Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 72 (click to see context) from:
** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' features a variant of this: Bomb Style is the "normal" mode of the game, granting you a standard bomb stock and standard firepower. Power Style is the "hard" mode, granting you a very limited bomb stock in exchange for two different firepower modes, and forcing you onto the hidden paths and bosses of Stages 2 through 5. Finally, Strong Style is the HarderThanHard mode, and it features devilish base difficulty, is the only way to unlock the TrueFinalBoss, and gives you a ContentWarning informing you that the mode is for advanced players only. (It's ''not kidding.'')
to:
** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' features a variant of this: Bomb Style is the "normal" mode of the game, granting you a standard bomb stock and standard firepower. Power Style is the "hard" mode, granting you a very limited bomb stock in exchange for two different firepower modes, and forcing you onto the hidden paths and bosses of Stages 2 through 5. Finally, Strong Style is the HarderThanHard mode, and mode; it's Bomb Style with more firepower, but it features devilish base difficulty, is the only way to unlock the TrueFinalBoss, and gives you a ContentWarning informing you that the mode is for advanced players only. (It's ''not kidding.'')
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 71 (click to see context) from:
* DifficultyLevels -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' features a variant of this: Bomb Style is the "normal" mode of the game, granting you a standard bomb stock and standard firepower. Power Style is the "hard" mode, granting you a very limited bomb stock in exchange for two different firepower modes, and forcing you onto the hidden paths and bosses of Stages 2 through 5. Finally, Strong Style is the HarderThanHard mode, featuring devilish base difficulty, is the only way to unlock the TrueFinalBoss, and gives you a ContentWarning informing you that the mode is for advanced players only. (It's ''not kidding.'')
to:
* DifficultyLevels -- DifficultyLevels:
** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' features a variant of this: Bomb Style is the "normal" mode of the game, granting you a standard bomb stock and standard firepower. Power Style is the "hard" mode, granting you a very limited bomb stock in exchange for two different firepower modes, and forcing you onto the hidden paths and bosses of Stages 2 through 5. Finally, Strong Style is the HarderThanHard mode,featuring and it features devilish base difficulty, is the only way to unlock the TrueFinalBoss, and gives you a ContentWarning informing you that the mode is for advanced players only. (It's ''not kidding.'')'')
** The pattern continues in ''Saidaioujou'', where Shot mode is designed for survivability, Laser mode is designed for a more challenging experience, and Expert mode combines the advantages of Shot and Laser mode but also brings up the difficulty to "play at your own risk" levels.
** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' features a variant of this: Bomb Style is the "normal" mode of the game, granting you a standard bomb stock and standard firepower. Power Style is the "hard" mode, granting you a very limited bomb stock in exchange for two different firepower modes, and forcing you onto the hidden paths and bosses of Stages 2 through 5. Finally, Strong Style is the HarderThanHard mode,
** The pattern continues in ''Saidaioujou'', where Shot mode is designed for survivability, Laser mode is designed for a more challenging experience, and Expert mode combines the advantages of Shot and Laser mode but also brings up the difficulty to "play at your own risk" levels.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DifficultyLevels -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' features a variant of this: Bomb Style is the "normal" mode of the game, granting you a standard bomb stock and standard firepower. Power Style is the "hard" mode, granting you a very limited bomb stock in exchange for two different firepower modes, and forcing you onto the hidden paths and bosses of Stages 2 through 5. Finally, Strong Style is the HarderThanHard mode, featuring devilish base difficulty, is the only way to unlock the TrueFinalBoss, and gives you a ContentWarning informing you that the mode is for advanced players only. (It's ''not kidding.'')
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
--> '''''DANGER:''' This style is customized for '''advanced players'''. Proceed only if you have '''prepared yourself'''.''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BigBad: [[spoiler: Colonel Longhena, who doesn't appear until ''[=DoDonPachi=]''.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AwardBaitSong: Heading for Tomorrow, the ending theme from ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* [[spoiler:AlasPoorVillain: Hibachi in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 52 (click to see context) from:
** SaiDaiOuJou brings us Inbachi, particularly her [[http://youtu.be/UoUIM63soZ8?t=4m16s final pattern]] as it's a combination of Hibachi's final patterns from both DoDonPachi and DaiOuJou's "Washing Machine", doubles the latter in different directions. This puts her earlier patterns to shame.
to:
** SaiDaiOuJou brings us Inbachi, particularly her [[http://youtu.be/UoUIM63soZ8?t=4m16s final pattern]] as it's a combination of Hibachi's final patterns from both DoDonPachi [[VideoGame/DonPachi DoDonPachi]] and DaiOuJou's "Washing Machine", doubles the latter in different directions. This puts her earlier patterns to shame.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Namespace
Changed line(s) 31 (click to see context) from:
* ActorAllusion: If you happen to play as [[EriKitamura Type-B]] in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' and was able to get to [[AoiYuki Hibachi]]'s TrueFinalBoss form, then you may have been able to spoil the entire second half of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' [[ItMakesSenseInContext inversely]] and [[FridgeHorror straight]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QBisDe2OQ&t=3m20s Go figure]].
to:
* ActorAllusion: If you happen to play as [[EriKitamura [[Creator/EriKitamura Type-B]] in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' and was able to get to [[AoiYuki Hibachi]]'s TrueFinalBoss form, then you may have been able to spoil the entire second half of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' [[ItMakesSenseInContext inversely]] and [[FridgeHorror straight]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QBisDe2OQ&t=3m20s Go figure]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Reinforced by Hibachi's theme song from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', in which the background guitar sounds like a swarm of bees buzzing.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 186 (click to see context) from:
* TitleDrop -- ''[=DonPachi=]'' means "leader bee," and ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' "angry leader bee." The name of the military organization the player character is in is called [=DonPachi=] Corps. Additionally, "don" is an onomatopoeia for gunfire. There are hidden bee icons throughout the games that yield extra points. The true penultimate boss of nearly each game is a huge mechanical bee that, upon its destruction, opens up to reveal the TrueFinalBoss.
to:
* TitleDrop -- The end of the 2nd loop of ''[=DonPachi=]'' means "leader bee," and ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' "angry leader bee." The name of reveals that the military organization unit the player character is in training for is called [=DonPachi=] Corps. Additionally, "don" is an onomatopoeia for gunfire. There are hidden bee icons throughout the games that yield extra points. The true penultimate boss of nearly each game is a huge mechanical bee that, upon its destruction, opens up to reveal the TrueFinalBoss."[=DonPachi=]".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
Added DiffLines:
Added DiffLines:
* BossWarningSiren: "WARNING: THIS IS NOT SIMILATION. GET READY TO DESTOROY THE ENEMY. TARGET FOR THE WEAK POINTS OF F**KIN' MACHINE. DO YOUR BEST YOU HAVE EVER DONE". And in the sequels: "You are approaching the target of attack. The mission starts now!", "Watch out! Watch out!", and "An unidentified battleship/unprecedented tremendous force is approaching!"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Re-wrote Beam O War a little.
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* BeamOWar -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', you can block purple enemy lasers with your own laser.
to:
* BeamOWar -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', you The counter-laser mechanic that was introduced in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' and has been present in every ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' release since. You can block purple enemy lasers with your own laser.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AwesomeButImpractical -- Expert shots in ''Saidaioujou'' grants you both a boosted shoot and a boosted laser, but you get a woefully small bomb stock and the game jacks up the difficulty to the equivalent of 2nd loop in other games in the series. DO NOT use Expert shot unless you are able to cope with such intense enemy patterns.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
hottip cleanup / removal
Changed line(s) 31 (click to see context) from:
* ArcWords -- "Shinu ga yoi"[[hottip:tl:"Dying is good." Or in {{Woolseyism}}, "Go on and die."]] in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
to:
* ArcWords -- "Shinu ga yoi"[[hottip:tl:"Dying yoi"[[note]]"Dying is good." Or in {{Woolseyism}}, "Go on and die."]] "[[/note]] in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
Changed line(s) 86 (click to see context) from:
* GameMod -- ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfKz6eTzsE DoDonPachi Arrange]]'', an unofficial arrange mode in which bombs retain combo rather than break it and cause the player's score to continously increase at a rate proportional to their current combo.[[hottip:note:For those who keep up with video game scoring mechanics, it's heavily inspired by ''Battle Bakraid''.]] Also, the boss music is replaced with [[CutSong an unused spy-esque track]].
to:
* GameMod -- ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfKz6eTzsE DoDonPachi Arrange]]'', an unofficial arrange mode in which bombs retain combo rather than break it and cause the player's score to continously increase at a rate proportional to their current combo.[[hottip:note:For [[note]]For those who keep up with video game scoring mechanics, it's heavily inspired by ''Battle Bakraid''.]] [[/note]] Also, the boss music is replaced with [[CutSong an unused spy-esque track]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 198 (click to see context) :
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl -- Exy from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her giant form in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', Next EXY.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 72 (click to see context) from:
* {{Dubstep}}: ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''s boss theme, "Taiji", is infamous for a ten-second dubstep segment.
to:
* {{Dubstep}}: ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''s boss theme, "Taiji", is infamous for a ten-second twelve-second dubstep segment.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
They didn\'t close all their branches, they merged everything into one branch.
Changed line(s) 24,25 (click to see context) from:
With the dissolution of almost all of Cave's branches, ''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=] Kan'' is officially the last game they released for core gamers.
