The greatness of DDP

doctorx0079 · Post by **doctorx0079** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:26 am

Okay, so far it has won the poll 4 years straight. Elaborate on what makes it so great.

Arznei · Post by **Arznei** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:32 am

It has flying ships in it.

rolins · Post by **rolins** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:46 am

Simplistic gameplay, short learning curve, two fire buttons, I love being grazed by bullets.

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:00 am

DDP set the bar very high for shmups, being accessible to beginners, yet the depth to capture hardcore fans with chaining, bee collecting, a second more difficult loop, and true final boss ending which nobody on this board has even gotten to yet! The game is so incredibly polished, from exact enemy placement, to a rocking guitar sound track, that it STILL blows away almost everything else. #1 on my list for sure.

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:05 am

Dave_K. wrote:DDP set the bar very high for shmups, being accessible to beginners, yet the depth to capture hardcore fans with chaining, bee collecting, a second more difficult loop, and true final boss ending which nobody on this board has even gotten to yet! The game is so incredibly polished, from exact enemy placement, to a rocking guitar sound track, that it STILL blows away almost everything else. #1 on my list for sure.

Yeah....what he said.

DDP is my favorite manic shmup at the moment.

What's this about a "true final boss ending"? I've beating the game many times....and you're telling me that there are two different endings? Isn't that devil-looking head, after the Queen Bee, supposed to be the final boss of DDP? It seemed like it. It took me nearly 5 minutes to beat that bastard!

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:29 am

J-Manic wrote:
Yeah....what he said. DDP is my favorite manic shmup at the moment.

What's this about a "true final boss ending"? I've beating the game many times....and you're telling me that there are two different endings? Isn't that devil-looking head, after the Queen Bee, supposed to be the final boss of DDP? It seemed like it. It took me nearly 5 minutes to beat that bastard!

Um, I'm talking about the real arcade version, not the lesser Saturn or PSX port. Hibatchi (the final boss after the queen bee) is only accessible in the 2nd loop. Credit feeding won't get you to the second loop (and is usually not an indiciation of actually "finishing" the game).

rolins · Post by **rolins** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:15 am

Dave_K. wrote:
J-Manic wrote:
Yeah....what he said. DDP is my favorite manic shmup at the moment.

What's this about a "true final boss ending"? I've beating the game many times....and you're telling me that there are two different endings? Isn't that devil-looking head, after the Queen Bee, supposed to be the final boss of DDP? It seemed like it. It took me nearly 5 minutes to beat that bastard!
Um, I'm talking about the real arcade version, not the lesser Saturn or PSX port. Hibatchi (the final boss after the queen bee) is only accessible in the 2nd loop. Credit feeding won't get you to the second loop (and is usually not an indiciation of actually "finishing" the game).

Never knew about another boss, I'll have to try this out myself this week.

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:52 am

DDP is a game with so many bullets, you basically make your ship dance around, and a dancing ship is a thing of beauty.

Not to mention it kicks my ass real good.

howmuchkeefe · Post by **howmuchkeefe** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:00 pm

It's a busy game. Practically every time you press a button, something blows up.

I find the chubby ships and stuff to be really appealing... cute, even. Along the same lines, the game is consistently bright and colorful.

Add to this strong level design and a compelling effort to reward ratio, you've got a game that's easy to like.

Gorecki · Post by **Gorecki** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:12 pm

Plus of course there's nothing that can beat the satisfaction of sweeping a ridiculously fat laser through an entire battallion of tanks like a hot knife through butter.

slateman · Post by **slateman** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:59 pm

Eyes pried open permanently
So...Many...Bullets....
Left...Right...OMG....
Yeah...Die...!!!
Still not blinking
OMG...I'M NEVER GONNA MAKE IT
AHHHHHHHH....

That, plus strategy.

DDP is just the best.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:00 pm

is it bad for me to think that battle garegga is a better game*

* - not a troll

mirkvid · Post by **mirkvid** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:01 pm

cause and effect: every time you shoot, something blows up!
also, the came keeps you moving at all times, dodging bullits and even recollecting powerups after you get hit. you have no time to look away. to me, it makes the game more immersive.

also pink bullits are rad.

howmuchkeefe · Post by **howmuchkeefe** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:05 pm

Only if you act out on those feelings.

