Rhythm/Music Games~

[nunuu]

"Look, Ma! I'm so bored I--"

All right. Topic.

I must say that I like these sort of games but I'm not terribly good at them since I always seem to be a split second too slow to get that Perfect. ^^ That, and I'm error prone so full comboing is difficult for me. Still, I have fun with them! :D

(Semi-tangent: Knowing my limits actually allowed me to brave DJMax Online and play against other players. I usually came in last or second last! ^o^; There was only ONE time I got in first place because I managed to full combo the song while everyone else had at least 1 miss. That was the only time I managed to nab the top spot though. XD)

Bemani-wise, I've only played a handful of DDR (at the arcades although I did have 2nd Mix for the PS way back when), as well as one or two iterations of Guitar Freaks, Drummania, Para Para Paradise, Pop'n Music, and Hiphopmania. I've recently got into Beatmania IIDX and also played Utacchi! on the DS and tried a bit of Jubeat on the iOS.

The latter kills me since I feel that it really relies on memory and reflexes moreso than other Bemani games. ^^;

For non-Konami stuff, there were the Ouendan games, Elite Beat Agents, DJMax series, and Taiko no Tatsujin series. I also have Rhythm Heaven but I'm so horrible at it! It takes me a billion tries to get through some of the stages. ^^;

Oh, in terms of the Whatever Hero and Rock Band stuff, I've only played Rock Band Unplugged for the PSP. Loved it lots.

Random question: Anyone know where to get a Pop'n Music controller for the PlayStation 2? ^^

[Wyrdwad]

I considered picking up a PnM controller for PS2 at one point, but they seem to be RIDICULOUSLY expensive, no matter where you go, so I ultimately just... scrapped the idea. Instead, I settled for the Dreamcast PnM controller, which is far less useful since there are far fewer PnM games available on the console... but it's also a whole lot cheaper! (:

As for rhythm games... YAAAAAY RHYTHM GAMES!! (: I love rhythm games so much! It all started with Dance Dance Revolution, for me (and I guess I can honestly say I was into it BEFORE IT WAS COOL, since I first played it in the summer of 2000 in a Japanese arcade, and immediately bought DDR 3rd Mix for PS1 and a dancepad so I could take the experience home with me!), and I got... relatively good at it, though not quite up to the level of some of those crazy DDRers I often see. I used to be able to dance about half the songs out there on maniac mode, and could even dance a few songs on double -- though not double maniac. (: Nowadays, though, I'm WAY too out-of-shape to play DDR, sadly. I get winded playing a single song on normal! I'm a disgrace. ;)

My DDR adoration eventually bled into a DrumMania obsession, and I still maintain that DrumMania is a better game than Rock Band for drumming, if only because (A) it features a whole lot of J-punk music, (B) the songs are generally cut down to a minute and a half, like with DDR, so they never overstay their welcome, and (C)... one more drum added to the mix! ;)

Here's some footage of me playing a DrumMania track from one of the more recent PS2 titles (DrumMania V3), using the standard Konami drumset:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZnAGPlNX2o

I've also dabbled with Taiko no Tatsujin and Pop'n Music both in the arcade and at home, along with a lesser-known Konami bemani game called "Dance Maniax" in the arcade, and "Para Para Paradise" at home.

And non-peripheral music game-wise, my current obsession (as many of you know already!) is Hatsune Miku: Project Diva, which my coworkers are quite sick of hearing about!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wVVGBKNvzY

My favorite non-peripheral music game of all time, though, is Space Channel 5 -- part 2 in particular. I'd even rank that as one of my top ten favorite games of all time!

-Tom

[Boy_Tomo_Chan]

hey I love taiko no tatsujin :D the only rhythm game I've ever been good at!

[nunuu]

Oh yeah~! I've also played some Project DIVA and Space Channel 5. ^^~ And PaRappa.

PaRappa murdered me, however! That game required crazy precision. Holy crap. @__@;

Speaking about games that murder, the hardest mode of the Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Rhythmic Ice Cream mini game destroyed me. New patterns begin halfway before the previous one ends and they're LONG sequences as well with freakin' pauses between certain claps and stuff and, well, uuuuuuuuuuugh.

For someone with a terrible short-term memory like me, attempts always ended in failure. I suppose that had I played them a bit longer, I might have passed "It's a Small World" at least. ^^;

[Wyrdwad]

Ah yes, I've also played PaRappa, as well as its pseudo-sequel UmJammer Lammy... though Lammy annoys me a bit, because it's actually NOT picky. In fact, it's the exact opposite: the more perfectly you play to the notes that are displayed on the screen, the worse you'll end up doing. The game basically rewards you for being improvisational, and gives you more points if you play each set differently than what's displayed, but in a similar fashion. You have to "jam" to win... but somehow, that kind of defeats the whole point of displaying notes on the screen at all, don't you think? (: It's sad, too, because I much prefer playing the guitar to rapping, and I love the characters and situations in UmJammer Lammy... I just hate the gameplay!