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 24,25 (click to see context) from:
With the dissolution of almost all of Cave's branches, ''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=] Kan'' is officially the last game they release for core gamers.
to:
With the dissolution of almost all of Cave's branches, ''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=] Kan'' is officially the last game they release released for core gamers.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** [[spoiler: You also get the ability to play as Saya after buying her in the story in SaiDaiOuJou]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 26 (click to see context) from:
[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] that spike orange guy from ''BoboboboBobobo''.
to:
[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] that spike spiky orange guy from ''BoboboboBobobo''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
to:
** '''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=] Kan''' (XBOX 360, Spring 2013)
Added DiffLines:
With the dissolution of almost all of Cave's branches, ''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=] Kan'' is officially the last game they release for core gamers.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Deleted line(s) 105 (click to see context) :
* LastStarfighter -- In ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', the two available ships are the only ships that could be constructed in order to fight against the threat.
Added DiffLines:
* TheOnlyOne -- In ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', the two available ships are the only ships that could be constructed in order to fight against the threat.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 85 (click to see context) :
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: On Inbachi's warning screen, making it clear that your are not going to fight normal Hibachi and time to [[OhCrap react accordingly]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** SaiDaiOuJou brings us Inbachi, particularly her [[http://youtu.be/UoUIM63soZ8?t=4m16s final pattern]] as it's a combination of Hibachi's final patterns from both DoDonPachi and DaiOuJou's "Washing Machine", doubles the latter in different directions. This puts her earlier patterns to shame.
Added DiffLines:
** SaiDaiOuJou takes it UpToEleven with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoUIM63soZ8 Inbachi]]. Sure the bullets aren't as dense as Zatsuza's, but they're faster, cleverly formed, and your hyper shots do not cancel bullets.
Added DiffLines:
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: On Inbachi's warning screen, making it clear that your are not going to fight normal Hibachi and time to [[OhCrap react accordingly]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* LighterAndSofter -- ''Maximum''. No deconstructive plots, no traumatizing endings, the plot consists entirely of you visiting EVAC Industry and being invited to try out a BulletHell simulator.
Changed line(s) 177 (click to see context) from:
* TrainingFromHell -- The plot of ''[=DonPachi=]''.
to:
* TrainingFromHell -- TrainingFromHell
** The plot of ''[=DonPachi=]''.
** The plot of ''[=DonPachi=]''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 124 (click to see context) from:
* NostalgiaLevel -- Level 5 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' looks like a DarkerAndEdgier version of level 1 from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and the bosses of levels 3, 4, and 5 appear.
to:
* NostalgiaLevel -- NostalgiaLevel
** Level 5 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' looks like a DarkerAndEdgier version of level 1 from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and the bosses of levels 3, 4, and 5 appear.
** Level 5 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' looks like a DarkerAndEdgier version of level 1 from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and the bosses of levels 3, 4, and 5 appear.
Added DiffLines:
** ''Maximum'' is a Nostalgia ''Game'', consisting of stages from past ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' games [[{{Crossover}} as well as]] ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Even official materials have been inconsistent across installments with respect to hyphenations in the romaji titles: "[=DonPachi=]", "[=DoDonPachi=]", "[=DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou=]", "[=Do-Don-Pachi Dai-Fukkatsu=]", and "[=DoDonPachi Saidaioujou=]". As a result, fans writing about the games tend to be even more inconsistent.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
\'\'Maximum\'\' isn\'t really a boss game so much as a collection of past stages.
Deleted line(s) 39 (click to see context) :
** ''[=DoDonPachi=] Maximum'' is the first canonical example.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:274:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DoDonPachi_DaiOuJou_Edited_Art_8175.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:274:''"[[PrepareToDie Finally, it is time for you to die.]] [[FinalBoss Farewell.]]"'']]
->''[[BulletHell Do-do-do-do-do-do-do]]! Do '''DON''' Pachi!''
->-- Title Screen, '''[=DoDonPachi=]'''
The ''[=DonPachi=]'' series (also known as the ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' series, after the second game) is a series of {{Shoot Em Up}}s by {{Cave}}. It is by far one of Cave's most iconic game franchises, with ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' [[LongRunner being one]] [[TropeMaker of the earliest]] BulletHell titles.
At first glance, it appears to be yet another game about flying a ship and blasting alien/robotic invaders, but many dark secrets lie beneath the surface. Art design for the first three games is done by "Joker" Creator/JunyaInoue.
The series spans seven games:
* '''[=DonPachi=]''' (Arcade / Saturn / [=PlayStation=], 1995)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=]''' (Arcade / Saturn / [=PlayStation=], 1997)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiOuJou=]''' ['''DEATH Label'''] (Arcade / [=PlayStation=] 2 / Xbox 360, 2002)
** '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiOuJou=] Black Label EXTRA''' (Xbox 360, 2009)
** '''[=DoDonPachi=] Blissful Death''' (iOS, 2012)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiFukkatsu=]''' (Arcade, 2008; JP Xbox 360, 2010; [[IOSGames iOS]] and Android (as '''[=DoDonPachi Resurrection=]'''), 2010; EU Xbox 360, 2011 (as '''[=DoDonPachi Resurrection=]'''))
** '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''' (Arcade, 2010; Xbox 360 port released on February 3,2011 [Two versions: As add-on in form of DLC, or as stand-alone game with an exclusive Arrange Mode, which basically is a crossover of Daifukkatsu and VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}])
* '''[=DoDonPachi=] Maximum''' (Windows Phone 7, 2012)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=]''' (Arcade, Spring 2012)
There was also a game named ''[=DoDonPachi=] II: Bee Storm'' released for the Arcade in 2001. It was developed by the Taiwanese company IGS, designed to show off the capabilities of the [=PolyGame Master=] arcade hardware (which ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'' would later be developed for).
[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] that spike orange guy from ''BoboboboBobobo''.
----
!!Three, two, one, go!:
* ActorAllusion: If you happen to play as [[EriKitamura Type-B]] in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' and was able to get to [[AoiYuki Hibachi]]'s TrueFinalBoss form, then you may have been able to spoil the entire second half of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' [[ItMakesSenseInContext inversely]] and [[FridgeHorror straight]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QBisDe2OQ&t=3m20s Go figure]].
* AIIsACrapshoot -- Hard to tell without a human translation, but Perfect☆ developed her speech patterns and behavior entirely on her own. The Element Daughters based on the original three Element Dolls are also this.
* ArcWords -- "Shinu ga yoi"[[hottip:tl:"Dying is good." Or in {{Woolseyism}}, "Go on and die."]] in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
* ArtShift -- The art direction for the first three games was done by "Joker" Creator/JunyaInoue, the art for ''Dai Fukkatsu'' was done by Kouji Ogata, and the art for ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' was done by [[ArTonelico Nagi Ryou]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever -- AI from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is sometimes portrayed this way in official artwork, stomping around Tokyo, being (futilely) attacked by the [[TitleDrop DonPachi]] ships, and crushing one in her hand.
* AWinnerIsYou -- The reward for completing the NintendoHard 2nd loop of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' (Which can only be accessed by 1-crediting the first loop, and either collecting all bee icons, using no bomb or losing no lifes) is... a crappy picture of the pilot.
* AnnouncerChatter -- The announcer of ''[=DonPachi=]'' in particular.
* BattleshipRaid -- "Wow! Look at the size of that battleship! Keep your finger on the trigger rookie!" And they only get more powerful from there.
* BeamOWar -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', you can block purple enemy lasers with your own laser.
* BeehiveBarrier -- Kouryuu, the larger, ''easier'' version of Hibachi, uses these in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''
* BittersweetEnding -- In the 2nd-loop ending of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'', it's revealed that [[spoiler:in slaughtering his own allies and the Commander's special forces, the player character ironically solved the problems of overpopulation, environmental pollution, and arms races. As to whether [[WellIntentionedExtremist this was what the commander wanted]], not even the protagonist knows.]]
* BonusBoss -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' has the original bosses of ''[=DoDonPachi=]''. In every stage, fulfilling a particular requirement allows you to fight one of these bosses.
* BossGame -- ''[=DaiOuJou=] DEATH Label'', which comes with the [=PS2=] port of ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
** ''[=DoDonPachi=] Maximum'' is the first canonical example.
* BraggingRightsReward -- Beating Hibachi in any game. Admittedly, it's ''well''-earned bragging rights.
* BulletHell -- ''[=DonPachi=]'' is the TropeMaker. ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' is the TropeCodifier. Note that ''neither'' of them is the UrExample.
** "Do" is the onomatopoeia for guns firing in Japanese. That intro narration ''is'' BulletHell.
** SerialEscalation: See the last bullet wave in the above Black Label Hibachi video.
** Hibachi's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG9COkH6QYs&feature=related DaiOuJou incarnation]] has fewer bullets, but teaches us why we should thank god for slow bullets.
** Then there is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlcN1wiPYw Hibachi Arrange A]] which somehow manages to one up Zatsuza.
* {{Cap}} -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' has a score cap that could be easily reached by more skilled players. [[ExpansionPack Version 1.5]] of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' corrects this by adding more digits.
* ChineseGirl -- Leinyan from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her giant form in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', Ray'n
* ChromaticArrangement -- The three main types of ships are Red (straight-forward shot), Green (turning shot), and Blue (wide shot). This extends to the playable characters of ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' as well.
* {{Combos}} -- The essence of the series' scoring systems.
* ContinuityNod -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is the only direct sequel in the series; the backstory consists of the code of the Elemental Dolls (the protagonists of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'') performing a FaceHeelTurn and going back in time to 2008. [[spoiler: Colonel Schwarlitz Longhena, who first appeared in ''[=DoDonPachi=]'', turns out to be responsible for the events of the whole series.]]
