Newcomer to Dodonpachi Resurrection

[6es_clinton]

Because the iOS demo was so dazzling I decided to secure a copy of the Xbox 360 version. As someone who is still slowly working through Cave's catalogue of amazing shmups I have to say this is one of the most entertaining and difficult shooters I have ever played.

I've credit-fed my way through Novice once with Type-C, played the standard 1.5 and Arrange mode with Type-A and attempted to 1CC Novice with Type-B. Was wiped out partway through Stage 5 but it was still a great time.

I happened upon Slateman's gamefaq and in the progress of digesting that information before jumping back in for more practice. Great read so far!

[n0rtygames]

Hello! Welcome!

Generally you'll hear us refer to this by it's original name - Daifukkatsu or simply DFK. DFK is a misunderstood game. Good on you for playing it and enjoying it.

I would personally recommend that you stick with 1.5, it's a great game once you learn about some of its quirks. Arrange mode is a silly thing. You'll probably improve more if you just stick with standard 1.5 too since novice mode will hand you things on a plate. It'll probably seem brutal as you're new, but this IS DoDonPachi we're talking about. The series is not known for being forgiving..

Nobody will be surprised that you died on stage 5 either. Try not to fall in to the trap of letting your autobombs lull you in to this false sense that you're actually progressing through the game. You should not be getting hit. Try to learn stage layouts as best as you can and take your time. With practise, you will be able to 1cc the first loop of this very easily with the aid of autobombs - but you should really try to avoid this.

My bet is that you got to stage 5, probably on your last life and then the laser wheels got you. We've all been there.

[Patashu]

Here is my Dodonpachi Resurrection stage 5 guide ok here we go.

1) Do stage 5 several times and die to the laser wheels a lot so 'I hate those damn things!!!' is fresh in your mind.
2) Watch a video of someone really good doing stage 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMALvaE5vk#t=18m00s In particular, I recommend this video because a) it's loop 1 stage 5, not loop 2 stage 5. b) He's not the best player, so he's not going to do anything insanely risky, but it is a good scoring route, the execution is all correct and gets all bees and so on.
3) Divide the laser wheels up into 'sets', in some way that you can easily remember. For each 'set' of laser wheels, take note of where he is on the screen when it starts, where he moves on the screen during which laser wheels, if he is doing any small movements to dodge popcorn and if so in what direction, etc. By take note, I mean literally get out paper and write down notes, so you a) remember better b) can refer to them instead of a video if needed.
4) Go to step 1) and repeat all steps until you stop dying.

Footnote: You'll have to do this with all 5 stages eventually, anyway, because
1) To reach the best ending, you need to collect as many hidden bees as possible, which means entering the hidden (Ura) loop on stage 1 (see 7.0 Hidden Boss Route of this incredible guide: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44187 ) then having a path for collecting them all. Yes, it is memorization - No, it's not hard to memorize at all. Just alternate between watching a replay to see where they are, playing the stage yourself and keep alternating until you don't forget a single bee.
2) You'll learn some very useful tricks for the other stages, too - such as the stage 4 boss phase skip where you leave one rocket part alive so you can do a lot more damage.

And agreed with 'don't play on novice'. DFK's bullet patterns are great for enforcing bullet weaving and popcorn destroying fundamentals, so you'll learn a lot on them. (The reason why DFK is called an easy game is because every style except Power has an INSANE amount of auto-bombs, and because hyper exists, NOT because the patterns are easy. You should treat every time you auto-bomb as an 'I am playing bad' incident on par with dying in any other shmup.)

[theMot]

, probably on your last life and then the laser wheels got you. We've all been there.

oohhh those laser wheels. I used to have nightmares about those. Not too hard once you figure it out. I still drop an auto bomb or two there though.

[finisherr]

This is the second worse cave game IMHO, aside from Akai Katana. But, still leagues better than so many other video games out there. Hope you're having fun with it.

[Patashu]

This is the second worse cave game IMHO, aside from Akai Katana. But, still leagues better than so many other video games out there. Hope you're having fun with it.

I assume you say so b/c both games are poorly balanced for 1CCing purposes? Or is there another reason beyond that?

[ACSeraph]

^It really all just comes down to personal taste.

It's probably mostly because it's a bit harder to understand the correct way to approach and play DFK and AK than it is their other games. But objectively speaking, aren't the scoring glitch in SDOJ 1.0 and the infinite lives glitch in Pink Sweets 1.0 far more damning flaws?

Anyhow glad you discovered and are enjoying some DFK. I'm guessing you don't have access to a J360, but if you ever get the chance also try out Daioujou Xbox 360 Arrange mode. It uses a similar bullet cancelling hyper mode mechanic.

