Play Ikari (Japan) Online

Ikari is a 1986 NES game developed by SNK, a port of their earlier arcade title. It arrived during a time when many arcade shooters were making the jump to home consoles, often with mixed results. The game puts you in control of a lone soldier, Ralf, who must rescue prisoners of war from a hostile military compound.

You guide Ralf through a series of single-screen areas, clearing each one of enemies before moving on. The signature mechanic is the rotary joystick style aiming, awkwardly mapped to the NES controller, which lets you fire in eight directions independently of your movement. You drive a tank through much of the game, which can be destroyed, forcing you to continue on foot. The pacing is relentless, with enemies spawning constantly from all sides, making careful positioning and constant firing essential for survival. It feels like a frantic, chaotic struggle against overwhelming numbers.