* CreepyDoll -- The Element Dolls themselves are life-sized versions of these. One piece of artwork also shows Shotia laying in a pile of them.
* {{Crossover}} -- ''[=DoDonPachi=] [=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label Arrange'' incorporates many elements from another Cave shooter, ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'', complete with the cover art being a big throwback to that game. It even has the TrueFinalBoss of ''Ketsui'', Evaccania DOOM. It can be seen in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_LGyRaPTPc this trailer]].
* CutSong -- [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY9LTWjcvq0 "Zatsuza"]] from the ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' soundtrack was initially thought to be this, but it was revealed that the song plays during the fight against Zatsuza, the [[UpToEleven stronger]] replacement of Hibachi.
* DarkerAndEdgier -- Series-wise, ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', but when compared to other BulletHell games, the series is this.
* [[spoiler: {{Deconstruction}} -- The storyline of the series, at the very least, is a deconstruction of many typical scrolling shoot-em-up plots. ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' could also be this for the whole concept of a FanService RobotGirl.]]
* DegradedBoss -- Hibachi appears in ''[=DoDonPachi=] II'' as the first enemy you encounter in the game, but it's only his first form and he goes down very quickly. He regains his TrueFinalBoss status in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
* DevelopmentHell -- There is a patch for the XBox 360 version of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' that fixes the numerous bugs in the game (see PortingDisaster). It took about ''two years'' since the game was released to make; by the time it was out the sequel ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' was already ported.
* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything -- The A and B parts of the songs in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' (such as "Flotage (Stage 3-A)" and "Flotage (Stage 3-B)" which play on the normal path and hidden path, respectively) are really two parts of the same whole. If you combine the two songs and play them at the same time, you get the main riff for Zatsuza's theme, in perfect tempo. For Flotage, for example, this is surprisingly during the guitar solo.
* DifficultButAwesome -- While the whole game can be counted as one by BulletHell standards, Exy in ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' has the lowest bomb count of the three Dolls, but gets both Shotia's regular shot and Leinyan's laser shot, and only loses one power level of each upon death instead of one of one shot type and all of the other.
** In ''Daifukkatsu'', Power Style also qualifies. You can't bomb (except you do get one auto-bomb upon picking up a bomb item) and the shot is still slightly weaker than Strong Style even in Boost Mode, but Power Style also builds up Hypers the fastest ''and'' any bullets cancelled by your Hyper while in Boost Mode also charge up your ''next'' Hyper. Play your cards right and you can have a Hyper ready basically anytime you want.
* DifficultySpike -- Halfway through Stage 4 of ''[=DoDonPachi=]''.
* DistractedByTheSexy -- Apparently {{Inverted}} in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''. The [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/02/04/your-swimsuit-drives-enemies-wild-in-next-dodonpachi-game swimsuit costume]] makes enemy attacks more intense.
* [[AutobotsRockOut DonPachi Squadron, Rock Out!]] -- The ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' soundtrack as well as its Arranged Mode variant, which takes that album UpToEleven. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ2y67EjyUo Here's the normal Boss theme from Arranged Mode]].
* DownerEnding -- At the end of the first loop in ''[=DonPachi=]'', [[spoiler:the horrible truth is [[TheReveal revealed]] to the player that the pilot has been fighting comrades the whole time (and apparently knew it).]] At the end of the game, [[spoiler:take [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/d/donparun.htm a moment of silence for the thousands of your fellow soldiers you've killed]].]] The sequel is perhaps even more chilling because [[spoiler:you are tricked by your commander, Colonel Longhena, into believing that the invading enemy force are mechanized aliens, and you don't know that they're really your comrades until your commander reveals this upon you unlocking the second loop. In the endings for ''Dai Ou Jou'', Shotia's memory is deleted bit by bit until the last memories in her are of her human days and she smiles fondly of them as they go too, and Exy goes crazy and chokes her operator to death while crying blood, then goes and does things leading to ''Dai Fukkatsu''. And, part of the true ending of ''Dai Fukkatsu'' is that your mothership is destroyed by Colonel Longhena. Another sort of ending like this is '''Dai Fukkatsu''' and it's Arrange Mode A ending, Leinyan (The human defending one, not her human killing Ray'n version) finds Next EXY's Data and tries to tell her she is going about changing the future all wrong, and wonders if Next EXY didn't start all this in the first place, who did? Cut to GENERAL Longhena.]]
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Leinyan's ending in ''DaiOuJou'', she is cruelly pulled away from her human pilot who she has fallen in love with and deactivated, being send off for research, later she escapes with the help of cyberspace and reunites with her pilot]]
* DynamicDifficulty -- The BLACK Label version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''. When an on-screen bar (called the "reddo" (烈怒) gauge) fills up to a certain level, the number of bullets fired by enemies will increase. Watch the above BLACK Label Hibachi to ''really'' see exactly how completely insane this can get.
** And ''not'' raising the gauge will nerf your combos and points, making the difference between survival and scoring very clear.
** ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' has a visible numeric rank meter at the top-center of the screen.
* {{Dubstep}}: ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''s boss theme, "Taiji", is infamous for a ten-second dubstep segment.
* EasierThanEasy[=/=]ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin -- ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' has a secret No Bullets option. It is ''exactly as it sounds''.
* EveryTenThousandPoints -- [=DonPachi=] has a single extend at 2 million points; the other games will give out extra lives at two different score boundaries displayed on the title screen, which can be adjusted.
* EverythingsWorseWithBees -- Embodied in the form of Hibachi. Reinstated by Zatsuza.
* {{Expy}} -- AI from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is about one dye job and outfit change from being Hatsune Miku.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption -- [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHqN_fH2S7k Zatsuza]]. That video showcases the Final Bosses in order ''beaten'', as a comparison: Hibachi, Hibachi True, and Zatsuza, along with Normal Mode Zatsuza at the end for comparison. If you make it to Zatsuza, be prepared to spend everything. No, you will not be able to dodge all of the bullets.
* FanDisservice -- The cover of ''[=DaiOuJou=] Black Label [=EXTRA=]'', as seen on this page. Four robot girls, all heavily damaged, and the sole survivor is bleeding from one damaged eye.
* FanNickname -- Ketsupachi for ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]] BLACK Label'' Arrange Mode on the XBox 360. (See CrossOver).
* FingerlessGloves -- Exy and Next EXY
* FlashOfPain
* ForDoomTheBellTolls -- [=DaiOuJou's=] penultimate boss music. See [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSY4xRMvvOg here]]
* TheFourGods[=/=]FourIsDeath -- The boss names in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''. In order: Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, Seiryū, and Kōryū. Hibachi comes immediately after Kōryū.
* FrickinLaserBeams -- An enemy attack in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''.
* GameMod -- ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfKz6eTzsE DoDonPachi Arrange]]'', an unofficial arrange mode in which bombs retain combo rather than break it and cause the player's score to continously increase at a rate proportional to their current combo.[[hottip:note:For those who keep up with video game scoring mechanics, it's heavily inspired by ''Battle Bakraid''.]] Also, the boss music is replaced with [[CutSong an unused spy-esque track]].
* GenrePopularizer -- While certainly not the first BulletHell game (''Batsugun'', another such game, was released 2 years before ''[=DonPachi=]''), ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' certainly did popularize the concept.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation -- [[spoiler: After the end of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', Exy dived into the enemy information system and was able to shut it down, but went rather insane.]]
* GoOutWithASmile -- [[spoiler: Shotia's ending in '''[=DaiOuJou=]''']]
* GratuitousEnglish -- In ''[=DonPachi=]'', despite the announcer's SurprisinglyGoodEnglish (see below), much English ''text'' in the game was clearly inserted by someone who didn't really understand certain... vagaries (like the curious hyphenation found a couple of times in the ending). Perhaps someone should cross-check the credits with that of ''ZeroWing''....
-->'''Copyright statement''': Warning: This game is for use in <country> only. Sales, export, or operation outside this country may be construed as copyright and trademark infringement and is strictly prohibited. ''Violator and subject to severe penalties and will be prosecutedt to the full extent of the jam''
-->'''Boss alert''': This is not similation. Get ready to destoroy the enemy. Target for the weak points of fuckin' machine. Do your best you have ever done.
** The announcers of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' also speak in English, in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', the announcer speaks in Japanese.
** In the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0CdMTr5KA trailer]] for ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''[='=]s Arrange mode: "JUST A COUPLE MORE SHOTS desu"
** In ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'': "Hyper System: Standby!" and "Hyper System: Ready!"
* HarderThanHard -- Strong Style in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''. It grants your ship immense firepower...at the cost of making the enemies ALSO powerful.
* HitboxDissonance -- The games have relatively small hitboxes compared to the ship sizes. There's an odd example with the Type-B helicopter; in Donpachi the hitboxes are on the large side and Type-B's extends pretty from the main rotor to a ways down the tail). In Dodonpachi, the hitbox is noticeably smaller and is actually moved back a bit so that it's located behind the main rotor in the thin segment of the tail fuselage between the main rotor and the tailfin (much like how the later VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'s hitboxes are not centered on the main rotor but placed behind them).
* [[HumansAreBastards Humans Are]] [[HumansAreFlawed Ungrateful]] [[HumansAreBastards Bastards]]: Put this in perspective: all of the pilots are not human, forced to work for a shady organization, and ordered [[spoiler:to initiate a genocide]] as a ''training'' exercise that makes up an entire arc in ''[=DonPachi=]''.
