DoDonPachi (New Thread #4)

[Krondelo]

Aaaah!!! I finally beat my score! It was so exhilarating! I probably would have made it to the last boss if I didn't have so many unnecessary deaths.

I had so many crazy good dodges on Stage 5, then I have barely any practice on Stage 6 so I bombed through a lot of it, then died shortly before the boss.

[Nailgun]

Nailgun - 52,711,340 - A-L - 2-2 - 312

[PROMETHEUS]

This summer I thought I'd get Dodonpachi again and play a few runs just like that.

So I did and today was my fifth run since I started playing again. And I almost beat my score @_____@

I passed this critical point at the end of 2-5 without missing or bombing (bombed once in 2-3 though), my score being at 460M, and I was like "OMG this might be it". Naturally I started getting very nervous at that point. The not-so-hard part that followed at the end of 2-5 took a bomb off me, probably because of my lack of focus due to nervousness. It was still ok, there is a bomb in the early part of 2-6 so I could still get the MAXIMUM bonus going and amass a lot more points. The survival bonus of 2-5 is also pretty big, plus the chain value of 2-6 and all the rest could still have netted me something like 580M.

I faced the 2-5 boss trying to stay calm, doing a okay job at that. But the freaking movings pods got a clean shot at me. Destroying most of my chances. I proceeded to fail at 2-6.

Too bad, maybe next time.
>_<

[Krondelo]

Damn Prometheus, you beast.

[Subterranean Sun]

Yes... Nervousness is probably the most annoying and most dangerous thing when shmupping.

There's one time I gets to 2-7 with 3 bombs in stock... And still didn't make it to Hibachi because my hands are shaking like a bastard. I really can't imagine HOW can you get to Hibachi final pattern with a bunch of bombs/ships in stock and still stay calm. You must have a VERY strong mind to actually kill him.
-----------------
EDIT: Picked up the game after 2 months and finally got a somewhat satisfying run...
S.S - 115,553,680 - A-L - 2-6 - 464
Input file: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9QOSYVPL (lagless MAME 0.99, Jap version)
I messed up a LOT in 2-2, but I somehow performed some obviously impossible dodge at 2-4 and 2-5...
wtf.

[drunkninja24]

Finally got the 1-ALL clear! Just need to scrounge up about 9mil more points...


Only 50k away from 60th on the board, too

This was on PCB btw.

[Zerst]

Zerst // 82,551,520 // C-S // 2-3 // 396

[PROMETHEUS]

I almost finished writing the DDP practicing guide. It became a pretty fat pdf document and should be of great help to anyone who wants to set for the top ranks here, or just get better.

I will probably make a thread about it on the Shmups Chat or Strategy forum, but Ravid, would you mind linking to the file when I release it, in the first post ?

It would be nice if people who come around this topic have a chance to view it.

[Plasmo]

Awesome news, can't wait to read it!

[Sapz]

Prometheus: Thanks very much for doing this! I'm sure it will be excellent. It'd be awesome if it helped me finally get to 100m, I've been looking for motivation to improve my score for a while.

[RNGmaster]

Can't wait. Maybe it can serve as the ST for that game. I've had so much trouble full-chaining Stage 2 that no matter how well I do on the other stages my score is crap.

[PROMETHEUS]

Happy to see some interest. However guys, don't expect a walkthrough that explains how to deal with each stage. I am writting some specific examples of how to deal with patterns and such things, but most of the guide is advice about "how to practice and perform effectively", which applies to Dodonpachi but also any other shmup.

It's also quite beginner-oriented. I remember when I first joined the forums and started playing shmups specifically, that it was very hard to gather information and make an informed opinion on which games exist, how they differ, is it stupid to play with a keyboard, does MAME equal PCB, etc. I've tried to condense that info in one document so that new comers get access to informed advice much faster.

I did my best so that more advanced players can still enjoy useful thoughts and advice. It's pretty difficult to hit both audiences at the same time, I think I did okay but you guys tell me when I show it to you later. Based on your feedback I may come back and rework it a bit.

Took the liberty of adding a part that tells the "story" of my STG experience, at the end of the document. The playing, the frustrations, the successes, the meeting with other players, etc.. I'm hoping it can be inspiring/interesting to other players, especially new players or anonymous "guests" of this forum who have no idea you can take those games that seriously and travel to different countries just to meet up with other guys and play. I remember Bernard Doria had put his dodonpachi diary online on his site, and as a noob interested in Dodonpachi I was in awe to discover how serious those games can be taken. That's partly what inspired me to add this.

By the way for now the title is "The Full Extent Of The Jam" xD

[austere]

I've had so much trouble full-chaining Stage 2

Check this video out. It isn't the easiest full combo path (nor the one that nets you the highest combo for the least amount of effort -- I get about 480, this one gets <470), but it should give you an idea of where all the transition points are.

I'm looking forward to it, Prometheus. I hope you don't get prosecutedt!

