Publisher Live Wire has announced that DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU will be available on the Nintendo Switch eShop from today.
The game is available now via the North American eShop for $34.99, though at the time of writing, it’s not yet visible via the EU eShop, and Live Wire has not confirmed a release within Europe at this time. If it shows up later today, mind you, we’ll be sure to let you know.
Developed by Cave and originally released for arcades back in 2012, Dodonpachi Saidaioujou is known for its harsh difficulty, with the final hidden boss being apparently unbeatable for 12 years until one individual managed it via the Xbox 360 port. Strewth. Even revealing the boss is difficult enough as it is, as players essentially need to complete the game with no mistakes.
The Switch version is sure to retain the same insane difficulty level of the original, so if that sounds appealing to you, then you’re in for a treat. For now, however, let’s check out the key features:
- Relish the intensity of dodging intricate bullet patterns, the satisfaction of defeating foes with overwhelming firepower, and the rewarding sense of accomplishment upon triumphing over challenges.
- Utilize diverse tools, including Shots, Lasers, Bombs, and the Hyper System, to secure victory.
- Strategize by pairing three distinctive partners with one of three unique dress types, creating a play style that suits your preferred strategies.
- Aim for a high score with the "GP System", where defeating enemies in quick succession accelerates your score growth exponentially.
- Explore expanded character interactions in "Ver. Saya" with full voice acting and a narrative that delves deeper into the arcade storyline.
- Enjoy four difficulty modes, allowing players of all skill levels to dive into the action.
- Unlock unique features like wallpapers, voice clips, and helpful game tools by meeting specific conditions.
Will you be picking up Dodonpachi Saidaioujou on the Switch? Have you played through the game before? Let us know with a comment down in the usual place.
Comments 28
Nice, happy for shmup fans!
I have the 360 version, so I don't think I'll pick up this Switch version.
given how there is no english language option (which was the case with other releases from Live Wire even if you bought them from the japanese eShop) and Live Wire didn't say that it will release worldwide I'm pretty sure it won't release in other regions today or even in the next few weeksnvm, ignore this, I'm barely awake and can't readweird how there is still no english language option though, which means you'll have to look up the features you can unlock in the store to know what they do
@Sylamp It's on the US eShop right now:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/dodonpachi-saidaioujou-switch/
Hopefully it gets a physical release like the others.
@dartmonkey nvm then, turns out I can't read
Will it have TATE mode? That'll be the only reason for me to play this, if not then I'll pass. With bullet hell shmup like this I need to be able to see every nook and cranny of the play field and TATE mode allows that, that small non-TATE screen ain't gonna do it for me.
Just did an eshop run but will pick this up next month.
@Serpenterror it does have tate
@Serpenterror It most likely will. All the Live Wire games I have lets you rotate the screen. And going by the border and menu style, this seems to come in the same wrapper as those other games. They have quite a lot of options for tinkering with the display. And have more border art than I've ever seen in a game.
The Live Wire ports are all very good. The price is a bit of a shocker though. $35? Their other 4 games all cost $20. I think they've now been delisted from the Eshop though. I wonder if that's anything to do with this one costing almost twice the price.
My brain does not work the right way to play these games xD They're pretty, but there's no way I'm getting more than 2 minutes in.
@canaryfarmer me too! Just looking at a video of this game stresses me out, lol. Still I’ve bought and played a handful of bullet hells over the years. I’m curious what the people on here who like these games consider to be the most accessible one?
Prefer the older Cave games, before the trend of including cringe loli's, with their annoying voices.
Dodonpachi (2nd game), is still my favorit Cave game, as it still has some of that old Toaplan magic left in the DNA, and an awesome metal soundtrack.
instant purchase even tho I usually play the &knuckles hack. check it out, it's pretty funny. replaces the characters w knuckles, hello kitty, garfield and a t rex.
Thank the shmup gods that this got a release outside of Japan! This game is infamously inaccessible! I have it emulated on my Steam Deck, but even that requires some work arounds due to official support for it being pulled from MAME. Just immediately bought the Switch version to support releases like this. Absolutely fantastic!
@Steel76
Yes! What i wouldn't give for a port of Dodonpachi.
My first question on these is always "how do I turn off the pictures of girls so I can just play a shmup? That's the main reason i don't buy them anymore.
@speedracer216
Haha. Yeah, same here. 😂
Hope the trend dies soon.
Just give me a fighter pilot, giving thumbs up, and "Get Ready!".
Check out "Devil Blade Reboot", if you got Steam?
Not sure if it's available on Switch yet?
A collection with the first two DonPachi games would be great. The first, is a bit rough around the edges, but still fun.
Just got the jap verision. Interesting in non tste version either rhe babbling on the side. Tomorrow time for a proper go in Tate mode with my utnaroind monitor
@Steel76 ye s playing that on my vota rhese days. Really hooe they finsih rhe vore for mister/pocket.
My 360’s disc drive died a while ago, and my 360 game is still sealed, so I’ll be getting this if the input latency from the 360 version has bee fixed in this version.
@OorWullie Its licensing agreement with CAVE was up. I expect this one to be the same limited release.
@speedracer216 The CAVE ports usually have a BG select option and setting that to black (none) will fix it. Not sure about M2 Shottriggers releases with all the extra statistics on the sides but I’m pretty sure you can turn those off as well.
it sure seems to me that inbachi is the general of shmups
for context, the general was an impossible fighting game boss from Kaiser knuckle, makes SNK bosses look like a cake walk with his original requirements not allowing any fxxk ups. period.
An nice surprise and was eagerly awaiting an Switch port since other Cave titles got ported! Always wanted the Xbox360 version but never got around to purchasing.
Very odd this never got an Europe release today, even though its entirely in Japanese. Created an US account just to download nevertheless.
Also first post!
@MSaturn mushihimesama is great for beginners of you got it before it was delisted. Blue Revolver just got a huge update on steam, great beginner one. Just not this game haha sdoj is cruel.
@jake1421 mushihimesama - is that the one where they’re all bugs? I played that on my iPhone and I did like it. It had a variety of difficulty settings if I recall.
The first bullet hell I ever played I think was Mars Matrix. It came out on the Dreamcast back in the day. I read this glowing review of the game and bought it. It was quite hard. I played a lot of it, but I never could beat it. Someone should rerelease that on Switch.
@MSaturn yep that's the one, Bug Princess translated. Great game, difficulty selection for anyone and only 3 buttons, no hyper or special to worry about.
Mars matrix I've never played but I've seen lots of praise for it.
Really just a couple key points to getting better at shmups. This is a nice guide
https://youtu.be/T5EKrsdYI-Q?feature=shared
This is one of 64 games to make the Shmups Forum's Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time list in their 20 year polling history.
In other words...it's a very good one!
A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
Very happy to see the switch become such a STG power house!
@Olliemar28 @NintendoLife The game is now out on all the eshops worldwide. Can you update the article? 🙂
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