* ImageSong -- For ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oawIMl5bQK0 DoDonPachi Dai Ondo]].
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Does the enemy really need that many {{Mook}}s and bullets just to take down ''one pilot''?
* IncendiaryExponent -- "Hibachi" means "Fire Bee"... and indeed, Hibachi is often on fire when it fights.
* InterspeciesRomance -- [[spoiler: Leinyan's ending in ''DaiOuJou'', to an EXTREME]]
* {{Joshikousei}} -- AI from ''[=DaiFukkatasu=]''.
* KillAllHumans -- Apparently the motive of the enemies throughout the series.
* KillerRobot -- All of the enemies in the series are this. Or are they? Hibachi is the most killer of them all.
* [[spoiler:KnightTemplar -- Colonel Longhena]]
* LastOfHisKind -- According to CAVE in a 2010 interview, only one copy of ''[=DoDonPachi=] Campaign Version'' (also known as the ''Blue ROM'' or ''Blue Label'' from the color of its title screen) exists, and they had lost all copies of the source code. This would mean [[FridgeHorror if the board dies, it will be]] LostForever. However, CAVE also had ''two'' copies of the game on display at the 2006 CAVE Matsuri; this likely means the source code and remaining [=PCBs=] are simply a closely-guarded secret.
* LastStarfighter -- In ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', the two available ships are the only ships that could be constructed in order to fight against the threat.
* {{Leitmotif}} -- Since ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', [[TrueFinalBoss Hibachi]]'s had an extremely fast-paced drum 'n bass boss theme.
** "Longhena Cantata" is Colonel Longhena's theme, played during [[spoiler:the boss battle with him]].
* LogicalExtreme -- Of the BulletHell genre itself, ''[[TropeMaker which it created]]''. For comparison, let's have ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'': in that series, you normally have to go through the game once to get to the ending, and then go through Extra Mode ([[NintendoHard and you can't continue on Extra Mode]]). ''[=DonPachi=]'' takes that, and decides you have to go through the game twice, with the second as Extra Mode, while normally beating every boss in the game on one life, ''and then'' beating the True Final Boss (which would be best described as [[RankInflation Extra++ Mode]]). There are fans who are dedicated enough to do exactly that.
* LuckyCharmsTitle -- Perfect☆ from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=].''
* ManBehindTheMan -- (In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=],'' [[spoiler:the entirety of the plot is revealed: exploiting their desire for revenge, Colonel Longhena manipulated the Element Dolls/Daughters into exterminating the human race, convinced of its intrinsic imperfection and aiming towards rebuilding it according to his idea of flawlessness (an attempt already foiled centuries before by the first [[TitleDrop DonPachi Squadron]]). Said ambitions come to an abrupt halt with the destruction of the ultimate fighting machine Hibachi.]])
* ManipulativeBastard -- [[spoiler: The commander from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'']]
* MeaningfulName -- '''Shot'''ia from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' is the shot type. Leinyan, whose name can also be pronounced '''Ray'''-nyan, is the beam (or "ray") type, and her ''Dai Fukkatsu'' form is named '''Ray''' 'n. '''Ex'''y is good at both shots and lasers but has fewer bombs compared to the others, making her suited for '''ex'''pert players.
* {{Meganekko}} -- Perfect☆ from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', although her glasses are difficult to notice during gameplay.
* {{Meido}} -- Perfect☆ from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', complete with a serving tray.
* MoeAnthropomorphism: [[UpToEleven Taken to an]] [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext illogical extreme]] with [[ThatOneBoss Hibachi]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QBisDe2OQ&t=3m20s as a little girl]] in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''.
-->''(while firing) [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Dodododododododo-do~]]''
* MoodWhiplash -- Originally, ''[=DoDonPachi=]'s'' style is not far removed from cliched old-school shoot-em-ups, and only its endings suggest any darker turn. ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' suddenly takes a DarkerAndEdgier turn [[spoiler: with endings that include and are not limited to: the Element Dolls choking their masters to death while crying blood.]] Then ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' comes around, and it is extremely humorous / fanservicey due to the [[NightmareFetishist transforming robot girls, complete with white pantsu]]. Then it goes right back to Dark and Edgy with its ending, showing that the entire battle was pretty much a waste, the player's victory only having set the events of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' up in a StableTimeLoop.
* MultipleEndings -- Each game typically has at least three : one for completing the first loop without fulfilling the requirements for the second, one for completing both loops but not unlocking the TrueFinalBoss, and one for completing said TFB.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast -- Taisabachi (Colonel Bee), the boss you fight before Hibachi in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', had it's name changed in ''[=DaiFuukatsu=] BLACK Label'' to "[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Supreme Weapon of Extreme Hellish Annihilation - Golden Disaster]]"
** Hibachi's full name is "Kyokusatsu Heiki - Hibachi," (極殺兵器) "Supreme Killing Weapon - Hibachi."
* NintendoHard
* NoExportForYou -- The first game has a proper US release, and the second has an "International" release. And that's only for arcades; none of the console releases have made their way outside of Japan.
** Rising Star is set to finally end this trend with a European release of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' (under the English title used for the iPhone game) in November 2011. However, North America shows no sign of getting it.
*** Rising Star has announced that the European release will be compatible with US-NTSC consoles. So North America ''does'' get it... if they're willing to import. However, an EU XboxLive account is needed for the V1.5 and Black Label DLC's. And the Black Label Arrange mode (aka "Ketsuipachi") is not available outside of Japan.
*** The iOS ports are downloadable in America, however.
* NostalgiaLevel -- Level 5 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' looks like a DarkerAndEdgier version of level 1 from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and the bosses of levels 3, 4, and 5 appear.
** In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=],'' bosses from both ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' can appear as midbosses, depending on how well the player is doing. If they do, a slightly different version of the BGM that includes a lietmotif from a song from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' is played instead of the regular version.
* ObviousRulePatch -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' version 1.0, there was a safe spot in one of Hibachi's patterns. Version 1.5 fixed this.
* OneUp -- In addition to the point-based extends, they appear in item form in stage 3 of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'', stage 4 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', and stage 3 in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' by destroying a relatively large enemy in the center of the screen without using bombs.
* OneWomanWail: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45S3NhQREts Longhena Cantata]].
* OjouRinglets -- Shotia from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her counterpart Shooty from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''
* PinballScoring -- And comboing. Each successive game raises the bar for combos, from triple-digits in ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' to the ''ten thousands'' in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''.
* PowerUp -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' does away with them altogether, but if you select Power Style, you can use a stronger version of your shots, at the cost of speed.
* ThePresentDay -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', released in 2008, is explicitly set in 2008, albeit implied to be in an alternate timeline.
* RecurringBoss -- Many of the bosses and sub-bosses from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' continue to return in later games of the series, especially in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''. And, of course, Hibachi keeps on coming back.
* RecurringRiff -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', the first stage's theme gets a reprisal in the final stage, and again in the ending after the second loop. The intro is also a remix of [=DaiOuJou's=] first stage intro.
* {{Retraux}} -- ♪ [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LerWQeMXVd0 Sally (Select)]] from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots -- Especially in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', the Element Daughters behave like GenkiGirl MagicalGirl s and at least one of them is confirmed to have ''white pantsu.'' Seriously, what does a transforming RobotGirl need pantsu for!?!?
* RobotGirl -- The Element Dolls from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', the precursors to the transforming mecha girls of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' mentioned below.
* RobotWar -- The overall plot of the series.
* SecretCharacter: A first for the series. Clearing the hidden 2nd loop of ''[=DoDonPachi=] Resurrection'' (the ''Daifukkatsu'' port to iOS) unlocks...[[spoiler:Hibachi!]] While only playable in iPhone Mode, [[spoiler:Hibachi]] is easily the most powerful of the 4 ships. On top of having the strongest lasers, it can even [[spoiler: shoot [[PurposefullyOverpowered 360 degrees of pixel death]] like its boss incarnation]].
* SequelDifficultySpike
** ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' is shades harder than ''[=DoDonPachi=]''.
** ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' pushes the series' difficulty ceiling.
* SequelDifficultyDrop: ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', particularly version 1.5. Strong Style is particularly overpowered, and the game has mandatory autobomb, effectively giving you 15 starting lives.
* SequelEscalation -- Each successive game one-ups its predecessor in many different aspects: overall bullet density, your ship's firepower, scoring, combos, and the difficulty of the bosses, especially the {{True Final Boss}}es. This has gotten to the point where pro players sometimes actually enable autobomb on ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'', and did not try to do scoring runs on the hardest difficulty right away.
* SerialEscalation -- To anyone who thought Hibachi's ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' incarnation couldn't be any harder, meet the ''BLACK Label'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsWhVhgEEV4&annotation_id=annotation_111728&feature=iv one]]. Cave also added a more powerful variation called [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI25niUOtbc Zatsuza]], which replaces Hibachi if the player manages to defeat Golden Disaster with no deaths and using Strong style.
** You know ''[=DaiOuJou=] DEATH Label'' down below? If you beat it once, you get the chance to do it again, but with [[OneHitWonder only one life]], all the bosses immune to bombs ... ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCKZj2Xss9A&t=2m15s and your laser bomb actually healing the boss]]'' ! At the end of the video, you see what is called the "True Hibachi -Custom-." In the first run, you fight two Hibachis; however, they're toned down individually compared to the original. In the second loop, they are both at ''full power''.