Have you considered joining a support group? You could talk about those feelings in a safe, non-judgemental environment with people who are also struggling with them.

You used to be able to smoke at the meetings, but not anymore. There's still all the coffee you can drink, though.

Eps · Post by **Eps** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:29 pm

Twiddle wrote:is it bad for me to think that battle garegga is a better game*

* - not a troll

Not at all. DDP consistently gets the #1 spot because it pushes the right buttons for most shooting game fans -- certainly not all, as the forum mutterings when it was unveiled as #1 this year again will reveal!

To answer the original posting, DDP just got the whole mix very right. Every element you could want in a shooter (spectacle, twitch action, strategy, scoring, cool weapons, the feeling of progression, etc) was present in just the right amount. Despite its pioneering of the manic shooter concept (along with some other games), it doesn't put so much focus on the hundreds of bullets that it alienates all fans of more sedate games. DDP is a jack of all vertical-shooting-game trades, and a master of a lot of them!

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:45 pm

Surprised this thread has lasted so long without being accosted by the ever-tolerant "Cave Sucks!" crowd...

In any event, the reason that DDP is arguably my favorite shmup, to cram it into one phrase, is that it avoids pretty muchy every shortcoming that can make lots of other shmups less enjoyable. The bullets are easily visible. The control is tight. You've got several ships and types to choose from to suit your style, and whichever you choose, the weapons are up to the task. Your hitbox is fair. Power-ups, bombs and extends are generous, but not to the point where the game is easy. Lots of different ways to increase scoring. No "dead spots" where nothing happens. No pretentious story segments/cutscenes/half-arsed attempts at philosophy. The game is fun whether played for survival or for score. It's accessible to newer players but offers a good challenge for experts. You're penalized for dying, but not doomed to lose your credit if you're at a "bad spot." And on a lesser level, of course, the presentation, both visual and aural, is nice too. And the list goes on: name almost any shmup you've played, list a few of its imperfections, and it's very likely that those flaws are not present in DDP.

Granted, I don't demand that everybody bow down and profess their love for it, as it may simply not be someone's style, and that's fine, but anyone who rolls his eyes and accuses a fellow shmupper of loving DDP just because of "blind fanboyism" is simply incapable of looking past his own preferences. There's too much done right here to ignore.

jpj- · Post by **jpj-** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:21 pm

nice thread.

i'm obsessed with daioujou. is it still worth playing the original dodonpachi (pcb), if you have DOJ...?

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:26 pm

jpj- wrote:i'm obsessed with daioujou. is it still worth playing the original dodonpachi (pcb), if you have DOJ...?

If you like DOJ you'd probably enjoy its predecessor. If you're used to DOJ you'll likely find DDP easier than it is (then again, most games are easier than DOJ), also the presentation is a bit less "serious" than DOJ is...brighter colors, (much) cheesier music, it's a ways more "lighthearted," though still no cakewalk. Oh, and no "hyper" items or their various effects, either. Check the "xenocide files" on the shmups.com main page for reviews/screenshots of it if you want a better impression.

jpj- · Post by **jpj-** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:42 pm

well, i've seen videos of it. and to be honest, i think DDP's music is better! love the rock soundtrack. i'm surprised you say it's easier though...

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:51 pm

jpj- wrote:i'm surprised you say it's easier though...

DDP is much more accessible than DOJ. I can complete the first loop of DDP, but in DOJ I can barley even make it to stage 4. Its definately worth playing, and still quite a challenge to get to the 2nd loop and face Hibatchi.

Eps · Post by **Eps** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:00 pm

jpj- wrote:well, i've seen videos of it. and to be honest, i think DDP's music is better! love the rock soundtrack.

Yeah, I think it would be these guys' favourite video game

cigsthecat · Post by **cigsthecat** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:55 pm

I like how the bees are meaningless and the MAX bomb bonus is worth way too much!

