Fans of Japanese shumps, or the DODONPACHI franchise, will be excited to learn that DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU has once again returned to the Nintendo eShop within Europe and can be purchased for £30.99.
Why is this exciting news? Well, DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU originally launched on the 13th January 2025 in Europe (which was already a month later than the the Japanese (and North American) release of the game, but for some unknown reason it mysteriously disappeared from the Nintendo eShop. Today however, on 10th February 2025, Live Wire Inc have confirmed (on social media) that DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU has returned to the Nintendo eShop after sales of the title were suspended in selective regions (such as the EU).
DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU is described as a faithful port of the vertical-scrolling shoot-’em-up originally developed by CAVE Interactive CO.,LTD and features four different versions of the game including Arcade HD, Ver. 1.5, Novice, and Ver. Saya. Arcade HD and Ver. 1.5 bring the classic arcade game to consoles, while Novice and Ver. Saya offer a more relaxing and story-driven experience for newcomers.
Story: “The Utopia” — a place humanity has dreamed of, where perfect peace and harmonious coexistence with nature are achieved. When invaders disrupt this carefully governed utopia, the Commander dispatches elite operatives to eliminate the threat. Together with your “Element Doll” you must locate and dismantle the massive computer system hidden within “The Utopia”.
As with any shoot-em-up game the aim is to achieve the highest score possible within as few continues as possible, and to do this players will be able to use unique abilities and three types of
dress upgrades to enhance your weapons. DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU also offers replay ability in the form unlockable galleries as well as character customization.
DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU is available digitally from on the Nintendo eShop within Europe and is priced at £30.99. The game is published by Live Wire Inc worldwide onto the Nintendo eShop with the game developed by CAVE Interactive CO.,LTD. At the time of writing DODONPACHI SAIDAIOUJOU can only be found on the Nintendo eShop on the console, and can not be viewed on the Nintendo website.
