CAVE: Dodonpachi Saidaioujou EXA Label is coming

In a surprise announcement EXA, makers of new arcade hardware, announced that they are working with CAVE to release Dodonpachi Saidaioujou EXA Label, a new entry in the Dodonpachi series after an 8 year hiatus.

A summer 2020 release is targeted and I'm just hoping HEY STHLM will get a cabinet (and that an eventual port will reach a modern console).

Blast from the (recent) past: The Cave Collection unboxing

Unboxing of the Cave Collection Kan, the second and most recent of the Cave Collections for the Xbox 360. Kan has an extra game included compared to the first edition, Akai Katana, but doesn't include the soundtracks for the games which are in a separate box included with the first collection.
The Cave Collections for Xbox 360 were released in 2013 and 2014 respectively and are quite pricey.

Besides getting the collection you also need a JP Xbox 360 or a modded 360 machine to play some of the games as they are decidedly region locked. Let's hope all these games get re-released on current consoles.

CAVE finally going to update iOS games

In what can only be described as a (very welcome) surprise announcement, CAVE has shared the news that they will be updating their iOS apps to 64-bit versions to allow us to enjoy the games moving forward. We can finally start updating our iOS devices!

No word on the Android apps yet.

EDIT: The update will be free of charge _and_ there will be an anniversary sale for people who missed out the first time.

The following titles are getting updates:
Dodonpachi Blissful Death
Dodonpachi Resurrection HD
Dodonpachi Maximum
Deathsmiles

EDIT2: Trailer.

CAVE Festival 2018 brings sale to Steam

All CAVE titles on Steam are heavily discounted right now due to the ongoing CAVE Festival 2018.

So get your Mushihimesama, Dodonpachi Resurrection and DeathSmiles while they're cheap!

Dodonpachi Unlimited for iOS/Android confirmed for 19/1 -17

Almost time to grind, grind, grind!

DDPR Black Label Arrange OST Preview

Degica announces Raizing/Eighting DLC for DBCS

New DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours DLC from three amazing Eighting games! New ships! New stages! New music!

Mahoudaisakusen/Sorcer Striker (C)1993 EIGHTING 
Soukyuugurentai/Terra Diver © 1996 EIGHTING 
BATTLE GAREGGA (C) 1996 EIGHTING

Dariusburst CS is the gift that keeps on giving. With three DLCs already it's the greatest mashup of our times.

Earlier DLCs:
Taito: Night Striker, Metal Black and RayForce
SEGA: Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II
CAVE: Deathsmiles, Ketsui and Dodonpachi Resurrection

Dodonpachi Unlimited (for iOS/Android) announced

CAVE and their partner on mobile platforms, Mobirix, have announced the second danmaku game from the cooperation: Dodonpachi Unlimited.

This follows on Mushihimesama/Bug Princess Gold Label released late last year for iOS.
Where the new Mushihimesama lifted graphics and mechanics from the Mushihimesama games to build a fresh grindfest on the concept it looks like Dodonpachi Unlimited has lifted graphics and mechanics from Dodonpachi Ichimen-banchou, the previous mobile Dodonpachi grindfest.

We wont have to wait to long to find out if its all its cracked up to be, it should release this month.

Most of the hardcore shmup crowd ignore these games because of their touch-based mechanics but I find some of them quite enjoyable for quick sessions on the commute to and from work. As usual - play what YOU like.

DDPR Black Label OST Preview + Söldner X 2-update

Play-Asia has started shipping the physical release of Söldner-X 2 for PS Vita now.

DDPR Arrange OST Preview

CAVE DLC for DBCS available on Steam right now!

The three CAVE DLCs for Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours launched today, dec. 15th, on Steam.

DDPR OST Preview

CAVE DLC for DariusBurst:CS - The Press Release

New DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours DLC is Coming With The CAVE DLC Bundle! The ridiculously huge amounts of awesome content for DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours has not let up! The third DLC bundle is coming December 14th 2016 and will contain three packs each providing a new ship, new stages, and new music taken from the games of the legendary shmup developers, CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd. The music featured comes from the prolific composers, WASi303, Keishi Yonao, and Yousuke Yasui. Each pack will be available separately for $4.99 USD or together in a bundle for $11.97 USD. Below are details on each individual pack.   Check out the trailer!

Here's what you can look forward to!...

Windia from Deathsmiles From the magical land of Gilverado, comes Windia!   Features: Windia is playable in DLC mode as a ship. Windia brings her bidirectional shooting and lock-on magic. Collect skulls & crowns to increase your gauge, then unleash its power. Hoo, Windia’s owl familiar, joins the fight. Unique stages and music (with remixes by WASi303)

Delta Sword from DoDonPachi Resurrection Resurrecting from a Blissful Death, the Delta Sword rises like a phoenix!   Features: Delta Sword is playable in DLC mode as a ship. Switch between shots and beam. Fill your gauge to enter Hyper Mode to increase your combo and get items. Unique stages and music (with remixes by Keishi Yonao)

Tiger Schwert from ketsui Welcome to the special round, Tiger Schwert!   Features: Tiger Schwert is playable in DLC mode as a ship. Switch between normal shots and lock-on shots. Collect score-increasing chips by getting dangerously close to your targets. Lock-on options will shoot what you shoot. Unique stages and music (with remixes by Yousuke Yasui)

Oh, one more thing... Purchasing an above DLC gives you access to 3 special stages designed specially for that ship. (Only scores using that ship will be registered in the special stages.) You will also get access to the CAVE pack: 10 newly arranged stages including 3 boss fights, as well as CS PACK 3: 10 stages from CS mode. Buying any DLC also lets you use all theDARIUSBURST ships from the base game in the DLC Mode stages. ...this is one time it's ok to get lost in a CAVE. c'(^_~)

New CAVE DLC for Dariusburst:Chronicle Saviours getting closer

Confirmed availability December 15th on Twitter.

