Dodonpachi Resurrection Review: Bullet Hell!

App Name:	Dodonpachi Resurrection
Platforms:	iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Publisher(s):	Cave Co., LTD
Version Reviewed:	1.0.1
Genre(s):	shooter
Release Date:	August 30, 2010
Price:	$8.99
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Upon playing Japanese developer Cave’s newest iOS offering, Dodonpachi Resurrection, my reaction was basically: oh, so THIS is why they call it “bullet hell!”

In fact, forget bullets here. Bullets? We don’t need no stinkin’ bullets … when we have missiles and twirling lasers and glorious bombs and insane hyper beams exploding into screens full of bright neon explosions. Because that’s what Cave delivers with Dodonpachi Resurrection: a screen full of Technicolor destruction.

In case you were wondering: yes, that’s a good thing.

In the game, you control a lone spaceship outfitted with extraordinary weaponry, facing off against a horde of technologically advanced enemies so massive that entire fleets throw themselves against you. I can’t tell you more of the plot than that, because that’s about as far as the game goes. It’s as far as you need it to go, really, because playing this game isn’t about plot. It’s about crazy destruction.

There are enemies. Gobs of enemies. Hordes of enemies. Legions of enemies. I can’t exactly describe the enemies to you, except to say that they’re technologically advanced and many of them were flying; before I got a better look, I’d made them all explode. Yes, all of them fell before my screen-filling barrages of cannons, lasers, and bombs. That’s what you’ll experience when you play this game: wanton destruction at the business end of a hyper cannon.

And then, once a level, boss battleships will appear and try to destroy you. Battleships which transform into giant girls, who yell at you in Japanese.

Do I need to go on? This game is crazy. And here’s the weird part: It’s all so over the top that is just works. I mean, if you’re going to do it, do it all the way, right? And Dodonachi Resurrection does it all the way.

Cave has done an excellent job of designing things, too, so that you can get right to the killing. The game controls smoothly and simply, with a slide-touch basic control and a button tap for selecting weapons. The game’s scoring mechanic is slightly more complex – oh, heck, it’s practically obtuse the first dozen times you play – but figuring it out is part of the fun.

The arcade-flavored graphics and excellent soundtrack only make the game even better. The whole design of the thing is so evocative of the kind of crazy sci-fi anime that so many people love so much, that it will instantly appeal to you.  Not that you’ll be able to appreciate much of the detail between all the frantic killing and screen-filling explosions, but it’s nice nonetheless.

I will note two big negatives to this otherwise great game. First is the game’s technical demands. As Cave notes upfront on their App Store page, Dodonpachi Resurrection is not designed for older systems. My iPod Touch 3^rd Gen handled it fine, but apparently anything older than an iPhone 3GS will not handle the game. Buyer beware!

Second, the game is relatively expensive and short. If you’re into “bullet hell” and like replaying to buff your online leaderboard position and achievements – something a game like this invites – then length and price won’t be such a problem. But if you’re looking for casual fun, you’ll probably want to download and experience the Lite version before plunking down $8 for the title.

If you’re a bullet hell shooter fan, buy this game. If you’re not a bullet hell shooter fan, download the Lite version and become one … then laugh the next time you see a “pew-pew-pew” World War II shooter title in the App Store.

Our Score: 5/5

About the Author

Writer@Large Brian P. Hudson is an educator and freelance writer currently living in Dearborn, MI.

 

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