All this is great, so why am I only giving the game a B? Quite simply, the game's challenge will make it unappealing to certain people. Don't get me wrong - I love challenging games. But when you're playing a difficult game, there's a difference between feeling like "Aw, man, I screwed up, I'll do better next time" and "Damn it, this game is totally unfair!" Unfortunately, Dai-oujou induces the latter feeling far more than it should. In many cases, if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time when bullets or enemy waves start coming at you, you're likely to get into a situation that is impossible to get out of without using a bomb. I consider myself as having a good amount of gaming fortitude, and yet I still found myself despairing over certain parts of the game.

The game certainly isn't impossible - the replays and bonus DVD included show that, with players completing the entire game with nary a scratch. Then again, those are people who are regarded almost as "professional shooter players" demonstrating how incredibly l33t they are to the rest of the world. They have played and mastered shooters like rabid maniacs for years. If you pick up the game and expect to become as good as in the play movies in a few weeks or even months, you'll be sorely disappointed. Dai-oujou is a game that will take even a hardcore player a very long time to master. Unfortunately, it will alienate a lot of people because of this.

I suppose I should admit that I actually find Dai-oujou to be a bit lacking in plain fun and enjoyability compared to Do DonPachi, the series' second installment and what many people agree to be one of the best modern shooters. I could recommend (and have recommended) Do DonPachi to casual shooter players as a game they could enjoy for solid gameplay, a challenge that ramps up gradually and never feels unfair, and easy-to-understand scoring systems. Not so for Daioujou.

And it is possible for a shooter to be easy and intuitive enough to be a good pick-up for casual gamers yet still challenging enough for serious fans. Just look at Blazing Star, the game which helped turn me into a frothing shooter maniac.

That all being said, Daioujou is still an absolute must-have for shooting freaks. I would like to see it sell as much as possible so that perhaps newer, better Cave shooters (e.g., Ketsui) will get home ports. Sadly, I cannot recommend this game to a casual or beginning shooter player. Those of you "hardcore" who can endure hours of potential frustration in working to perfect your routine or discover new strategies/opportunities, however, will find nothing short of pure (somewhat masochistic) happiness.

PROS

Very high replay value, lots of extras

Many options and modes to suit individual player tastes

CONS

Extreme difficulty will intimidate many

Not quite as good as some of Cave's other efforts

· · · Zero