Together Retro: DoDonPachi

[mjmjr25]

I've played SAT / MAME / Arcade / and Arcade (boot) and all play pretty similarly.

I've scored higher on SAT / MAME but I honestly couldn't give a reason why that is.

Aside from the music on the boot PCB, everything else plays very close to my amateur eyes. No noticeable slowdown or random off-screen bullets taking me out, etc. from one version to the other.

[noiseredux]

dunpeal has written a lot on here about why the Sat version is closer to the arcade version. I don't remember the specifics, but he can chime in.

The PS1 version won't work if you're loading it up via PS2 swap-trick which is why I initially bought the Saturn version.

[mjmjr25]

They both have TATE mode, correct?

[dsheinem]

dunpeal has written a lot on here about why the Sat version is closer to the arcade version. I don't remember the specifics, but he can chime in.

The PS1 version won't work if you're loading it up via PS2 swap-trick which is why I initially bought the Saturn version.

see, and BulletMagnet's guide to PS1 shmups I linked to above suggests

ostrate yourselves before your Playstations. While the Saturn port of DDP offered an extra mode at the expense of an arcade-perfect reproduction, those willing to fork out the extra effort (and cash) required to get their hands on this edition are free to banish any recollections of blocky explosions or muffled music to the abyss...DoDonPachi shines at least as brightly here as on the Saturn

where's dunpeal's article?

[noiseredux]

dave, both articles you linked say the PS1 version is superior.

Dunpeal didn't write an article, he's just posted rants in various threads.

[dsheinem]

dave, both articles you linked say the PS1 version is superior.

yikes! Luckily there's time to go fix that

[jepjepjep]

Very nice. Can you remind me if the last stage of the first loop is an actual stage or just a boss fight?

The last stage is a full stage too.

As far as the ports go, I've heard that the Saturn version is more accurate for scoring. People like the PS1 port better because the graphics are spot-on, whereas the Saturn version pixelates in places (like during explosions). The PS1 has a bug where the chaining is affected (it's easier to drop the chain). The Saturn port is spot-on for gameplay. So I would play either port, they're both pretty excellent.

[ExedExes]

I'd rate any DonPachi game as far and away better than any Namco shmup, including Xevious or Galaga

All right, when I fire this up later tonight we'll see. The only reason I'm on a Xevious kick was that comment from General Norris in another thread, and then thinking back, you have to realize what Xevious was, the first vertically scrolling shmup that wasn't on a static background/starfield. I got the 7800 cart from the old Atarian magazine for subscribing and I'd spend hours and hours on that. It was a great port and used both joystick buttons, wearing them out to the point I had to order more sticks from Atari.

Then I played Arrangement again recently and liked all the subtle changes to it.

DDP quite frankly scares me a bit. I really enjoyed Mars Matrix and I was happy it was voted and that I was able to track down a DC copy in time. It's a bullet hell I can live with. But then again, I enjoyed ESPgaluda @ STGT, so I'll probably like this one too.

[dunpeal2064]

I'm posting on my phone, so I can't go into my usual rant, but basically:

The Playstation port has superior graphics and sound, but has two fatal flaws. One, the chain bar drops faster than it should, making some sections impossible to chain. Two, uncovering a hidden bee does not add a hit to your chain, or refill any meter, making other sections unchainable.

The Saturn port moves faster than the pcb (well both ports do, but the Saturn port is worse), and the graphics/sound in the Saturn port are inferior to the PS port.

So, if you want the best look/sound, and have no desire to score, the ps port is for you. If you have any wish to even hold a chain to the first midboss and through him, and can handle the speed and chunky graphics, go for the Saturn port.

Of course if you want the best of both worlds, the game runs 100% in MAME. I only bash the PS port because it is often claimed to be stricktly superior to the Sat port, and I can't thumbs up a port of a score-based shooter that makes scoring very difficult, if not impossible. Its not hard to hold a chain through the first midboss on st1 on mame or the sat, but I've never done it on the ps port.

Promethius, the western record holder in DDP, did a great write up on shmups that I can't find since I'm on the cell, but it mentions these points, as he was shocked at how bad he found both ports to be, having played hundreds of hours in mame.

Hope that helps a bit

Do-do do do... DODONPATCH!

[dsheinem]

I'm posting on my phone, so I can't go into my usual rant, but basically:

The Playstation port has superior graphics and sound, but has two fatal flaws. One, the chain bar drops faster than it should, making some sections impossible to chain. Two, uncovering a hidden bee does not add a hit to your chain, or refill any meter, making other sections unchainable.

The Saturn port moves faster than the pcb (well both ports do, but the Saturn port is worse), and the graphics/sound in the Saturn port are inferior to the PS port.

So, if you want the best look/sound, and have no desire to score, the ps port is for you. If you have any wish to even hold a chain to the first midboss and through him, and can handle the speed and chunky graphics, go for the Saturn port.

Of course if you want the best of both worlds, the game runs 100% in MAME. I only bash the PS port because it is often claimed to be stricktly superior to the Sat port, and I can't thumbs up a port of a score-based shooter that makes scoring very difficult, if not impossible. Its not hard to hold a chain through the first midboss on st1 on mame or the sat, but I've never done it on the ps port.

Promethius, the western record holder in DDP, did a great write up on shmups that I can't find since I'm on the cell, but it mentions these points, as he was shocked at how bad he found both ports to be, having played hundreds of hours in mame.

Hope that helps a bit

Do-do do do... DODONPATCH!

That Promethius write up is linked in the TR article on the front page.