Also played and enjoyed Gitaroo Man and Rez, though neither really "wowwed" me like Space Channel 5 did. SC5 really is just about the most perfect music game ever conceived, and I really hope Sega makes a part 3 at some point -- though it won't be the same without Space Michael. :(

-Tom

[WoottWinds]

Oh, how I LOVED my DDR. I used to practice a good 4-6 hours a day, and went to all sorts of competitions up and down California back in '03, '04, and a little in '05. Even went to a state competition in '04 and placed 5th for Singles on "Heavy" mode. Used to have all the songs completely memorized, could do them backwards without looking at the screen, and had at least a AA score on every single song across the game series. Haven't hopped on a pad since '07, but I'm sure I could still hold my own! ...hopefully.

I thought I remember a while back SEGA saying something about an HD Space Channel 5... Is that still (or was it ever) happening, and was it mentioned if it was going to be Part 1 + 2? I'm considering just picking up the PS2 version...

[Wyrdwad]

I remember reading something about that as well, but sadly, I haven't heard anything about it for a year or two. I do know Space Channel 5 part 2 was included in a recent Sega compilation for the Xbox 360 (and PS3?), but that's about all the exposure the series has gotten in recent memory.

Personally, I'd recommend picking up the PS2 game. I mean, it's Space Channel 5 parts 1 *and* 2 in the same package, and it retailed for $15 new, so it should still be pretty darned cheap if you can find it... and I can't see anyone, anywhere, regretting that purchase. (:

-Tom

[AweOfShe]

I'm pretty big on the non-periphereal types of rhythm/music games. I always sucked at DDR and those kinds of games. :l

I abso-freaking-lutely enjoy the DJ Max series, the Project Diva games, Space Channel 5, Mad Maestro, and the Parappa games to death... BUT, I'd have to say that my favorite music game series are the Bust a Groove games. I have all the PSOne games (and by all, I mean both the US and JP versions of 1 and 2). I don't have the Dance Summit game on PS2 though, which is supposedly a sequel to them. I hear it's pretty different, but I still want to give it a try.

I would LOVE for the Bust a Grooves to show up on PSN, so that I can shove them on my PSP and play them on commutes.

[Silvercube]

I really enjoy music/rhthym games. I'm a big fan of DDR even though console-wise DDR has been on its demise seen the Ultramix series on Xbox due to lack of innovative features and online enhancements (the Ultramix series had so many online options). You'd think future DDR games would have more online capabilities years later but the latest DDR features no online multiplayer at all which is just crazy.

I actually make DDR mixes on YouTube :)
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BB797156B5C8EBE3

I also enjoy Pump It Up and In The Groove as well.

Other music games like Lumines I also enjoy very much!

DJ Max I like but I find it difficult to play on the PSP.

I have played Elite Beat Agents but the release had too much mainstream music so I got turned off.

[nunuu]

DJ Max I like but I find it difficult to play on the PSP.

I have played Elite Beat Agents but the release had too much mainstream music so I got turned off.
Try DJMax Trilogy! :D It's for the PC and you can use the keyboard, gamepad (I think it needs a plug-in though. I can't remember. ^^), or the, uh, DJMax turntable controller. I suppose the IIDX controller would work too (somehow) but 8K mode would probably require the turntable itself to be a button as well. :P

I also think that this version has the best tracklist of all the DJMax games. :3

As for EBA, I initially didn't like some of the tunes but they grew on me. ^^ I LOVE the game's version of Jumpin' Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones.

I wonder if we'll ever see another game like EBA on this side of the world? :\

Oh yeah, I forgot to add Tap Sonic as another rhythm game I play/have played~! It's for the iOS devices and it's essentially like DJMax (as it's released by Neowiz) but it has these funky hold notes that seem reminiscent of those ones that drag between lanes in DJ Hero. (I've never played DJ Hero so I can't really go into much comparison. XD I'm only going by memory from what I've seen of gameplay vids.)

Tap Sonic is a little bit of a turn-off though since it's a pay-per-song game. Granted, a few bucks can net you quite a bit of play time and they do provide free tunes that players can enjoy without using up credits to pay them. However, if I remember correctly, the free play is for a limited time only. >:\

Another crappy aspect is that you have to be connected to the Internet to even load up the game. >:(! This means that, for iPod touch users like me, I have to be around a Wi-Fi hotspot or at home to play.

