Cave, the shooter developer formed from the ashes of Toaplan, was about to fold in 2001. The arcade scene was moving in new directions, relying on increasingly ostentatious Taikan cabinets to compete with the emerging home console technology. For Cave, the 2D shoot ’em up, no matter how unfailingly creative, struggled to sing the essence, and thanks in large part to Taiwanese company IGS, they survived another decade. Cave was so impressed with IGS’s PolyGame Master arcade hardware and the nasty Donpachi entry they created for it, that they licensed the technology to have one final charge – events that would deliver DoDonpachi DaiOuJo, its suffix loosely translating to “blessed death “.
Tsuneki Ikeda, lead developer, video game author, and then the company’s public face, lamented that he could never make something as impressive as Ikaruga. He wasn’t right. Over time, DaiOuJou has not only been superior to Treasure’s polarizing genre hybrid, but is considered by enthusiasts to be one of the best games ever coded. It’s the shoot-em-up equivalent of Capcom Super Street Fighter II Turbo or SNK’s King of Fighters ’98: a landmark work that never gets old and keeps people playing for decades for new achievements. In 2015, at Shanghai’s Lie Huo arcade, expert DaiOuJou players casually flicked through its two loops like tin foil, cigarettes dangling idly from their mouths. When asked, they were all unanimous in citing it as the pinnacle of the hellfire subgenre. And they were right. Although its weight is high, learning to play it also means understanding its genius.
Simple in premise, but ocean-deep in strategic nuance, its two-loop demonstration is of immense brutality combined with perfect assembly. His bullet patterns come together in multicolored layers; some targeted, some wandering, some incredibly dense, guide them around the screen before they return to a safe haven in the middle of the storm, before it too becomes a collapsing iris of pink and blue. Like its predecessor, DoDonpachi (1997), this direct sequel features the same hidden bee medals, revealed by a well-placed laser beam. But while the former was rough and ready heavy metal, DaiOuJou is classically symphonic.
Now, along with your bomb supply, repeatedly destroying enemies rewards you with Hyper Medals, which follow your craft until it’s detonated with the bomb button. Hyper unleashes a limited-time laser of devastating magnitude, tearing up the screen and temporarily increasing the speed of enemy bullets. It’s one of the most exciting power-ups in the entire vast history of gaming and is integral to scoring and survival. You don’t have to combo-kill every enemy in the game, of course, or grab every hidden bee icon, or even try to start another loop: DaiOuJou’s adrenaline rush is just as prominent when playing simply for survival. But take the cover off his chain, figure out how to bridge gaps, force bullets and win extra lives, and enjoy one of the most satisfying arcade gaming experiences.
You can choose from one of three Elemental Doll characters, each with different shooting and bomb properties, with different strengths and weaknesses, which completely change the way you approach the game. DaiOuJOu is a code, decoded by reflex and mental acuity, a path that begins with learning not to be afraid of bullets. It takes dedication and repetition, but understanding the ins and outs of your ship’s hitbox is the first step to enlightenment. Once you get a feel for the first stage and the power under your fingers, the experience changes, opening up worlds that, in your credit-feeding days, lay dormant. No one claims it’s easy, but by applying the simple discipline of ignoring and continuing to improve your game, you can tame this 20-minute attack in ways you never imagined. And that’s when the penny drops.
Since every title in Cave’s catalog is a paragon of game design, one might wonder what really sets DaiOuJo apart. The difference may seem minimal, and to many its edge remains unclear. However, that advantage exists, and the general consensus is that it’s all about balancing. Whether by design or sheer luck, DaiOuJou has a purity that remains unmatched; a matter of simple aggression combined with a perfectly increased difficulty curve. It also runs deep, chaining routes for hidden bees that are very much about survival, and the framework for its boss battles is exceptionally well-crafted. It’s aesthetically seductive, its opening neon Lunarpolis and desolate interplanetary spaces brought to life by the dreary life of Manabu Namiki’s timeless, haunting music and booming bass lines.
The M2 series of Shottriggers has undoubtedly evolved to this point. Always in touch with hardcore, this is by far DoDonpachi DaiOuJou’s final release to date. The usual on-screen gadgets are here and better than ever, lining the screen and offering invaluable information on hidden bees spotted and missed, second loop availability, energy bars for mid-bosses and more. They also created new optional in-game art, a superbly arranged soundtrack, and compiled a stunning library of seven different versions of the game.
The arcade original is present and correct, accompanied by Cave’s Black Label rework, which moderates Hyper drops to be more plentiful, subtly balances the difficulty, fixes some minor bugs, and lets you transfer lives to another loop instead of cruelly taking them away. Additionally, DoDonov III appears on the console first time, a lost international version that never saw a proper release. Featuring English text endings, it’s essentially a modded version of Black Label, tweaking the max score bonus and life gain increases in loop two, among other things.
Everything else is due to M2, a rich set of four extraordinary revisions. The super easy mode may be a cakewalk for veterans, but it’s perfect for beginners trying to get a feel for the game’s processes. Completing it without losing a life and collecting all the bees is an incredibly enjoyable quest for all skill levels and a relaxing way to let loose.
In addition, M2 has, amazingly, produced three individual arrangements for each of the Elemental Doll game characters, each playing completely differently. Shotia’s arrangement is clever. She has no laser, no bombs, and no more chaining results. Instead, she expends a stream of deliciously devastating hyper fire, ripping through everything in her path. Although it’s very easy at first, you should watch out for the Hyper Rank gadget, which runs from 0 to 15. At its maximum, the number and speed of bullets increase, and the rank is reduced only by death. It’s still the easiest of the three arrangement modes, but it’s incredibly fun to break through.
Leinyan, the middle dummy, maintains her normal weapon, locked at max power, and can nullify bullets like crazy destroying larger enemies and land masses. With increased bullet swarms, it’s endlessly exciting and feels fantastic to pilot.
Finally, EXY, the arcade expert Doll, has a literal tsunami of bullets heading her way from the get-go: curtains that keep coming down and need to be constantly chased and undone. It’s gloriously epic and completely engrossing because, despite its insanity, it’s still easier than a vanilla arcade game thanks to a steady stream of extra lives. For fans and newcomers alike, on top of what is already a stellar collection of arcade-perfect plug-ins, these additional modes are a fascinating treat, introducing brand new ways to play and new achievements to shoot for.
With its biggest package yet, the M2 has outdone itself. Packed with core features and bonuses, resaves, challenges and trophies, artwork and sound galleries, detailed screen customizations, smart practice mode, online leaderboards and more, Re:Incarnation is the ultimate tribute to Ikeda’s masterpiece.