I can see why this is everybody's favorite game, but it certainly isn't mine. DOJ improved everything but the graphics.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:58 pm

During my two week stay in Japan in early 2000 primarily to see the sights & sounds of TGS Spring 2000 show, I did manage to play two shmup sessions of the famed Cave produced Dodonpachi arcade game. They were price at an attractive 50 yen per gaming session. That's two games for a mere 100 yen, folks. Not one game at 100 yen either. ^_~
On my very first DDP session in Japan, I managed to get to Stage 1-2 on my first try. I was blown away by the cool 29" arcade monitor presentation of DDP on a real Japanese Astro City cabinet (complete with funky neon pink colored Seimitsu ball-topped short throw joystick and neon green colored push buttons + cigarette ashtray -- one wouldn't see arcade controls + cigarette ashtray like that on a USA arcade cabinet...no way, Jose). It was so much fun that I just had to play it again for a second time. I left the cool Japanese arcade that had a lone DDP cab to try out for a mere 50 yen vowing to myself that when I had the proper finances, I would someday own such a Cave DDP arcade Jamma PCB. That day did eventually came...I do have a DDP PCB in my arcade Jamma PCB gaming stash alrighty to enjoy at anytime I feel the need for a DDP urge. Admit that you have one too..... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

chtimi-CLA · Post by **chtimi-CLA** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:59 pm

BulletMagnet wrote: also the presentation is a bit less "serious" than DOJ is...brighter colors,

after playing for a while, the graphics in DOJ start to seem brighter in a hard to describe way, as if it had a weird but warm glow, especially in stages 1,4 and 5. at first it does seem a bit drab compared to the more handdrawn DDP, but the "lighting" is much better.
also here is one thing wrong about DDP, how it reuses stage music twice in each loop.

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:39 pm

Ain't got anything more to say about this game other than Yes, I love this game.
Funny though, whenever I see screenshots of the true last boss I used to think that I must have gotten a different version of the game or something...then I came here and realized that Hibachi IS in my game, but i'll never get to see him in this lifetime

....

Axon · Post by **Axon** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:43 pm

Eps wrote:
jpj- wrote:well, i've seen videos of it. and to be honest, i think DDP's music is better! love the rock soundtrack.
Yeah, I think it would be these guys' favourite video game

If you're going by music alone then I think they would prefer the Turbo Duo version of Lords of Thunder.

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:39 pm

It's like Ikaruga, a little too heavy on the chaining/memorization. I mostly wind up hitting myself and starting over after awhile.

#1 in the polls means that it has the most broad appeal - not that it's the best. Let's not get the two confused.

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:15 am

Neon wrote:#1 in the polls means that it has the most broad appeal - not that it's the best. Let's not get the two confused.

Nah, it's definitely the best.

</cave-fanboy>

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:23 am

Bullet's influence is spreading.

Fuckin' mindless Cave fanboys...

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed May 24, 2006 3:44 am

cigsthecat wrote:I like how the bees are meaningless...

I wouldn't say that, seeing as they help to lead you along the optimal chaining path for a stage, much as in DOJ.

...and the MAX bomb bonus is worth way too much!

How do you figure? You have to be confident enough in your abilities to not bomb from pretty much the end of the second stage onward to take advantage of it, you have to be pretty skilled to do so. And at any rate, if you can get far enough in the game even without it you should score high enough to earn both extends, so it's mainly for "real" score players to truly exploit. As I said earlier, if you don't click with the game that's fine, but some people seem to think that it's their sacred duty to be overly aggressive towards any popular (read: Cave) game just because it's better-liked than their personal favorites.

chtimi-CLA wrote:also here is one thing wrong about DDP, how it reuses stage music twice in each loop.

Yeah, that's one of my few complaints about the game...they seem to have spent a lot of time tweaking everything else, why'd they cheap out on the amount of music tracks they put in? Still, just the fact that something so relatively minor is one of my biggest beefs with the game ought to tell you something about it.

Neon wrote:It's like Ikaruga, a little too heavy on the chaining/memorization.

The difference between it and Ikaruga, I'd argue, is that there are other things to keep yourself occupied with (aside from "basic survival") even if you don't bother chaining.

Bullet's influence is spreading.

Arise, my bright pink and blue legions of evil! Corrupt the few remaining hardcore faithful as you yourselves have been corrupted!

shmups.system11.org

The greatness of DDP

The greatness of DDP

My two cents on Cave's Dodonpachi arcade Jamma PCB...