[PROMETHEUS]

I've had so much trouble full-chaining Stage 2

Check this video out. It isn't the easiest full combo path (nor the one that nets you the highest combo for the least amount of effort -- I get about 480, this one gets <470), but it should give you an idea of where all the transition points are.

Yeah that's exactly why I'm not writing a walkthrough, because a superplay video is more of an excellent walkthrough than any piece of text.

Instead I'm using some examples inside DDP to talk about dodging techniques or other concepts.

[moozooh]

By the way for now the title is "The Full Extent Of The Jam" xD

I definitely approve of this title!

[RNGmaster]

Happy to see some interest. However guys, don't expect a walkthrough that explains how to deal with each stage. I am writting some specific examples of how to deal with patterns and such things, but most of the guide is advice about "how to practice and perform effectively", which applies to Dodonpachi but also any other shmup.

It's also quite beginner-oriented. I remember when I first joined the forums and started playing shmups specifically, that it was very hard to gather information and make an informed opinion on which games exist, how they differ, is it stupid to play with a keyboard, does MAME equal PCB, etc. I've tried to condense that info in one document so that new comers get access to informed advice much faster.

I did my best so that more advanced players can still enjoy useful thoughts and advice. It's pretty difficult to hit both audiences at the same time, I think I did okay but you guys tell me when I show it to you later. Based on your feedback I may come back and rework it a bit.

Took the liberty of adding a part that tells the "story" of my STG experience, at the end of the document. The playing, the frustrations, the successes, the meeting with other players, etc.. I'm hoping it can be inspiring/interesting to other players, especially new players or anonymous "guests" of this forum who have no idea you can take those games that seriously and travel to different countries just to meet up with other guys and play. I remember Bernard Doria had put his dodonpachi diary online on his site, and as a noob interested in Dodonpachi I was in awe to discover how serious those games can be taken. That's partly what inspired me to add this.

By the way for now the title is "The Full Extent Of The Jam" xD

Sounds really nice, and I get that you don't need to incorporate specific strategies. Thanks, and I hope it arrives soon.

[PROMETHEUS]

I just played a beautiful run with nearly no mistakes so I thought I'd post it in case someone wants to see some more DDP action.

The score is 483M, first miss at 2-6, and only 1 bad miss at hibachi with like 4 bombs in stock. It was just solid ! I bombed at one or two key points when I was very highly threatened but very reasonably, and minus that 2-6 miss I would probably have broken my record. I've noticed recently that I'm quite a bit better than I was before.

There is MAMELagless + the replay in "replay" folder :
http://www.mediafire.com/?3ekm2b3pp2eh946

(add ddonpach + ddonpachj in the "roms" folder)

[Plasmo]

Link seems to be broken?

[MoonZ]

I've noticed recently that I'm quite a bit better than I was before.

I guess it helps not having someone to accidentally pull the video cable off during a live superplay

[PROMETHEUS]

I've noticed recently that I'm quite a bit better than I was before.

I guess it helps not having someone to accidentally pull the video cable off during a live superplay

Hehe that was okay I was out of bombs at that moment and the run wasn't going to score well anyway. Too bad I didn't nearly manage a 2-ALL there, maybe next time ;]

Plasmo > Link isn't broken when I try it

[Plasmo]

I can't download it somehow...

[moozooh]

Temporary mirror for Plasmo.

[Plasmo]

<3

[Plasmo]

Downloaded it, but Mame won't audit the roms?! What's wrong with it.

[PROMETHEUS]

Downloaded it, but Mame won't audit the roms?! What's wrong with it.

I guess you need to change the rom directories in "options"/"directories".

[Plasmo]

Yep that's it, very nice replay!

[PROMETHEUS]

uh oh.. I got something nice coming up. I'll upload it tonight or tomorrow, not enough time to take care of it now, cause I got a train to catch.

@___@

geez that was some serious prosecution

[Emuser]

Check this video out. It isn't the easiest full combo path (nor the one that nets you the highest combo for the least amount of effort -- I get about 480, this one gets <470), but it should give you an idea of where all the transition points are.

I surely didn't expect to run into an old video of mine again, it's funny to look back at it since I'd get the bees and higher hits now 2 years later.

I do look forward to your personal little story Prometheus, I used to play this game religiously but stage 5 would always ruin me and the 2nd loop would end me by the stage 3 boss on all but one of my runs.

[PROMETHEUS]

All right, this is the thing.

I played a run yesterday and broke my record.
I know some people enjoy watching my replays and I thought it could be more fun for them if they didn't know anything about the run before seeing it, so I'm not posting the score or commentaries yet. I'll post them in a few days.

I do not think I will try to improve this score again any time soon, maybe ever...

This is a tense, tense run, with a lot of stress, risk management, and some shocking reversals.
Nothing special happens in the first loop, as usual, since it just has to be perfect, so I suggest you fast forward to the second loop using F10.

MAME + Replay + Playback Instructions :
http://www.mediafire.com/?0tevdp9643b7o7c

Enjoy !

[Sapz]

Wow! That run was absolutely incredible! Congrats, man!