*** In case you're wondering, beating the second loop of ''DEATH Label'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R87e64xdmvs&t=6m4s only nets you]] [[AWinnerIsYou a game over screen]].
* {{Sexbot}} -- Hard to tell without a human translation, but some of the Element Dolls/Daughters were originally designed to serve humans and help them feel more comfortable. Some of them also have features, such as white pantsu, that purely-military robots are... let us say... unlikely to need.
* ShootTheShaggyDog -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', [[spoiler:Next EXY, following the events of ''dai ou jou'', goes back in time to destroy [=DonPachi=] Corps and prevent the Blissful Death Wars from happening. In doing so, however, she ends up ''causing'' them. You cleaning up after her mess merely leads to the events of ''dai ou jou''.]]
* ShoutOut -- The scoreboard of ''[=DonPachi=]'' spell out "Toaplan 4 Ever" if you read the first letter of each default scorer. {{Toaplan}} was a big developer of shmups and Cave is formed in majority by formers employee of Toaplan.
** From the same game, after beating the 2nd loop, a small cutscene show Pipiru (Toaplan's mascot, mostly know for it's appearance in the ending of the arcade ZeroWing.) holding on one of the ships before dropping into the water.
** The Japanese names of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'''s music tracks are puns on various shmup developers: "Toua" (Toaplan), "Sakusetsu" (Success), "Raijin" (Raizing), and so on.
* SmartBomb -- Notable for being usable in two different ways: turning all bullets into score items, or powering a ''very'' big laser.
** However, it will reset your combo meter, except in rare circumstances:
*** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] Arrange A'': Does nothing to combo.
*** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] Arrange B'': There's no combo meter. If anything, the game encourages bombing for score, with the bombs you can get as often as every 5-10 seconds.
*** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] ver. 1.51'': Not only does nothing to combo, it can also hit lasers for large sums of points depending on your current combo.
*** ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'': If you have autocbomb enabled, autobombing will erase your entire bomb stock, on top of nuking your combo. However, if you bomb manually, you'll only lose 30% of your combo.
** In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK LABEL'', if you disable autobomb, your bombs will double as extra Hyper stocks. Using a Hyper from your stock will cancel bullets, but won't reset combo.
* SoundtrackDissonance: Apparently attempted in the iPhone version of ''Daifukkatsu''.
* SpiritualSuccessor -- The XBox360 version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' is a massive tribute to VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}. This includes and is not limited to: the cover art, the ships being replaced with those of Ketsui (such as the Tiger Schwert), and the replacement of Hibachi with DOOM (complete with DOOM's theme song).
* {{Stripperiffic}} -- Exy and Next EXY, apparently to make humans feel more comfortable.
* SuperMode -- Hyper Mode, introduced in ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', which gives you increased firepower and causes your combo to shoot through the roof, but the DynamicDifficulty will also go apeshit as a tradeoff. ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'''s Hyper Mode allows you to ''cancel bullets.''
** In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'', Red Mode causes the ''enemies'' to go into super mode.
* SuperSoldier -- Deconstructed in ''[=DonPachi=]''. The training for it involves [[spoiler:killing thousands of fellow soldiers posing as the enemy.]]
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish -- The speech your commander gives you at the end of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' is in decent English.
** The announcer in ''[=DonPachi=]'', even if he [[{{Narm}} sounds like a head coach who always calls you "rookie" despite your skill]].
* TankGoodness -- "Lookie what we got here: a multi-assault tank! Watch yourself!" And the tanks only get stronger and more numerous from there.
* TearsOfBlood -- [[spoiler: In ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', one ending has Exy crying blood while choking a man to death.]]
* ThisIsUnforgivable -- "You know, what you've done to me is unforgivable. I'll punish you myself and see to it that you'll die a miserable death with my awesome weapon. Die, maggots." Enter [[OhCrap Hibachi]].
* TimeTravel -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' takes the player characters from just after the events of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' (which are in the distant future) back to 2008.
* TitleDrop -- ''[=DonPachi=]'' means "leader bee," and ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' "angry leader bee." The name of the military organization the player character is in is called [=DonPachi=] Corps. Additionally, "don" is an onomatopoeia for gunfire. There are hidden bee icons throughout the games that yield extra points. The true penultimate boss of nearly each game is a huge mechanical bee that, upon its destruction, opens up to reveal the TrueFinalBoss.
** One of the achievements for the iOS version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is "Blissful Death," which is a translation of ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
* TrainingFromHell -- The plot of ''[=DonPachi=]''.
* TreacherousAdvisor -- [[spoiler: Colonel Schwarlitz Longhena]]
* TrueFinalBoss -- Hibachi.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI25niUOtbc Zatsuza]], the ultimate true final boss of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'', replaces Hibachi if the player uses [[NintendoHard Strong Style]], [[HarderThanHard meets the requirements for Hibachi]] ''and'' beats Golden Disaster (Hibachi's first form) without dying.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoUIM63soZ8 Inbachi]] replaces Hibachi in Saidaioujou if certain conditions are met. And then proceeds to [[SerialEscalation put every other True Final Boss from each of Cave's previous games to utter shame]].
* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters -- The Element Dolls from ''[= DaiOuJou=]''. The achievement for the iOS version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' for defeating Ray'n is "She Once Protected Us..."
* TurnsRed -- "Just a couple more shots!"
* UnwittingPawn -- [[spoiler:You]], in ''[=DoDonPachi=]''. [[spoiler:The enemies you destroy are ''your allies'', which your [[TreacherousAdvisor commander]] reveals to you upon unlocking the conditions for the game's second loop before sending you off to be killed by said loop's forces. "{{See you in Hell}}!"]]
* [[TransformingMecha Transforming]] [[RobotGirl Mecha Musume]] -- The Elemental Daughters [[spoiler:and Hibachi]] from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''.
* UpdatedRerelease -- ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' has the above-mentioned ''Campaign Version'' . [=DaiOuJou=] and [=DaiFukkatsu=] both have Black Label versions.
* WaveMotionGun -- The Bomb-Laser, and in later games, the Hyper-Laser joins the fun.
* WeCanRebuildHim -- Hibachi keeps coming back.
* WhatMeasureIsANonhuman -- A theme of the series.
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl -- Exy from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her giant form in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', Next EXY.
----
''Just a couple more tropes desu!''
[[caption-width-right:274:''"[[PrepareToDie Finally, it is time for you to die.]] [[FinalBoss Farewell.]]"'']]
->''[[BulletHell Do-do-do-do-do-do-do]]! Do '''DON''' Pachi!''
->-- Title Screen, '''[=DoDonPachi=]'''
The ''[=DonPachi=]'' series (also known as the ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' series, after the second game) is a series of {{Shoot Em Up}}s by {{Cave}}. It is by far one of Cave's most iconic game franchises, with ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' [[LongRunner being one]] [[TropeMaker of the earliest]] BulletHell titles.
At first glance, it appears to be yet another game about flying a ship and blasting alien/robotic invaders, but many dark secrets lie beneath the surface. Art design for the first three games is done by "Joker" Creator/JunyaInoue.
The series spans seven games:
* '''[=DonPachi=]''' (Arcade / Saturn / [=PlayStation=], 1995)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=]''' (Arcade / Saturn / [=PlayStation=], 1997)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiOuJou=]''' ['''DEATH Label'''] (Arcade / [=PlayStation=] 2 / Xbox 360, 2002)
** '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiOuJou=] Black Label EXTRA''' (Xbox 360, 2009)
** '''[=DoDonPachi=] Blissful Death''' (iOS, 2012)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiFukkatsu=]''' (Arcade, 2008; JP Xbox 360, 2010; [[IOSGames iOS]] and Android (as '''[=DoDonPachi Resurrection=]'''), 2010; EU Xbox 360, 2011 (as '''[=DoDonPachi Resurrection=]'''))
** '''[=DoDonPachi=]: [=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''' (Arcade, 2010; Xbox 360 port released on February 3,2011 [Two versions: As add-on in form of DLC, or as stand-alone game with an exclusive Arrange Mode, which basically is a crossover of Daifukkatsu and VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}])
* '''[=DoDonPachi=] Maximum''' (Windows Phone 7, 2012)
* '''[=DoDonPachi=] [=SaiDaiOuJou=]''' (Arcade, Spring 2012)
There was also a game named ''[=DoDonPachi=] II: Bee Storm'' released for the Arcade in 2001. It was developed by the Taiwanese company IGS, designed to show off the capabilities of the [=PolyGame Master=] arcade hardware (which ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'' would later be developed for).
[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] that spike orange guy from ''BoboboboBobobo''.
----
!!Three, two, one, go!:
* ActorAllusion: If you happen to play as [[EriKitamura Type-B]] in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' and was able to get to [[AoiYuki Hibachi]]'s TrueFinalBoss form, then you may have been able to spoil the entire second half of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' [[ItMakesSenseInContext inversely]] and [[FridgeHorror straight]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QBisDe2OQ&t=3m20s Go figure]].
* AIIsACrapshoot -- Hard to tell without a human translation, but Perfect☆ developed her speech patterns and behavior entirely on her own. The Element Daughters based on the original three Element Dolls are also this.
* ArcWords -- "Shinu ga yoi"[[hottip:tl:"Dying is good." Or in {{Woolseyism}}, "Go on and die."]] in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
* ArtShift -- The art direction for the first three games was done by "Joker" Creator/JunyaInoue, the art for ''Dai Fukkatsu'' was done by Kouji Ogata, and the art for ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' was done by [[ArTonelico Nagi Ryou]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever -- AI from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is sometimes portrayed this way in official artwork, stomping around Tokyo, being (futilely) attacked by the [[TitleDrop DonPachi]] ships, and crushing one in her hand.
