Compatible emulators

Synopsis

Unlike the majority of Cave's Black Label versions, this version is a game that is profoundly different from its standard version. Visually first of all, we note the appearance of a rank gauge giving the level of difficulty of the game, the life bars of the bosses, a whole bunch of counters which appear on the screen and a circular zone around the plane which symbolizes the main change of this version: the scratch zone.

The game is now played with 4 buttons:

- the A button becomes the 'Cave style' shot, it slows down the plane, automatically directs the annex modules towards the enemies (giving an impression of much greater power than the classic Ibara) and makes the scratch zone appear.
- button B remains the bomb, with its 'Hadou gun' variant if you hold it and have a full bomb in stock. Small difference: only the front part of the Hadou (the one that moves forward) reveals bonuses.
- the C button becomes the 'Raizing style' shot, exactly like in Ibara.
- the D button appears, it allows you to change the current secondary weapon.

Most enemy patterns (and overall level design) are similar to classic Ibara. We still notice some very finely modified details such as for example the first pattern of the second boss which finally becomes negotiable for ordinary mortals, or the better overall readability of the pellets (no blurry streaks), or the hit box visible during scratch mode (button A).

Last state of notable modifications compared to Ibara Classic, the tracklist undergoes 3 modifications at levels 1, 4 and 5.

Like any self-respecting Black Label, the scroring system is at the heart of the game play. We keep the medals dear to Raizing, except that they can be automatically sucked up by the player's plane, allowing more flexibility in movement if you want to keep your chain. Medals begin the optimal scoring mechanic of IKBL:

- collecting medals increases the rank.
- the rank makes the scratch zone grow (it turns red) and enemy shots can flood the screen! Each scratched ball increases a counter, the XTC (watch out for your eyes: the eXtreme Terror Counter!!) which can go up to 9999.
- when you perform a bullet cancel the pellets are converted into roses and the XTC multiplies the value of the roses.
- the roses collected lower the rank and inflate the score.

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