Ikari
Voted the world's best
The English C64 group Ikari was voted the world's best cracking group, and its legendary co-operation with Talent is regarded as one of the finest the scene produced.
Ikari formed in England in July 1987 and rose fast — reinforced in 1988 by members of the Danish group Jewels, and crowned the world’s best cracking group in the final issue of Jeff Smart’s Illegal, the scene’s own magazine. In a world where reputation was everything and “first release” was the prize, that was the top of the mountain.
Ikari is best remembered today for its co-operation with Talent. What began in 1989 as a one-game deal around Iron Lord became, through 1991, one of the most admired co-ops the C64 ever saw — two groups crediting their joint work in shared intros.
Fast facts
- Founded: July 1987, England.
- Platform: Commodore 64.
- Peak: Voted the world’s best cracking group.
- Famous for: The Ikari + Talent co-operation (1989–1991).
Intros as reputation
In the cracking scene the intro carried the group’s name into every copied disk, and Ikari’s carried a lot of weight. The Ikari + Talent intros in particular — two respected crews sharing a screen — were a statement of standing as much as style, a reminder that the cracktro was where scene status was both earned and advertised.