* AWinnerIsYou -- The reward for completing the NintendoHard 2nd loop of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' (Which can only be accessed by 1-crediting the first loop, and either collecting all bee icons, using no bomb or losing no lifes) is... a crappy picture of the pilot.
* AnnouncerChatter -- The announcer of ''[=DonPachi=]'' in particular.
* BattleshipRaid -- "Wow! Look at the size of that battleship! Keep your finger on the trigger rookie!" And they only get more powerful from there.
* BeamOWar -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', you can block purple enemy lasers with your own laser.
* BeehiveBarrier -- Kouryuu, the larger, ''easier'' version of Hibachi, uses these in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''
* BittersweetEnding -- In the 2nd-loop ending of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'', it's revealed that [[spoiler:in slaughtering his own allies and the Commander's special forces, the player character ironically solved the problems of overpopulation, environmental pollution, and arms races. As to whether [[WellIntentionedExtremist this was what the commander wanted]], not even the protagonist knows.]]
* BonusBoss -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' has the original bosses of ''[=DoDonPachi=]''. In every stage, fulfilling a particular requirement allows you to fight one of these bosses.
* BossGame -- ''[=DaiOuJou=] DEATH Label'', which comes with the [=PS2=] port of ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
** ''[=DoDonPachi=] Maximum'' is the first canonical example.
* BraggingRightsReward -- Beating Hibachi in any game. Admittedly, it's ''well''-earned bragging rights.
* BulletHell -- ''[=DonPachi=]'' is the TropeMaker. ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' is the TropeCodifier. Note that ''neither'' of them is the UrExample.
** "Do" is the onomatopoeia for guns firing in Japanese. That intro narration ''is'' BulletHell.
** SerialEscalation: See the last bullet wave in the above Black Label Hibachi video.
** Hibachi's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG9COkH6QYs&feature=related DaiOuJou incarnation]] has fewer bullets, but teaches us why we should thank god for slow bullets.
** Then there is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlcN1wiPYw Hibachi Arrange A]] which somehow manages to one up Zatsuza.
* {{Cap}} -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' has a score cap that could be easily reached by more skilled players. [[ExpansionPack Version 1.5]] of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' corrects this by adding more digits.
* ChineseGirl -- Leinyan from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her giant form in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', Ray'n
* ChromaticArrangement -- The three main types of ships are Red (straight-forward shot), Green (turning shot), and Blue (wide shot). This extends to the playable characters of ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' as well.
* {{Combos}} -- The essence of the series' scoring systems.
* ContinuityNod -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is the only direct sequel in the series; the backstory consists of the code of the Elemental Dolls (the protagonists of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'') performing a FaceHeelTurn and going back in time to 2008. [[spoiler: Colonel Schwarlitz Longhena, who first appeared in ''[=DoDonPachi=]'', turns out to be responsible for the events of the whole series.]]
* CreepyDoll -- The Element Dolls themselves are life-sized versions of these. One piece of artwork also shows Shotia laying in a pile of them.
* {{Crossover}} -- ''[=DoDonPachi=] [=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label Arrange'' incorporates many elements from another Cave shooter, ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'', complete with the cover art being a big throwback to that game. It even has the TrueFinalBoss of ''Ketsui'', Evaccania DOOM. It can be seen in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_LGyRaPTPc this trailer]].
* CutSong -- [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY9LTWjcvq0 "Zatsuza"]] from the ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' soundtrack was initially thought to be this, but it was revealed that the song plays during the fight against Zatsuza, the [[UpToEleven stronger]] replacement of Hibachi.
* DarkerAndEdgier -- Series-wise, ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', but when compared to other BulletHell games, the series is this.
* [[spoiler: {{Deconstruction}} -- The storyline of the series, at the very least, is a deconstruction of many typical scrolling shoot-em-up plots. ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' could also be this for the whole concept of a FanService RobotGirl.]]
* DegradedBoss -- Hibachi appears in ''[=DoDonPachi=] II'' as the first enemy you encounter in the game, but it's only his first form and he goes down very quickly. He regains his TrueFinalBoss status in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
* DevelopmentHell -- There is a patch for the XBox 360 version of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' that fixes the numerous bugs in the game (see PortingDisaster). It took about ''two years'' since the game was released to make; by the time it was out the sequel ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' was already ported.
* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything -- The A and B parts of the songs in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' (such as "Flotage (Stage 3-A)" and "Flotage (Stage 3-B)" which play on the normal path and hidden path, respectively) are really two parts of the same whole. If you combine the two songs and play them at the same time, you get the main riff for Zatsuza's theme, in perfect tempo. For Flotage, for example, this is surprisingly during the guitar solo.
* DifficultButAwesome -- While the whole game can be counted as one by BulletHell standards, Exy in ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' has the lowest bomb count of the three Dolls, but gets both Shotia's regular shot and Leinyan's laser shot, and only loses one power level of each upon death instead of one of one shot type and all of the other.
** In ''Daifukkatsu'', Power Style also qualifies. You can't bomb (except you do get one auto-bomb upon picking up a bomb item) and the shot is still slightly weaker than Strong Style even in Boost Mode, but Power Style also builds up Hypers the fastest ''and'' any bullets cancelled by your Hyper while in Boost Mode also charge up your ''next'' Hyper. Play your cards right and you can have a Hyper ready basically anytime you want.
* DifficultySpike -- Halfway through Stage 4 of ''[=DoDonPachi=]''.
* DistractedByTheSexy -- Apparently {{Inverted}} in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''. The [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/02/04/your-swimsuit-drives-enemies-wild-in-next-dodonpachi-game swimsuit costume]] makes enemy attacks more intense.
* [[AutobotsRockOut DonPachi Squadron, Rock Out!]] -- The ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' soundtrack as well as its Arranged Mode variant, which takes that album UpToEleven. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ2y67EjyUo Here's the normal Boss theme from Arranged Mode]].
* DownerEnding -- At the end of the first loop in ''[=DonPachi=]'', [[spoiler:the horrible truth is [[TheReveal revealed]] to the player that the pilot has been fighting comrades the whole time (and apparently knew it).]] At the end of the game, [[spoiler:take [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/d/donparun.htm a moment of silence for the thousands of your fellow soldiers you've killed]].]] The sequel is perhaps even more chilling because [[spoiler:you are tricked by your commander, Colonel Longhena, into believing that the invading enemy force are mechanized aliens, and you don't know that they're really your comrades until your commander reveals this upon you unlocking the second loop. In the endings for ''Dai Ou Jou'', Shotia's memory is deleted bit by bit until the last memories in her are of her human days and she smiles fondly of them as they go too, and Exy goes crazy and chokes her operator to death while crying blood, then goes and does things leading to ''Dai Fukkatsu''. And, part of the true ending of ''Dai Fukkatsu'' is that your mothership is destroyed by Colonel Longhena. Another sort of ending like this is '''Dai Fukkatsu''' and it's Arrange Mode A ending, Leinyan (The human defending one, not her human killing Ray'n version) finds Next EXY's Data and tries to tell her she is going about changing the future all wrong, and wonders if Next EXY didn't start all this in the first place, who did? Cut to GENERAL Longhena.]]
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Leinyan's ending in ''DaiOuJou'', she is cruelly pulled away from her human pilot who she has fallen in love with and deactivated, being send off for research, later she escapes with the help of cyberspace and reunites with her pilot]]
* DynamicDifficulty -- The BLACK Label version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''. When an on-screen bar (called the "reddo" (烈怒) gauge) fills up to a certain level, the number of bullets fired by enemies will increase. Watch the above BLACK Label Hibachi to ''really'' see exactly how completely insane this can get.
** And ''not'' raising the gauge will nerf your combos and points, making the difference between survival and scoring very clear.
** ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' has a visible numeric rank meter at the top-center of the screen.
* {{Dubstep}}: ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''s boss theme, "Taiji", is infamous for a ten-second dubstep segment.
* EasierThanEasy[=/=]ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin -- ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' has a secret No Bullets option. It is ''exactly as it sounds''.
* EveryTenThousandPoints -- [=DonPachi=] has a single extend at 2 million points; the other games will give out extra lives at two different score boundaries displayed on the title screen, which can be adjusted.
* EverythingsWorseWithBees -- Embodied in the form of Hibachi. Reinstated by Zatsuza.
* {{Expy}} -- AI from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is about one dye job and outfit change from being Hatsune Miku.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption -- [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHqN_fH2S7k Zatsuza]]. That video showcases the Final Bosses in order ''beaten'', as a comparison: Hibachi, Hibachi True, and Zatsuza, along with Normal Mode Zatsuza at the end for comparison. If you make it to Zatsuza, be prepared to spend everything. No, you will not be able to dodge all of the bullets.
* FanDisservice -- The cover of ''[=DaiOuJou=] Black Label [=EXTRA=]'', as seen on this page. Four robot girls, all heavily damaged, and the sole survivor is bleeding from one damaged eye.
* FanNickname -- Ketsupachi for ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]] BLACK Label'' Arrange Mode on the XBox 360. (See CrossOver).
