DoDonpachi Campaign Version (lost arcade game remix version; 1997)

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Dodonpachji campaign version.PNG

Game's title screen.

Status: Lost

DoDonpachi Campaign Version (alternatively known as DoDonpachi Blue Label or DoDonpachi Special Edition) is a rare revision of Dodonpachi, a 1997 arcade shmup developed by CAVE and credited with popularizing the "Bullet Hell" subgenre.

Campaign Version is a remixed edition of the game, featuring redone color palettes for the backgrounds and larger enemies, increased difficulty through faster and more complex bullet patterns and tougher enemy placement, and the addition of "Hyper Mode" - a mechanic where the player can activate an invincible super-powered state at the cost of increased the game's dynamic difficulty. Hyper Mode would be re-introduced and expanded in DoDonpachi's official sequel, DoDonPachi DaiOuJou.

Campaign version was only handed out as a prize for winners of a contest. As a result, it is extremely rare and has yet to be dumped.

History

According to various sources, Campaign Version was the prize for winners of a contest held by CAVE to promote the upcoming Sega Saturn port of DoDonpachi. Contestants were asked to submit the highest possible score in a 72-hours period. It is unknown how many boards of Campaign Version were given as part of the contest, as well as the exact timeframe or location of the contest itself[1].

ShouTime, an arcade game archivist, managed to locate a copy of the game in 2016[2], and hinted that the owner was open to letting him dump the game, although there has been no public update on this matter as of 2017.

Availability

The game was exhibited at the 2006 edition of Cave Matsuri, an annual convention for CAVE's games[3]. The game was also present at the Tokyo arcade Daytona III for a time[4].

Multiple playthroughs of Campaign Version have been recorded over the years, one being featured in a tape given to subscribers of the defunct arcade game magazine Gamest.

Gallery

2017 playthrough.

Gamest VHS.

References