Also if you haven't played them check out the other iOS Cave titles, pretty much all of them are godly imo. DDP Maximum is a really really awesome original title that's perfectly designed around the touch screen interface.

[Jonst]

This is the second worse cave game IMHO, aside from Akai Katana. But, still leagues better than so many other video games out there. Hope you're having fun with it.

I understand personal taste and all that,but can you also explain to me why akai katana is one of the worst cave games? It can't be down to people not understanding it or not playing it correctly? I never understand the hate this game gets.It has the most fun scoring system since espgaluda imo,it looks great and sounds great too.I also don't think it is poorly balanced for survival...being to hard for someone is one thing but poorly balanced? (I know you havn't made most of these particular comments,I'm just lumping them into one post).Sorry,but I will always come out in defence at AK! I just want to understand why people hate it so much.Being a hori isn't a good excuse either!

[trap15]

Yeah, I don't understand the hate on Akai Katana either.

[ACSeraph]

H8ters gonna h8.

We need to get on that system guide to help people better understand it I think. I'll probably be done with my crusade against Caladrius in the next few days and we can start working on that one. Whenever you have time can you PM me all of the basic info I need to jump into Shin and play it correctly? Doesn't need to be pretty.

[Some-Mist]

for the record, akai katana is one of my favorite CAVE games behind Progear and Ketsui. I actually feel like AK is a spiritual successor to Progear which is great. took me a couple months, but my AK arcade 1CC was totally worth the effort. it has one of the most fun (for me) scoring mechanics/reflect systems for a cave game.

[6es_clinton]

Hey!

Thanks for the welcome and chiming in everyone. It was not my intention to stir up any old debates about DFK although a healthy discussion about game design never hurt anyone.

n0rtygames >> Yeah, I was done in by those laser wheels. Those endless wheels, I think I hung in there until the 3rd wave of them came. But yeah, Novice mode wasn't too demanding. It wasn't until Stage 4 where I felt like the challenge was really ramping up. Xbox 360 mode I don't do very well in right now and find I'm getting my clock cleaned by Stage 3. I was going to ask why you think DFK is a misunderstood game but I think I'm getting an inkling just based on the discussion forming on the thread.

Patashu >> Thank you for the references and pro tips. I'm sure they will come in handy when I start hitting that wall again.

[amdiggywhut]

Not really a DFK fan, personally. I always get to stage 5 & it becomes an autobomb-fest since I've never learned how to win the war of the wheels. But at least the game saves your goddamn high scores, unlike SDOJ.

[Skykid]

This is the second worse cave game IMHO, aside from Akai Katana.

Comedy statement.

[Patashu]

Not really a DFK fan, personally. I always get to stage 5 & it becomes an autobomb-fest since I've never learned how to win the war of the wheels. But at least the game saves your goddamn high scores, unlike SDOJ.

Just learn the wheels. It's not as hard as it sounds (see my earlier post) and the game will be fun now that it doesn't reduce to 'oh god, the wheels are going to ruin my run' every time.
Also, play Power if autobombing leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

[Jonst]

@ ACSeraph,I will but I can't do anything until I've cleared ddp doj blex x mode! It's driving me nuts that I've come so so close so many times now and still not pulled it off, it's coming though I can feel it...any day now! I saw a little while back,that spadgy has done a guide for AK (in strategy) but I didn't read through it,so I don't know what modes it covers or how much in depth it goes...I'm still up for doing it though as I do have a passion for the game! I'll pm you soon as I can to get started.

[Kaspal]

Because the iOS demo was so dazzling I decided to secure a copy of the Xbox 360 version. As someone who is still slowly working through Cave's catalogue of amazing shmups I have to say this is one of the most entertaining and difficult shooters I have ever played.

I've credit-fed my way through Novice once with Type-C, played the standard 1.5 and Arrange mode with Type-A and attempted to 1CC Novice with Type-B. Was wiped out partway through Stage 5 but it was still a great time.

I happened upon Slateman's gamefaq and in the progress of digesting that information before jumping back in for more practice. Great read so far!

In addition to what the other guys have said here, i'll say that since you already know the iOS version of the game, try to figure out the routes to get the bees there, and then apply that memory into the x360 version. Thats what i did, and now i get consistently to the second loop... have not finished it yet, but im working on it (in the iOS version, i manage to get to hibachi in normal and Tsaibachi on hard, no continues).

Also, play with the ship you're more comfortable with, but if you can, stick to using the Power version... it will force you to dodge more instead of just autobombing... again, thats what i did, and it works very well for me.

laters.