[Zeta]

The latter kills me since I feel that it really relies on memory and reflexes moreso than other Bemani games. ^^;

For non-Konami stuff, there were the Ouendan games, Elite Beat Agents, DJMax series, and Taiko no Tatsujin series. I also have Rhythm Heaven but I'm so horrible at it! It takes me a billion tries to get through some of the stages. ^^;

Oh, in terms of the Whatever Hero and Rock Band stuff, I've only played Rock Band Unplugged for the PSP. Loved it lots.


* Bemani:

I've played Pop'n music 13 - 16 in the arcade, I own 1-3 on PS1, 13 & 14 on PS2 (with a mini-con and a full arcade-style controller), as well as 15 on PSP.
I was also really into Beatmania IIDX for a bit. The arcade I went to had Beatmania IIDX 15 - DJ Troopers and Beatmania The Final.
DanceManiax 2nd Mix J-Append and Para Para Paradise 2nd Mix were also quite fun.

If we had enough friends from college go with us, we'd play more Drum Mania/Guitar Freaks V5.


* Non-Bemani:

In the same arcade as above, I'd play Taiko no Tatsujin 10 every now and again. I also own the first Taiko no Tatsujin Wii game (with 2 drum controllers).


Aside from the aforementioned Pop'n Music PSP game I have, I own DJ Max Fever (US compilation of DJ Max 1&2), DJ Max Cl@zziquai Edition, Black Square (Limited Edition), and DJ Max 3 (Limited Edition).


Random question: Anyone know where to get a Pop'n Music controller for the PlayStation 2? ^^

Right here:
http://desktoparcade.com/

They can also fit it with both USB and PS2 (not PS/2) cords :D


here's a pic of mine:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff199/ZetaBladeX13/102_1401.jpg

[nunuu]

In the same arcade as above, I'd play Taiko no Tatsujin 10 every now and again. I also own the first Taiko no Tatsujin Wii game (with 2 drum controllers).
I think I beat on the home version drum incorrectly since it's really hit or miss. O_o I mean, I even do poorly on the 1-star beginner mode songs. >_> I've fiddled with the sensitivity option in the game a few times but nothing seems to really work. As a result, I switch between the Classic Controller or the Wiimote to play them. :\

And many thanks for the Desktop Arcade link! I just gotta get my freakin' PayPal account reinstated before I can even buy something there though. *grumbles about PayPal BACONBACONs*

[Chelli]

I used to play DDR a ton. The DDR obsession turned into a Guitar Hero obsession, which then turned into a Rock Band obsession. For at least two years my friends and I would play Rock Band for hours every time we hung out. I haven't played Rock Band in a while though, and I think at this point I've pretty much lost interest in it.

I've also played Elite Beat Agents and Guitaroo Man, both of which were really fun and hilarious. I've also played either the Japanese version of EBA or the sequel to the Japanese version of EBA (Did it even have a sequel? I have no idea).

[Zeta]

I've also played either the Japanese version of EBA or the sequel to the Japanese version of EBA (Did it even have a sequel? I have no idea).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moero!_Nekketsu_Rhythm_Damashii_Osu!_Tatakae!_Ouen dan_2

[nunuu]

KEKEKE!!! Witness the fail! XD (You can watch it in 720p to experience the failness in HD!)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87oZdYjklvs

Yar, this is me playing. :V

For what it's worth, the song is A by the all-female Korean pop group Rainbow (레인보우).

And yes, the first tune is Proposed, Flower, Wolf.

[Zeta]

And yes, the first tune is Proposed, Flower, Wolf.

Thought so.

It's in a few of the DJ Max games as well.

[nunuu]

Thought so.

It's in a few of the DJ Max games as well.
Yeah, Tap Sonic has a crap ton of DJMax tunes. Too bad they're ALL pay-per-play and you can't even preview the bulk of them. The only exception is Your Own Miracle. I think that's been free for the longest time already.

[Ivy]

I tried Taiko which is great and I love it but I suck at it and it's like BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY, DUMBASS and there's rockband but no one here cares about that or something and my bff ever sings a lot of abba on singstar or something and is really good at it

and i am a loser at DDR if anyone even does that anymore

/useful post (i'm good at those)

[Zeta]

Fun fact:

I love Bemani games, but I cannot stand DDR.


AT ALL.

