Dodonpachi coming to 360 (by way of Instant Brain)

[ptoing]

About Campaign. If Cave does not have the code anymore, chances are the only way they will get it is getting the roms from the dude who has the board and then use those. If they do that chances it will come to Mame are possible, just like Guwange Blue Version, no?

[Jeneki]

This is an extra, included with another game, needing to be unlocked by finishing an unrelated product. This is not a "standard" release.

Translation: This is very, very likely a complete shovelware release of DoDonPachi. I expect zero screen options, input lag, no online leaderboard, heck we'll be lucky if it even lets us configure the buttons. I will wait for a full review by someone who actually plays shmups before I even consider looking into this, as chances are there is nothing to see here.

[Nico87]

You guys kinda heat yourself up over nothing.

DDP is already available on MAME/PSX/Saturn and emulators. Stop crying about the fact that they're releasing it as an extra to another game.

[DragonInstall]

Well obviously they're doing this so shmup fans can give their visual novel a chance or vice versa.

Pretty cool idea, if I could read Japanese

[StarCreator]

I'll throw my 2 cents in here: CAVE should next time keep this a secret. Simple and effective marketing tool. Sort of like the way Castlevania SOTN was released with the secret ending and upside down castle.

Uhh, the fact the game isn't complete without finishing the inverted castle isn't exactly a secret. The fact the completion ratio sits at under 50% without having reached it was a pretty big hint.

Back on topic: it's a neat extra, nothing more. Might pick up the visual novel on its own merit, but would have to confirm the majority of it is voiced to have any chance of comprehending the game on any reasonable level.

[nZero]

The fact the completion ratio sits at under 50% without having reached it was a pretty big hint.

Nah map completion is ~100% per castle, hence a completed (PSX version, Alucard game) save file having 200.6%

Sometimes I really fail to understand this forum.

I know, right? Is there anyone complaining in this thread who hasn't already played DDP in one form or another?

[Treasurance]

stfu about ddp the visual novel's better

[TrevHead (TVR)]

You guys kinda heat yourself up over nothing.

DDP is already available on MAME/PSX/Saturn and emulators. Stop crying about the fact that they're releasing it as an extra to another game.

While I sorta agree, it is understandable why some folk would get miffed. Ild imagine that a few folk here are either shmup collectors with money to burn, or just love DDP and want to play a XBLA release thats on par with Guwange, ie TATE, leaderboads and Campaign version included.

[Ganelon]

I don't get the complaints either. 99% of you have access to an earlier, cheaper Dodonpachi port and most current fans can buy the PSN version. This version is just a neat bonus for diehard supporters and to spur sales for its new adventure title at a full retail price. And it works too, since I'm planning on pre-ordering Instant Brain now, whereas I didn't look twice at the game before.

I'll throw my 2 cents in here: CAVE should next time keep this a secret. Simple and effective marketing tool. Sort of like the way Castlevania SOTN was released with the secret ending and upside down castle.

The JP game market focuses on initial sales. The goal of announcing this bonus is clearly to help Instant Brain pre-orders. Including DDP could have even been decided after seeomg that pre-orders weren't as high as expected; the game was announced over half a year ago and nobody really seems to have cared up until now. I don't think this delivery system is ideal but suffice to say that if its shooters were selling amazingly well, Cave likely wouldn't have to resort to developing an adventure game in the first place.

[Jeneki]

stfu about ddp the visual novel's better

For sure. I bought Mamoru kun just to play a visual novel in tate.

[StarCreator]

The fact the completion ratio sits at under 50% without having reached it was a pretty big hint.

Nah map completion is ~100% per castle, hence a completed (PSX version, Alucard game) save file having 200.6%

Whoops, yeah, and I even got 200.6% completion on my last playthrough too --;; Still, I don't recall the fact things weren't what they seemed at the end of the first castle being a surprise.

Another shove back on topic: so do we know how much of Instant Brain is voice acted?

[ZenErik]

Pre-ordered the regular edition via AmiAmi. By the way, if anyone wants the limited edition, go through AmiAmi or some other site that isn't Play-Asia. For some reason Play-Asia has an absolutely ridiculous mark up for the LE. Instead of being in the ballpark of $100, as it should be, it is over $140.

[BulletMagnet]

shmups-forum:

Instant Drama.

Someone get to work on a snarky Photoshop of this.

[Elixir]

Another shove back on topic: so do we know how much of Instant Brain is voice acted?

Characters will be voiced, narration will not. So it'll be something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h3qBy-yBrc

In fact, just go play Steins;Gate instead. There hasn't been a worthwhile visual novel since and there isn't going to be one in the future.

[ZenErik]

I should also note that Steins;Gate has been English patched. Haven't actually played it yet, but I really enjoyed the TV series.