[Austin]

This is a good time for a thread like this to pop up, I just started playing DFK again last week. My run is decent up until the dreaded wheels, then I typically get destroyed there. I've been doing a mixture of bombing and using my bullet cancel special, and it's worked to a degree and I get through the section, but not with enough juice left to see me through the final boss. Definitely am going to need to watch some videos of that section and practice it.

On a side note, I have a hard time fathoming Akai Katana being Cave's worst game (or one of them). If people really consider that to be the case, then, damn.. I'd take that as a compliment as to how solid Cave's lineup is.

[Doctor Butler]

On a side note, I have a hard time fathoming Akai Katana being Cave's worst game (or one of them). If people really consider that to be the case, then, damn.. I'd take that as a compliment as to how solid Cave's lineup is.

Exactly. Akai Katana is great. It's mechanics are deep, rewarding and addictive; it's like ProGear crossed with DoDonPachi, and is overall, a very well-executed game.

And, because it was ported to such a shitty console, it's quality is even more pronounced.

[Patashu]

This is a good time for a thread like this to pop up, I just started playing DFK again last week. My run is decent up until the dreaded wheels, then I typically get destroyed there. I've been doing a mixture of bombing and using my bullet cancel special, and it's worked to a degree and I get through the section, but not with enough juice left to see me through the final boss. Definitely am going to need to watch some videos of that section and practice it.

On a side note, I have a hard time fathoming Akai Katana being Cave's worst game (or one of them). If people really consider that to be the case, then, damn.. I'd take that as a compliment as to how solid Cave's lineup is.

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMALvaE5vk#t=18m00s . Take notes on how to go through the wheels. Learn once. Never die to them again ever. You will not regret doing this.

[austere]

I've credit-fed my way through Novice once with Type-C

A lot of people here will disagree but your skill will improve faster if you avoid credit feeding all together. You'll also enjoy the game more. Treat it like an arcade game where each credit is a coin you've slipped into the machine. Also ignore scoring initially, actually DFK's scoring system is so complex you may as well ignore it all together.

Anyway, get Black Label DLC and don't bother with 1.5 after that, make sure you turn off autobombs. Then you can get yourself a 29" Trinitron CRT TV set with component input and turn it on its side, then buy an arcade stick with a Seimitsu LS-32, use a Sanwa button for shoot and stick a Seimitsu button for everything else. Then get some tooth picks to keep your eyes open and play DFK BL until you make Zatsuza appear without cheating. After that you can retire and limit yourself to playing trap15's kusogemu collection while you reminisce the way you squandered your best years.

... Oh sorry, I meant welcome aboard!

[slateman]

So glad someone actually found my FAQ useful. I'm working on an SDOJ one now.

So much hate for DFK and while it's not the best, man, if you're enjoying it...who cares? And..any love DDP gets in the west is good IMO. I'm glad you found this forum!

[Mimeslayer]

Here is my Dodonpachi Resurrection stage 5 guide ok here we go.
1) Do stage 5 several times and die to the laser wheels a lot so 'I hate those damn things!!!' is fresh in your mind.
2) Watch a video of someone really good doing stage 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMALvaE5vk#t=18m00s In particular, I recommend this video because a) it's loop 1 stage 5, not loop 2 stage 5. b) He's not the best player, so he's not going to do anything insanely risky, but it is a good scoring route, the execution is all correct and gets all bees and so on.
3) Divide the laser wheels up into 'sets', in some way that you can easily remember. For each 'set' of laser wheels, take note of where he is on the screen when it starts, where he moves on the screen during which laser wheels, if he is doing any small movements to dodge popcorn and if so in what direction, etc. By take note, I mean literally get out paper and write down notes, so you a) remember better b) can refer to them instead of a video if needed.
4) Go to step 1) and repeat all steps until you stop dying.

I'm brand new to DFK too (just got it Monday) and this helped a lot! I'm still nowhere near perfecting laser wheels (or really anything past stages 1/2) but it actually makes sense now. I've already cleared Novice easily enough so right now I'm trying to learn the actual 1.5 Arcade mode. My first and only 1cc "attempt" ended just past the 1-4 midboss so I feel like this may actually be possible with enough practice (I've never earned a 1cc in an arcade game).

[finisherr]

I'm not really going to get into it, but any game with a scoring mechanic that renders you invincible just sucks. I own both games and don't really play them. But again, it's just my opinion. There is no shame in having fun with Akai or Resurrection/DFK. They're just not for me.

Cave slam dunked SDOJ though. One of the best shooters of all time.