* FingerlessGloves -- Exy and Next EXY
* FlashOfPain
* ForDoomTheBellTolls -- [=DaiOuJou's=] penultimate boss music. See [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSY4xRMvvOg here]]
* TheFourGods[=/=]FourIsDeath -- The boss names in ''[=DaiOuJou=]''. In order: Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, Seiryū, and Kōryū. Hibachi comes immediately after Kōryū.
* FrickinLaserBeams -- An enemy attack in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''.
* GameMod -- ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtfKz6eTzsE DoDonPachi Arrange]]'', an unofficial arrange mode in which bombs retain combo rather than break it and cause the player's score to continously increase at a rate proportional to their current combo.[[hottip:note:For those who keep up with video game scoring mechanics, it's heavily inspired by ''Battle Bakraid''.]] Also, the boss music is replaced with [[CutSong an unused spy-esque track]].
* GenrePopularizer -- While certainly not the first BulletHell game (''Batsugun'', another such game, was released 2 years before ''[=DonPachi=]''), ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' certainly did popularize the concept.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation -- [[spoiler: After the end of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', Exy dived into the enemy information system and was able to shut it down, but went rather insane.]]
* GoOutWithASmile -- [[spoiler: Shotia's ending in '''[=DaiOuJou=]''']]
* GratuitousEnglish -- In ''[=DonPachi=]'', despite the announcer's SurprisinglyGoodEnglish (see below), much English ''text'' in the game was clearly inserted by someone who didn't really understand certain... vagaries (like the curious hyphenation found a couple of times in the ending). Perhaps someone should cross-check the credits with that of ''ZeroWing''....
-->'''Copyright statement''': Warning: This game is for use in <country> only. Sales, export, or operation outside this country may be construed as copyright and trademark infringement and is strictly prohibited. ''Violator and subject to severe penalties and will be prosecutedt to the full extent of the jam''
-->'''Boss alert''': This is not similation. Get ready to destoroy the enemy. Target for the weak points of fuckin' machine. Do your best you have ever done.
** The announcers of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' also speak in English, in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', the announcer speaks in Japanese.
** In the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0CdMTr5KA trailer]] for ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''[='=]s Arrange mode: "JUST A COUPLE MORE SHOTS desu"
** In ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'': "Hyper System: Standby!" and "Hyper System: Ready!"
* HarderThanHard -- Strong Style in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''. It grants your ship immense firepower...at the cost of making the enemies ALSO powerful.
* HitboxDissonance -- The games have relatively small hitboxes compared to the ship sizes. There's an odd example with the Type-B helicopter; in Donpachi the hitboxes are on the large side and Type-B's extends pretty from the main rotor to a ways down the tail). In Dodonpachi, the hitbox is noticeably smaller and is actually moved back a bit so that it's located behind the main rotor in the thin segment of the tail fuselage between the main rotor and the tailfin (much like how the later VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'s hitboxes are not centered on the main rotor but placed behind them).
* [[HumansAreBastards Humans Are]] [[HumansAreFlawed Ungrateful]] [[HumansAreBastards Bastards]]: Put this in perspective: all of the pilots are not human, forced to work for a shady organization, and ordered [[spoiler:to initiate a genocide]] as a ''training'' exercise that makes up an entire arc in ''[=DonPachi=]''.
* ImageSong -- For ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oawIMl5bQK0 DoDonPachi Dai Ondo]].
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Does the enemy really need that many {{Mook}}s and bullets just to take down ''one pilot''?
* IncendiaryExponent -- "Hibachi" means "Fire Bee"... and indeed, Hibachi is often on fire when it fights.
* InterspeciesRomance -- [[spoiler: Leinyan's ending in ''DaiOuJou'', to an EXTREME]]
* {{Joshikousei}} -- AI from ''[=DaiFukkatasu=]''.
* KillAllHumans -- Apparently the motive of the enemies throughout the series.
* KillerRobot -- All of the enemies in the series are this. Or are they? Hibachi is the most killer of them all.
* [[spoiler:KnightTemplar -- Colonel Longhena]]
* LastOfHisKind -- According to CAVE in a 2010 interview, only one copy of ''[=DoDonPachi=] Campaign Version'' (also known as the ''Blue ROM'' or ''Blue Label'' from the color of its title screen) exists, and they had lost all copies of the source code. This would mean [[FridgeHorror if the board dies, it will be]] LostForever. However, CAVE also had ''two'' copies of the game on display at the 2006 CAVE Matsuri; this likely means the source code and remaining [=PCBs=] are simply a closely-guarded secret.
* LastStarfighter -- In ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', the two available ships are the only ships that could be constructed in order to fight against the threat.
* {{Leitmotif}} -- Since ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', [[TrueFinalBoss Hibachi]]'s had an extremely fast-paced drum 'n bass boss theme.
** "Longhena Cantata" is Colonel Longhena's theme, played during [[spoiler:the boss battle with him]].
* LogicalExtreme -- Of the BulletHell genre itself, ''[[TropeMaker which it created]]''. For comparison, let's have ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'': in that series, you normally have to go through the game once to get to the ending, and then go through Extra Mode ([[NintendoHard and you can't continue on Extra Mode]]). ''[=DonPachi=]'' takes that, and decides you have to go through the game twice, with the second as Extra Mode, while normally beating every boss in the game on one life, ''and then'' beating the True Final Boss (which would be best described as [[RankInflation Extra++ Mode]]). There are fans who are dedicated enough to do exactly that.
* LuckyCharmsTitle -- Perfect☆ from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=].''
* ManBehindTheMan -- (In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=],'' [[spoiler:the entirety of the plot is revealed: exploiting their desire for revenge, Colonel Longhena manipulated the Element Dolls/Daughters into exterminating the human race, convinced of its intrinsic imperfection and aiming towards rebuilding it according to his idea of flawlessness (an attempt already foiled centuries before by the first [[TitleDrop DonPachi Squadron]]). Said ambitions come to an abrupt halt with the destruction of the ultimate fighting machine Hibachi.]])
* ManipulativeBastard -- [[spoiler: The commander from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'']]
* MeaningfulName -- '''Shot'''ia from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' is the shot type. Leinyan, whose name can also be pronounced '''Ray'''-nyan, is the beam (or "ray") type, and her ''Dai Fukkatsu'' form is named '''Ray''' 'n. '''Ex'''y is good at both shots and lasers but has fewer bombs compared to the others, making her suited for '''ex'''pert players.
* {{Meganekko}} -- Perfect☆ from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', although her glasses are difficult to notice during gameplay.
* {{Meido}} -- Perfect☆ from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', complete with a serving tray.
* MoeAnthropomorphism: [[UpToEleven Taken to an]] [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext illogical extreme]] with [[ThatOneBoss Hibachi]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_QBisDe2OQ&t=3m20s as a little girl]] in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''.
-->''(while firing) [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Dodododododododo-do~]]''
* MoodWhiplash -- Originally, ''[=DoDonPachi=]'s'' style is not far removed from cliched old-school shoot-em-ups, and only its endings suggest any darker turn. ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' suddenly takes a DarkerAndEdgier turn [[spoiler: with endings that include and are not limited to: the Element Dolls choking their masters to death while crying blood.]] Then ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' comes around, and it is extremely humorous / fanservicey due to the [[NightmareFetishist transforming robot girls, complete with white pantsu]]. Then it goes right back to Dark and Edgy with its ending, showing that the entire battle was pretty much a waste, the player's victory only having set the events of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' up in a StableTimeLoop.
* MultipleEndings -- Each game typically has at least three : one for completing the first loop without fulfilling the requirements for the second, one for completing both loops but not unlocking the TrueFinalBoss, and one for completing said TFB.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast -- Taisabachi (Colonel Bee), the boss you fight before Hibachi in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', had it's name changed in ''[=DaiFuukatsu=] BLACK Label'' to "[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Supreme Weapon of Extreme Hellish Annihilation - Golden Disaster]]"
** Hibachi's full name is "Kyokusatsu Heiki - Hibachi," (極殺兵器) "Supreme Killing Weapon - Hibachi."
* NintendoHard
* NoExportForYou -- The first game has a proper US release, and the second has an "International" release. And that's only for arcades; none of the console releases have made their way outside of Japan.
** Rising Star is set to finally end this trend with a European release of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' (under the English title used for the iPhone game) in November 2011. However, North America shows no sign of getting it.
*** Rising Star has announced that the European release will be compatible with US-NTSC consoles. So North America ''does'' get it... if they're willing to import. However, an EU XboxLive account is needed for the V1.5 and Black Label DLC's. And the Black Label Arrange mode (aka "Ketsuipachi") is not available outside of Japan.
*** The iOS ports are downloadable in America, however.
* NostalgiaLevel -- Level 5 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' looks like a DarkerAndEdgier version of level 1 from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and the bosses of levels 3, 4, and 5 appear.
** In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=],'' bosses from both ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' and ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' can appear as midbosses, depending on how well the player is doing. If they do, a slightly different version of the BGM that includes a lietmotif from a song from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' is played instead of the regular version.
* ObviousRulePatch -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' version 1.0, there was a safe spot in one of Hibachi's patterns. Version 1.5 fixed this.
* OneUp -- In addition to the point-based extends, they appear in item form in stage 3 of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'', stage 4 of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', and stage 3 in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' by destroying a relatively large enemy in the center of the screen without using bombs.
* OneWomanWail: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45S3NhQREts Longhena Cantata]].
* OjouRinglets -- Shotia from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her counterpart Shooty from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''
* PinballScoring -- And comboing. Each successive game raises the bar for combos, from triple-digits in ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' to the ''ten thousands'' in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''.