[Casper<3]

I think I'm more upset that it will say "Instant Brain" on the box instead of Dodonpachi. A DDP port would look so nice next DOJ & DFK + BL. (Kind of ruins my hopes that they would use the DFK sprites to remake DDP)

[Estebang]

You know, I think Cave could make a lot of Western money with a full-blown HD, 2.5D remake of Dodonpachi (with a novice mode, so even the achievement-happy casuals can get to Hibachi!), as long as they didn't hand it over to Backbone or Wayforward or whatever other shovelware hack studio.

[AntiFritz]

You know, I think Cave could make a lot of Western money with a full-blown HD, 2.5D remake of Dodonpachi (with a novice mode, so even the achievement-happy casuals can get to Hibachi!), as long as they didn't hand it over to Backbone or Wayforward or whatever other shovelware hack studio.

Wayforward are a good developer though.

[Estebang]

"Shovelware" was intended as hyperbole, but Wayforward have not made a single quality title (though the Shantaes are inoffensive and playable enough). Their stuff generally has great pixel art and production values, and that's about it. Contra 4 is pretty much the Metal Slug 4 of the series, going as far as to copy the entire first stage of Contra, but it doesn't even have the solid balancing or interesting new powerups of MS4.

And Sigma Star Saga--randomly generated shmup battles as encounters in an RPG? The hell? It's an ambitious game that had potential for greatness, but the developers clearly had no idea how to go about executing it, unlike with Guardian Legend (the only other real attempt at hybridizing the two genres). There's also narrow passageways that are literally impossible to get through unscathed if you've got a ship with a hitbox too big. The opening sequence is a pure shmup; it would have been at least above-average if they'd kept it that way the whole time.

Maybe Griptonite Games would be a better example? They've been tasked with the horrendous-looking 3DS Shinobi.

[Shuurin]

I personally can't stop laughing. As stated earlier I don't see the issue with this, other than it looks like a waste of development resources and man hours to make it have kinect support. DDP is a game that needs very precise controls. Why bother with a set up option that doesn't enhance the game? Something about Microsoft requiring kinect support in new games sounds a little farfetched, especially in Japan where their market is quite dismal. I recall noticing little nods to other Cave games in the Instant Brain previews (not to mention the preorder telephone card with one of the girls in Reco's outfit on Cave's online store). Having one of their oldest and most well known games as a bonus unlock is a cool little feature.

[Tetsuo]

WTF

[Bananamatic]

Does it come with a cardboard box?

[Zeron]

Does it come with a cardboard box?

It comes with a fuck pillow

[Siren2011]

In fact, just go play Steins;Gate instead. There hasn't been a worthwhile visual novel since and there isn't going to be one in the future.

I've been meaning to play that one. I was just about to swoop in an say that Nitro+ are the masters of the visual novel. It's bleeding obvious, but nevertheless, it can't be repeated enough. I'm not so sure that Cave will deliver with the same gusto, but that's just a guess.

I should also note that Steins;Gate has been English patched. Haven't actually played it yet, but I really enjoyed the TV series.

This brings me to my question: can anyone who has seen both the show and the VN recommend the one I should see first? I would imagine that if I read the crappy Elfin Lied manga before seeing the superior anime, my enthusiasm for it would be somewhat tarnished when I would sit down with the show. Thankfully it was the other way around. Thanks in advance.

[MR_Soren]

I don't understand the frustration over a freebie arcade game being thrown into a visual novel.

It probably took very little effort to add and was just put there for something fun.

[Shelcoof]

I don't understand the frustration over a freebie arcade game being thrown into a visual novel.

It probably took very little effort to add and was just put there for something fun.

I can understand the frustration. How I see it is that shmup fans will buy Instant Brain for DoDonPachi and not the main game itself. For them buying a visual novel to get a poorly ported game is just ridiculous but they are going to do it anyways I'm sure.

Cave is unsure if Instant Brain is going to be a success. They aren't really well known outside of the Shmups and releasing a visual novel is very risky. Cave knows this, that is why DoDonPachi will be included.

That said though, I'm not at all bothered by this.

[jepjepjep]

I don't understand the frustration over a freebie arcade game being thrown into a visual novel.

It probably took very little effort to add and was just put there for something fun.

CAVE is trolling shmup players worldwide .

I bet it'll be forced widescreen and won't allow you to enter your initials.

[tinotormed]

Well, as

...next stop, bullet hell Kinect!

[scrilla4rella]

I saw this on demo in Akihabara on Sunday. This guy was trying to play it with the Kinetic but he kept on getting slaughtered. There was a cute Cave rep in an awesome windbreaker attempting (unsuccessfully) to encourage the guy but he eventually just gave up. poor bastard

[StarCreator]

Do you have pics of the windbreaker?