Together Retro: DoDonPachi

[pierrot]

Shot makes the normal shot more powerful, and Laser makes the laser attack more powerful. Not sure if they affect the power of the respective bombs, though.
Depending on which type of shot you use more often, you might want to strengthen it, or weaken it, depending on your goal.

[mjmjr25]

So once again a game i've owned for awhile, played a bit and thought I "knew" it pretty well, only to really start to play it and find that I know nothing.

Here is what I do know, and apologies for the stuff that might be repetitive or seem "basic".

-Each small star is worth a set small amount of points, however for end stage bonuses, you can only "recount" (score bonus points) the stars you collected since your last death, meaning if you die on the boss, there will be very few bonus points. Big stars are 10K.
-You will see "flashing bees" but can't grab them, in order to fully reveal them use your "hold" shot on top of them, then grab. They start at 100 value and increase from there, each stage the value restarts.
-Enemies will release different amounts of gold stars depending on the shot you use, for example the midsize enemies on stage 1 release a small amount with "tap shot" and a larger amount with "hold shot".
-During a boss kill, use the voice over warning to let you know the boss is near dead, try to time your "kill" when there are many bullets on screen, as they all turn into gold stars when the boss dies.
-Chaining is difficult, some areas you have to milk (shoot slower), and it really takes time to find out when to kill fast and when to do brief pauses. Also, there are some areas where chains are "meant to expire", it is important to align with the next enemy coming on screen just before your chain meter expires. This is done through repetitive play of course and recognizing the same areas where you typically lose your chain.
-There is an extend at 6mil and a 1up in the middle of the screen at the end of the 3rd stage (if you uncover it). I'm not positive what can preclude it from appearing...some trick i'm sure (no bomb that entire ship, maybe?). I seem to get it 50% of the time.

Brad and I have been discussing via PM much of today and figured it would make sense to bring some of what we've "learned" to the group.

Also...does anyone know the trick to keep chains going through midbosses...is it possible? I havent' been able to do it yet...

[pierrot]

I've played a bit of Donpachi and DoDonPachi DaiOuJou, but never DoDonPachi for some reason. (I do own it, though.) Anyway, in those games, the Laser's aura kills small enemies, certain projectiles, and does something like double damage to everything else, which makes it easier to dispose of bigger enemies, so that might help with mid bosses. I can't remember how to hold the chain on DOJ midbosses, but I think it was by holding laser fire on it; Somehow the chain meter wouldn't go all the way down, or would go down more slowly.

In any event, I would imagine that chaining through midbosses works in DoDonPachi as well.

[noiseredux]

-Each small star is worth a set small amount of points, however for end stage bonuses, you can only "recount" (score bonus points) the stars you collected since your last death, meaning if you die on the boss, there will be very few bonus points. Big stars are 10K.

mother of fuck! Really? Ok, that changes everything I know about this game.

-You will see "flashing bees" but can't grab them, in order to fully reveal them use your "hold" shot on top of them, then grab. They start at 100 value and increase from there, each stage the value restarts.

Thank you.

-There is an extend at 6mil and a 1up in the middle of the screen at the end of the 3rd stage (if you uncover it). I'm not positive what can preclude it from appearing...some trick i'm sure (no bomb that entire ship, maybe?). I seem to get it 50% of the time.

Every time I've gotten to the end of Stage 3 I've gotten the extend in the middle. No idea. Maybe I didn't bomb. I haven't paid attention cuz I've never missed it. No wait... I've definitely bombed an gotten it.

Also...does anyone know the trick to keep chains going through midbosses...is it possible? I havent' been able to do it yet...

This would be great to know if possible.

[dunpeal2064]

Nope, you can't hold a chain past a midboss. Killing him with a large chain gives you a huge bonus.

Almost all the score in this game actually seems to come from having max bomb bonus. When you grab a bomb and have max bombs, it'll replace your bomb meter with a scrolling "maximum", and your points will skyrocket.

Gave this three runs so far and my best was 17.3 mil at stage 5.

[ExedExes]

my top score right now has the initials "A " which makes me so mad. I was so excited to post my score that I logged in here forgetting to input my initials.

Don't you hate that? I did the same thing on Dragon Blaze a few times too, and I think Dimahoo. Something about me and my unexpected performance/scores on the BH shmups we played this year -- I was raised on conventional shmups and trained classical but to my surprise I can hold my own on these more modern games.

Almost all the score in this game actually seems to come from having max bomb bonus. When you grab a bomb and have max bombs, it'll replace your bomb meter with a scrolling "maximum", and your points will skyrocket.

Absolutely correct. Remember on each death, you gain an additional bomb to your stock, and any additional bombs above that stock gives you the MAXIMUM bonus, which doubles your combo points (a X2 will display in the combo points area). Very useful at the end of Stage 2 if you can work a good bonus.

More tips not covered so far --

MJM is right about the stars -- any deaths will cancel any 100 or 300 pt stars you have collected up to that point. At the end of the stage, any 100 pt stars collected are 500 pts, and any 300 pt stars will be 1000 pts, so watch for those and try not to die.

At the end of each area, you also get a Boss Hit bonus, which is the big red number below the boss meter. You must consistently use the laser to get more "hits" on this, the number will slowly decrease once you switch to regular shot.

To keep a combo going, you must try and "save" some smaller enemies to keep it up, and not blast everything you see right away. (Example: In Area 1, start on the left and slowly work your way right to the next island and the next set of enemies to go past the initial 30 hit combo) There will be enough tanks on the ground and flying enemies to keep it going in many places, but as others have said, there are spots where you really have no choice but to stop what you're currently working on.

When the boss arrives, take note of the crosshairs appearing on certain areas. Those are spots that can be destroyed for BIG stars worth 10K each. The circular areas on Area 1's boss are vulnerable, as are the many various cannons on the Area 2 boss.

When faced with a choice on the mid-bosses, always use the shot over the laser. You get just more raw points per hit over using the laser. Perfect example is the Area 1 mid-boss.

Gave this three runs so far and my best was 17.3 mil at stage 5.

OY!

[dunpeal2064]

On that midboss thing, I've never tried using shot. Does it really give that many points? Id think using the laser to hold the chain on the midboss would be worth more, especially if you haven't dropped the chain since the beginning of the stage.

[jepjepjep]

Shot makes the normal shot more powerful, and Laser makes the laser attack more powerful.

Yep. I like to think of it as Shot-type makes the stages easier, Laser-type makes the bosses easier.

[jepjepjep]

JEP - 29,190,410 - 1-ALL - 208 - Type C (laser) - Arcade

[dunpeal2064]

Nice one!

Not your first time clearing the loop I assume?