* PowerUp -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' does away with them altogether, but if you select Power Style, you can use a stronger version of your shots, at the cost of speed.
* ThePresentDay -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', released in 2008, is explicitly set in 2008, albeit implied to be in an alternate timeline.
* RecurringBoss -- Many of the bosses and sub-bosses from ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' continue to return in later games of the series, especially in ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]''. And, of course, Hibachi keeps on coming back.
* RecurringRiff -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', the first stage's theme gets a reprisal in the final stage, and again in the ending after the second loop. The intro is also a remix of [=DaiOuJou's=] first stage intro.
* {{Retraux}} -- ♪ [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LerWQeMXVd0 Sally (Select)]] from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label''.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots -- Especially in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', the Element Daughters behave like GenkiGirl MagicalGirl s and at least one of them is confirmed to have ''white pantsu.'' Seriously, what does a transforming RobotGirl need pantsu for!?!?
* RobotGirl -- The Element Dolls from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', the precursors to the transforming mecha girls of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' mentioned below.
* RobotWar -- The overall plot of the series.
* SecretCharacter: A first for the series. Clearing the hidden 2nd loop of ''[=DoDonPachi=] Resurrection'' (the ''Daifukkatsu'' port to iOS) unlocks...[[spoiler:Hibachi!]] While only playable in iPhone Mode, [[spoiler:Hibachi]] is easily the most powerful of the 4 ships. On top of having the strongest lasers, it can even [[spoiler: shoot [[PurposefullyOverpowered 360 degrees of pixel death]] like its boss incarnation]].
* SequelDifficultySpike
** ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' is shades harder than ''[=DoDonPachi=]''.
** ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'' pushes the series' difficulty ceiling.
* SequelDifficultyDrop: ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', particularly version 1.5. Strong Style is particularly overpowered, and the game has mandatory autobomb, effectively giving you 15 starting lives.
* SequelEscalation -- Each successive game one-ups its predecessor in many different aspects: overall bullet density, your ship's firepower, scoring, combos, and the difficulty of the bosses, especially the {{True Final Boss}}es. This has gotten to the point where pro players sometimes actually enable autobomb on ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'', and did not try to do scoring runs on the hardest difficulty right away.
* SerialEscalation -- To anyone who thought Hibachi's ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' incarnation couldn't be any harder, meet the ''BLACK Label'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsWhVhgEEV4&annotation_id=annotation_111728&feature=iv one]]. Cave also added a more powerful variation called [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI25niUOtbc Zatsuza]], which replaces Hibachi if the player manages to defeat Golden Disaster with no deaths and using Strong style.
** You know ''[=DaiOuJou=] DEATH Label'' down below? If you beat it once, you get the chance to do it again, but with [[OneHitWonder only one life]], all the bosses immune to bombs ... ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCKZj2Xss9A&t=2m15s and your laser bomb actually healing the boss]]'' ! At the end of the video, you see what is called the "True Hibachi -Custom-." In the first run, you fight two Hibachis; however, they're toned down individually compared to the original. In the second loop, they are both at ''full power''.
*** In case you're wondering, beating the second loop of ''DEATH Label'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R87e64xdmvs&t=6m4s only nets you]] [[AWinnerIsYou a game over screen]].
* {{Sexbot}} -- Hard to tell without a human translation, but some of the Element Dolls/Daughters were originally designed to serve humans and help them feel more comfortable. Some of them also have features, such as white pantsu, that purely-military robots are... let us say... unlikely to need.
* ShootTheShaggyDog -- In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', [[spoiler:Next EXY, following the events of ''dai ou jou'', goes back in time to destroy [=DonPachi=] Corps and prevent the Blissful Death Wars from happening. In doing so, however, she ends up ''causing'' them. You cleaning up after her mess merely leads to the events of ''dai ou jou''.]]
* ShoutOut -- The scoreboard of ''[=DonPachi=]'' spell out "Toaplan 4 Ever" if you read the first letter of each default scorer. {{Toaplan}} was a big developer of shmups and Cave is formed in majority by formers employee of Toaplan.
** From the same game, after beating the 2nd loop, a small cutscene show Pipiru (Toaplan's mascot, mostly know for it's appearance in the ending of the arcade ZeroWing.) holding on one of the ships before dropping into the water.
** The Japanese names of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'''s music tracks are puns on various shmup developers: "Toua" (Toaplan), "Sakusetsu" (Success), "Raijin" (Raizing), and so on.
* SmartBomb -- Notable for being usable in two different ways: turning all bullets into score items, or powering a ''very'' big laser.
** However, it will reset your combo meter, except in rare circumstances:
*** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] Arrange A'': Does nothing to combo.
*** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] Arrange B'': There's no combo meter. If anything, the game encourages bombing for score, with the bombs you can get as often as every 5-10 seconds.
*** ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] ver. 1.51'': Not only does nothing to combo, it can also hit lasers for large sums of points depending on your current combo.
*** ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'': If you have autocbomb enabled, autobombing will erase your entire bomb stock, on top of nuking your combo. However, if you bomb manually, you'll only lose 30% of your combo.
** In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK LABEL'', if you disable autobomb, your bombs will double as extra Hyper stocks. Using a Hyper from your stock will cancel bullets, but won't reset combo.
* SoundtrackDissonance: Apparently attempted in the iPhone version of ''Daifukkatsu''.
* SpiritualSuccessor -- The XBox360 version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'' is a massive tribute to VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}. This includes and is not limited to: the cover art, the ships being replaced with those of Ketsui (such as the Tiger Schwert), and the replacement of Hibachi with DOOM (complete with DOOM's theme song).
* {{Stripperiffic}} -- Exy and Next EXY, apparently to make humans feel more comfortable.
* SuperMode -- Hyper Mode, introduced in ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', which gives you increased firepower and causes your combo to shoot through the roof, but the DynamicDifficulty will also go apeshit as a tradeoff. ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'''s Hyper Mode allows you to ''cancel bullets.''
** In ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'', Red Mode causes the ''enemies'' to go into super mode.
* SuperSoldier -- Deconstructed in ''[=DonPachi=]''. The training for it involves [[spoiler:killing thousands of fellow soldiers posing as the enemy.]]
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish -- The speech your commander gives you at the end of ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' is in decent English.
** The announcer in ''[=DonPachi=]'', even if he [[{{Narm}} sounds like a head coach who always calls you "rookie" despite your skill]].
* TankGoodness -- "Lookie what we got here: a multi-assault tank! Watch yourself!" And the tanks only get stronger and more numerous from there.
* TearsOfBlood -- [[spoiler: In ''[=DaiOuJou=]'', one ending has Exy crying blood while choking a man to death.]]
* ThisIsUnforgivable -- "You know, what you've done to me is unforgivable. I'll punish you myself and see to it that you'll die a miserable death with my awesome weapon. Die, maggots." Enter [[OhCrap Hibachi]].
* TimeTravel -- ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' takes the player characters from just after the events of ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' (which are in the distant future) back to 2008.
* TitleDrop -- ''[=DonPachi=]'' means "leader bee," and ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' "angry leader bee." The name of the military organization the player character is in is called [=DonPachi=] Corps. Additionally, "don" is an onomatopoeia for gunfire. There are hidden bee icons throughout the games that yield extra points. The true penultimate boss of nearly each game is a huge mechanical bee that, upon its destruction, opens up to reveal the TrueFinalBoss.
** One of the achievements for the iOS version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' is "Blissful Death," which is a translation of ''[=DaiOuJou=]''.
* TrainingFromHell -- The plot of ''[=DonPachi=]''.
* TreacherousAdvisor -- [[spoiler: Colonel Schwarlitz Longhena]]
* TrueFinalBoss -- Hibachi.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI25niUOtbc Zatsuza]], the ultimate true final boss of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=] BLACK Label'', replaces Hibachi if the player uses [[NintendoHard Strong Style]], [[HarderThanHard meets the requirements for Hibachi]] ''and'' beats Golden Disaster (Hibachi's first form) without dying.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoUIM63soZ8 Inbachi]] replaces Hibachi in Saidaioujou if certain conditions are met. And then proceeds to [[SerialEscalation put every other True Final Boss from each of Cave's previous games to utter shame]].
* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters -- The Element Dolls from ''[= DaiOuJou=]''. The achievement for the iOS version of ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'' for defeating Ray'n is "She Once Protected Us..."
* TurnsRed -- "Just a couple more shots!"
* UnwittingPawn -- [[spoiler:You]], in ''[=DoDonPachi=]''. [[spoiler:The enemies you destroy are ''your allies'', which your [[TreacherousAdvisor commander]] reveals to you upon unlocking the conditions for the game's second loop before sending you off to be killed by said loop's forces. "{{See you in Hell}}!"]]
* [[TransformingMecha Transforming]] [[RobotGirl Mecha Musume]] -- The Elemental Daughters [[spoiler:and Hibachi]] from ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]''.
* UpdatedRerelease -- ''[=DoDonPachi=]'' has the above-mentioned ''Campaign Version'' . [=DaiOuJou=] and [=DaiFukkatsu=] both have Black Label versions.
* WaveMotionGun -- The Bomb-Laser, and in later games, the Hyper-Laser joins the fun.
* WeCanRebuildHim -- Hibachi keeps coming back.
* WhatMeasureIsANonhuman -- A theme of the series.
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl -- Exy from ''[=DaiOuJou=]'' and her giant form in ''[=DaiFukkatsu=]'', Next EXY.
----
''Just a couple more tropes desu!''
