Dodonpachi's biggest impact on shmups wasn't its bullet patterns or small hitboxes or system mechanics or player shot mechanics or anything like that, its TRUE impact was causing countless shmups to have parts that look like this
ZeroRanger, Crimzon Clover, Blue Revolver, so so so many shmups are like "Cave was right. Bridge With Enemies really DOES hit different"
TankBridge™ is something even ikeda has talked about. the bridge tells you which way to go, getting even rookie players into a satisfying left-right-left-right rhythm across the screen, making it clear that movement is how you best control the screen. tanks, ground enemies, are easy to anticipate and predict, they show you exactly which way they're going to move (or not move), whereas flying drones and small-fry can generally move arbitrarily in all directions
TankBridge™ is a classic and correct choice for a first stage. try TankBridge™ today