DDP:R, Oct 14th, Steam

Yeah, you read that right. DoDonPachi Resurrection will hit Steam on October 14th.
Or so they say.

Degica goes BIG with Dariusburst CS

DariusBurst’s back with two new DLC packs, a physical PS4 release and a new developer! 17th September, 2016—Degica is proud to announce two new upcoming DLC packs, the much demanded PS4 physical release and a new developer for the much-loved DariusBurst Chronicle Saviours (Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita), released in December, 2015. New DLC: Following on from DLC collaborations with Taito (DLC Pack 1) and Sega (DLC Pack 2), we now have fan favourites Cave and 8ing joining the fray. As always, each DLC features a new ship and soundtrack with guest composer giving their interpretation of the classic hits. *Details to be released at a later date. New PS4 Release: The long-awaited physical release for PlayStation 4 is on its way in the form of a limited edition! Details to be released separately at a later date. New Developer: Taking up the torch from Pyramid, Inc., Taito-alumni and shooting game specialists G.rev are now in charge of DariusBurst CS’s development and are currently hard at work crafting new DLC! Their previous Steam title, Strania, was well received so DariusBurst is in great hands! Cave (DLC Pack 3) Rising from the ashes of the legendary Toaplan, Cave is the company which made bullet-hell synonymous with shooting-heaven for countless fans. Lineup: Dodonpachi Resurrection, Deathsmiles, Ketsui Release Date: TBD Platform:  PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Steam Price: Single DLC: $4.99, All 3: $11.99 (prices may vary by region and platform)

Dodonpachi Resurrection (C)2008, 2010, 2016 CAVE Interactive CO., LTD. Deathsmiles (C)2007, 2016 CAVE Interactive CO., LTD. Ketsui (C)2002, 2016 CAVE Interactive CO., LTD. 8ing (DLC Pack 4) Drawing DNA from Naxat, Compile and Toaplan, they set the 90s arcade scene alight as Raizing with genre-defining shooting games still revered by fans today. Lineup: BATTLE GAREGGA, Sorcer Striker (Mahoudaisakusen), Terra Diver (Soukyugurentai) Release Date: TBD Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Steam Price: Single DLC: $4.99, All 3: $11.99 (prices may vary by region and platform)

BATTLE GAREGGA (C) 1996 EIGHTING Mahoudaisakusen/Sorcer Striker (C)1996 EIGHTING Soukyugurentai/Terra Diver (C)1993 EIGHTING CAVE Interactive CO., LTD. : http://www.cave.co.jp/en/ EIGHTING CO., LTD. : http://www.8ing.co.jp/en/ G.rev Ltd.: http://www.grev.co.jp/ About Degica Games: Degica Games is a Tokyo-based publisher specializing in localizing Japanese games for the global market. We're best known for the RPG Maker franchise and shooting games such as DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours, The Shooting Love series, ESCHATOS Wonder Pack, and Crimzon Clover. We’re even branching out into fighting games with Koihime Enbu and more. Our goal is to bring you the best games from Japan and all around the world! ### Thank you for reading! Official DariusBurst Chronicle Saviours Site: http://darius.jp/dbcs/en/

Good times for PlayStation 4 owners ahead.

The latest issue of japanese stalwart games magazine Famitsu revealed that not only is CAVEs Dangun Feveron coming to PSN but Raizings Battle Garegga is coming along for the ride!

This is potentially good news for gamers everywhere and not only because Dangun Feveron has never gotten a home console release before and the only way to play Battle Garegga right now is to get the pricey japanese Sega Saturn release - the PS4 is very import friendly. Just follow one of the guides to create a japanese PSN account and get cracking!

In other news Degica seem to have backed off their earlier September 8th release date for the Steam port of CAVEs DoDonPachi Dai-Fukkatsu, moving it into more ambiguous TBA land.

September 8 it is

Degicas port of CAVEs DoDonPachi Resurrection / Dai-Fukkatsu hits Steam on September 8th.
Its another CAVE game already widely available but I guess if we keep buying the ones we already have they will eventually port something that's not so easily available.

Not your fathers Dodonpachi Resurrection!

Degica Games announced on Twitter that the upcoming release of CAVEs seminal danmaku Dodonpachi Resurrection on Steam will get ALL THE MODES from the japanese Xbox 360 release.

So yes, that includes the Black Label Arrange "Ketsuipachi" mode which will see its first western release. It somewhat makes up for the fact that Dodonpachi Resurrection had a western release on Xbox 360, sans Black Label mode - but still.

If you don't have a Japanese or JTAG-modified Xbox 360 chances are this is the first time you will get to play it. Pro tip: It's hard.

TBT: Ten Great Bullet Hell Shooters

TBT to this great listing in USGamer. Some solid choices, some curve balls but ultimately a nice list.

Thinking outside the box and not just list 10 CAVE games is a risky tactic but I think it paid off, it makes the list more interesting.

Kudos for listing Dodonpachi Maximum, an otherwise much derided part of the Donpachi series only available on mobile platforms. Goofy graphics aside it has great mechanics and the trademark CAVE difficulty curve of easy, easy, easy, I CAN'T DODGE ALL THIS WHAT DO I DOOOOO.