DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou

DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou (怒首領蜂 最大往生, Dodonpachi Saidaiōjō) is a vertical scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released by Cave in 2012. It's the sixth chapter in CAVE's DonPachi series. A Japanese region-free release was released on May 30, 2013.^[1]

Gameplay

This game's score and hyper mechanics are highly similar to those of DaiOuJou. The biggest basic difference in scoring is that the chain hit counter will not reset immediately when the chain meter empties; the counter will instead drop by 25% and decrease very quickly until the chain continues. The chain meter is also more easily kept above zero by using the laser.

The arcade release has an "overflow glitch" that, when triggered, results in scores that are otherwise impossible. The "get point" counter beside the chain meter must exceed 21,474,836, at which point the score will begin to increase at an unintended fast rate. This glitch is removed in version 1.5.^[2]

Unlike past entries in the DoDonPachi series, there is no second loop in this game. There are five stages, each with eight bee medals to collect and a boss at the end. Following the defeat of stage 5 boss Hachi/Taisabachi, the giant mechanical bee, a more difficult fight may follow if requirements are met. If every bee medal is collected in at least three stages and the player does not die more than once during the game, Hibachi will appear. If the player has collected all bee medals in the game, did not die once, and did not use a single bomb, an even more difficult boss will replace Hibachi: her evil alter-ego, Inbachi.^[2]

Characters

The game has four fighters to choose from each piloted by an Element Doll:

• Type A, fast with concentrated front fire piloted by Shuri (red) CV: Yukana
• Type B, moderate speed with subshot following movement, piloted by Hikari (green) CV: Eri Kitamura
• Type C, slow speed and widespread fire piloted by Maria (blue) CV: Mamiko Noto
• Type D, a unique fighter exclusive to the Xbox 360 version piloted by Saya (purple) CV: Aya Hirano

Other Characters:

• Operator (Game Operator System) CV: Asami Shimoda
• Hibachi/Hina/Inbachi (Boss) CV: Aoi Yuuki

Inbachi is the "evil side" of Hibachi.

Plot

Many years have passed since the events depicted in previous DoDonPachi games. In the past, the Element Doll Electronics Laboratory was designing the ultimate Element Doll to assist the human species, dubbed "Project Haruuara." The first units produced were Extra Z-001 "Hina" and Extra Z-002 "Saya." Though they lived as sisters and were taught the importance of being close with humans, they were trained as enemies in combat. When Hina decided that the ultimate answer to humanity's problems was to eliminate the human person, the project was immediately shut down and the Element Dolls were frozen. Prior to the beginning of the game, Hina, now known as Hibachi, was mysteriously reactivated and destroyed the laboratory, and the incident was covered up.

Hibachi now controls a computer system governing from deep within the technologically advanced City of Ideal, a paradise where humans live in harmony with nature. Believing that the only way to save humankind is to have them adopt a better form, she begins a war to force all humans on Earth to become machines. Hastily, the remaining humans of Earth revive the ancient DonPachi Corps to fight Hibachi's army of mechanized people. The new DonPachi's mission is to destroy Hibachi and her powerful computer system.

If the requirements are met to face Hibachi at the end, with her last words she expresses a realization that non-mechanized humans are the ultimate form.^[2][3][4]

Development and release

Three main gameplay modes are featured in the Xbox 360 release: the original arcade version containing the infamous "overflow glitch," the exclusive tweaked version 1.5 created as a response to player feedback, and the somewhat different Xbox 360 mode similar Cave's usual console-only "arrange modes," featuring remixed music, considerably more voice acting, tweaked mechanics, and a single life/bomb meter in place of the usual spare lives.^[5]

At launch, there were three Xbox 360 releases: regular edition, limited edition, and super limited edition. The regular edition included only the game. The limited edition included the games plus an arrange soundtrack, a steelbook case, and a small art book. The super limited edition included the game plus both the arrange and standard soundtracks, a steelbook case, a full-sized art book, and stickers.

Reception

Famitsu magazine awarded Dodonpachi Saidaioujou a score of 33/40 based on four reviews (9/8/8/8).^[6]

References

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)