Dodonpachi versions on 360: Clarification Needed

[LeeB99]

Hi All,

I recently bought a Japanese Xbox 360, and while looking at the various (3 different versions!) of DDP DFK I was wondering this: Does the most recent (Black Label) release ALSO contain the previous "1.5" and original versions as well? I know that on the Deathsmiles and Espgaluda 2 games that I have, you can select from all of the different versions (1.5, Black Label, Arcade, Xbox 360 mode, etc.). So, what I need to know is can I just purchase the most recent "Black Label" release and enjoy the different versions of DDP DFK without having to purchase the earlier releases? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks...

Lee

[ncp]

DFK 1.5 contains:

1.5
1.51 as free DLC
Arrange A
Arrange B
Black Label (as PAID DLC, not sure about price)

Black Label contains:

Black Label
Black Label Arrange (Ketsui-Dodonpachi hybrid)

Gotta buy both if you want every mode unfortunately, but if you buy 1.5 and BL DLC you will have everything but the (rather awesome) BL Arrange. I would say the BL retail is more of a thing for fans and collectors, as you're basically paying $40 (or whatever the difference is between BL DLC and retail) for a case and one extra mode. I bought the retail. Ballin'.

There's only 2, though, maybe you're looking at Daioujou black label? If so, it's a completely different game.

edit: also of note is the fact that you'll need to get JAPANESE MS POINTS if you want paid DLC.

[Casper<3]

^^^I'm sure he's referring to the standard and limited ad 2 different versions.

I would get 1.5 and then the DLC.

It's the most bang for your buck. The DLC is 1200 points which is about 20.00 but is cheaper than 60$ for the retail of black label.

[Despatche]

Get one of the regular Daifukkatsus (LE has an arrange soundtrack, and doesn't 1.51 come with it?), and then wait and see if you want the Black Label disc. Don't get the DLC; you may decide you want the new mode anyway, and then you've just wasted a bit of money.

[emphatic]

Black Label is so much better than 1.5 and 1.51 IMHO. I would just get the BL retail and never look back. BL and BL arrange both have the best music also.

[Despatche]

Hmm, I think original and Black both have some pretty fun tracks.

Fun fact about their albums while I'm here: if they recorded the "obverse stage" and "reverse stage" tracks together (so that the combined track wouldn't loop), they could have made a single disc out of it, probably even with the voice clips and the image song.

[LeeB99]

Wow. Very good info. None of the retailers explain what you are getting. As for the different versions of DFK, I suppose that the limited edition box art version threw me off a bit. And then, of course, there was the other earlier release as well of the "other" DDP.

Anyhow, I have yet to set up a Japanese Xbox live account, so redeeming the DLC will be a new experience for me. Since I already have a US account that I linked to my Japanese system to check functionality and download Ikaruga etc, will I still be able to play my US downloaded games after setting up a Japanese account and grab Japanese DLC for DDP 1.5?

Thanks for all the help. I'm a noob to the Japanese 360, but not by any means a noob to shooters or arcade games. I have been collecting arcade games since 1989, and have a LOT of nice machines. This Japanese 360 is going to be played on a custom pedestal arcade cabinet that a built a while back to play PS3, PS1, Xbox and Xbox 360 games on. If you search for my user name "LeeB99" on YouTube, you will find two videos about it. One of the shows my son playing Afterburner Climax on it with a flight stick setup and the other goes over the system and how I built it...

Lee

[emphatic]

You can play any XBLA game purchased on your console on all of your accounts.

[LeeB99]

Can you simply "add" a second account to your system (and use both), or do you have to have only one "master account" from US or Japan on your system at one time. The reason why I am asking is because when we installed our US Xbox live account on to the Japanese system, it was "gone" from our US system the next time it was booted up while hooked up to the internet. We then had to "import the gamertag" to get it up an running again...

Lee

[Casper<3]

Can you simply "add" a second account to your system (and use both), or do you have to have only one "master account" from US or Japan on your system at one time. The reason why I am asking is because when we installed our US Xbox live account on to the Japanese system, it was "gone" from our US system the next time it was booted up while hooked up to the internet. We then had to "import the gamertag" to get it up an running again...

Lee

You can have multiple accounts on your console. In fact you should get a free month of live when creating a new japanese account. I have a main account, a us account used for buying DLC cheaper for games, a roommates account, and an account for kids on my xbox.

[-Bridget-]

After having spent a ridiculous amount of time with both versions of this game, I would honestly say.... buy both of them. Yes, you could get the 1.5 disc and then the DLC, but you'd be missing out on the excellent "Ketsupachi" mode, and that'd be a total shame, because that mode is excellent.

Though, really, EVERY mode for DFK is excellent.

And the nice thing about having both versions, and thus EVERY mode available, is you've got an incredibly wide range of difficulty levels available for this game. Stuff like 1.5 mode is pretty easy, but stuff like BL mode with Strong style, or the advanced stages of Arrange B are insane.

[LeeB99]

I wish that there was a way to buy these as "Games on Demand" like the recent release of Deathsmiles 2 here in the states. I suppose that if they were available in that manner from the Japanese store, you would not be able to purchase them with points. It is my understanding that you can not use a US credit card for such "cash" online purchases (even if they WERE sold that way).

The thought of being able to play Black Label without swapping discs (as add on content) is appealing. I prefer to have games loaded on storage so that I can switch between games without having to keep swapping discs. It's SO much easier to switch between games in the dashboard...

I suppose that I will just have to bite the bullet and order both versions the next time I place an order. I have NEVER played Ketsui or Akai Shin Katana. If I were to purchase one of them, what would you recommend? Thanks...

Lee

[dunpeal2064]

Ketsui would be my recommendation. I'm more of a vert man myself though. Plus, I like that Ketsui is fairly traditional gameplay-wise, but still kicks your ass.

[Casper<3]

I wish that there was a way to buy these as "Games on Demand" like the recent release of Deathsmiles 2 here in the states. I suppose that if they were available in that manner from the Japanese store, you would not be able to purchase them with points. It is my understanding that you can not use a US credit card for such "cash" online purchases (even if they WERE sold that way).

The thought of being able to play Black Label without swapping discs (as add on content) is appealing. I prefer to have games loaded on storage so that I can switch between games without having to keep swapping discs. It's SO much easier to switch between games in the dashboard...

I suppose that I will just have to bite the bullet and order both versions the next time I place an order. I have NEVER played Ketsui or Akai Shin Katana. If I were to purchase one of them, what would you recommend? Thanks...

Lee

Akai Shin Katana all the way. I have Ketsui and I like it but just can't get into it. It's probably my least played CAVE game of all.

Akai Shin Katana is just beautiful and once you figure out the scoring mechanics, just loads and loads of fun.

[LeeB99]

Again, thanks for all the info and recommendations. I am excited to get some of these imports. Hopefully, I will be able to put together an order here soon. I have spent the last six weeks doing a complete re-model on a rental house that I am about to put up for sale. So far, I have over 20K in the job and I just can't bring myself to spend money on anything else until it is finished. I SHOULD be putting it up for sale some time this week, so maybe I will feel comfortable getting an order together here really soon. Thanks again for all the help...

Lee