubious rumor treasure trail, you're bound to end up at a Wii release list published on Japanese website, G-rev. Stashed between Animal Crossing and a Naruto game is the tantalizing mention of NiGHTS (or Naitsu), though no accompnaying release date can be found. It could be a remake, a sequel or an elaborate dance interpretation -- or a complete fabrication.

Is the modern Sega even capable of producing a good follow-up to NiGHTS? Would Wii controls shine through the possible dreck of NiGHTS 2: Into Dwiims, now with fly-by shootings and a talking rabbit? Perhaps, but they'll have to make the game before we know.

(In other news, G-rev's Xbox 360 page lists a Radiant Silvergun 3 ... )

[Via Siliconera, Insert Credit]