Can somebody explain the gameplay of DoDonPachi?

[sofakng]

Stupid, but probably easy question...

I've been trying to play DoDonPachi and I'm a little confused on how the gameplay works...

Whenever I shoot and kill an enemy it seems as though my guage in the top left fills up but then empties really quick... why?

I'm not sure if this is related, but it seems as though sometimes I can hit an enemy projectile and not die but other times I will die... whats the deal?

I know there is a big fan of DoDonPachi on here (it's in their sig), but I forget who....

[simplygriff]

I keep meaning to try this game but always end up playing samurai shodown.  That sounds like similar gameplay as Ikaruga.  In Ikaruga you can change colors and absorb the same color enemy projectile.  THis builds up a gauge you can then use to release a super missle.  You also have a chaining meter that builds up if you kill 3 of the same color enemies in a row.  This is quickly depleted when you shoot the wrong color.  I dunno if this is similar but I'd like to know since I relly like shooters.  Sorry I'm no help.
-G

[pointdablame]

I'm not sure about that bar either, but it seems to me that it deal with your hit combo.  It seems that to keep your combo going, that bar has to remain full.  If it empties, I find my combo usually stops, so that is my best guess.

As for projectiles, there are varying damage rates for projectiles.  I think this may have to do with color as was mentioned, or it may be that the smaller ones are just less powerful than larger ones.  Either way, you are correct... some projectiles will not kill you with one hit, while others will.

[TalkingOctopus]

If you keep hitting enemies before the bar goes all the way down, you raise the number of hits which gives you a bonus score.  As for the projectiles not killing you, I think the hit dectection is a little shady.    I believe you are always supposed to die in one hit.  

On an unrelated note, what is your high score?  I can normally get around 10 million, but I am trying to beat my friend's score of 12.4 million.