[NorseFTX]

I love rhythm and music games!
I can pass Through the Fire and Flames on expert in Guitar Hero 3 (though maybe I wouldn't be able to do it now, since it's been a long time).
I'm alright with DDR. It's more fun watching the crazy experts. I normally wouldn't mind being one of those crazy experts, but it requires practice, and I don't have a DDR pad at home (and don't like practicing in public, blegh).
I've never really tried the other non-peripheral music games you guys have been mentioning, though. They sound interesting!

[Wyrdwad]

I've never really tried the other non-peripheral music games you guys have been mentioning, though. They sound interesting!

In the interest of promoting the best rhythm game ever made, then...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZQBqx-H_qA

One of Michael Jackson's greatest moments, as far as I'm concerned. He's left a hell of a legacy, not just in music... but in video games!

-Tom

[Zeta]

One of Michael Jackson's greatest moments, as far as I'm concerned. He's left a hell of a legacy, not just in music... but in video games!

Indeed



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBmy9c-Ag7E

[nunuu]

Fun fact:

I love Bemani games, but I cannot stand DDR.


AT ALL.
I used to love DDR but if I step onto the dancepad now, I'd probably die of exhaustion from doing a high level Basic stage. ^^;

I did all the arcade versions up to 5th Mix. And the last time I did any DDR was at a Gameworks in Seattle 2 years ago. I think it was a SuperNova (forgot which number) machine.

I actually forgot I also tried some version of Pump It Up and this weird hands-only (not Para Para Paradise) thing before.

[WoottWinds]

I actually forgot I also tried some version of Pump It Up and this weird hands-only (not Para Para Paradise) thing before.

I totally forgot about the hand ones until you mentioned Para Para Paradise. Oh my how hilariously fun those were, although I was never really that great at doing them and not many arcades had them. They were a fun way to spend an afternoon looking like a crazy fool, although I guess most body-involved music/rhythm games have that aspect in common. :D

Seriously need to go pull out my dance pads...

[Wyrdwad]

Nunuu: Was it "Dance Maniax," perhaps? That's a hands-only dancing game with two orb-y things, and you either wave your hands over or under them depending on the icons that display on the screen.

It was pretty fun, and rumor has it that the original Dance Maniax included KERA-MA-GO, the theme song from Moon: Remix RPG Adventure. Sadly, though, I've never seen an original Dance Maniax machine -- only ever encountered 2nd Mix.

-Tom

[marco]

I want Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove. ;u;
And I'm excited for Rhythm Heaven for the Wii~.

I haven't played a music game in a long time. My cousins and I used to get a real workout on DDR though. And they hogged my Rhythm Heaven. I haven't played much else sadly, but I do plan on getting Elite Beat Agents and Taiko some time. Another I really want to try is Technic Beat, but I hear odd, mixed things about it.

Really wanted to play Pop'n music too, but we never got any except the Wii one. Which doesn't look nearly as fun as the others to me. ono
...Think xseed could localize some of them? :')

[lopez]

I'm a HUGE DDR fan, but I've been disappointed with the music selection in the games after Extreme 2...too much American music and not enough techno, trance, etc...music that the older DDR games are known for.

Aside from DDR I'll play games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, but usually at a friend's house. The game bundles are too freakin' expensive for me.

[Zeta]

Nunuu: Was it "Dance Maniax," perhaps? That's a hands-only dancing game with two orb-y things, and you either wave your hands over or under them depending on the icons that display on the screen.

-Tom

That's what it sounds like.



Really wanted to play Pop'n music too, but we never got any except the Wii one.

I'm sorry.

[nunuu]

Fwahahaha. Cross-posting from another forum! :3

-----------

I bring this thread back from the netherworlds!!!!

Just tried out something called TunesWorld touch (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tunesworld-touch/id399642055?mt=8).

The gameplay is reminiscent to TAP SONIC (http://www.cyphergate.net/wiki/index.php?title=Tap_Sonic) (which is by the fine folks that brought out some DJMax games). It also looks like Tap Tap Revenge and its billion clones but the main difference is that you have hold notes that span across keys and can even go in funky number-5-like patterns and such.

However, since TAP SONIC is only available to people that have a Korean iTunes account, TunesWorld touch is your best alternative.

The problem with TWt is that it auto-generates note patterns on the spot which means you ain't playing the best patterns ever and certainly not even playing much to the beat of a song.

The good thing about it is that you get to play the music you already have on your idevice. :D

Oh, and the Premium version of TWt has unlimited play unlike the pay-per-play crap that TAP SONIC does. The Free and regular editions of TunesWorld also have a pfp system though and it's hilarious how the Free version has you paying 30 Points per game but you can only win back 5 - 10 Points if you clear it. >_> I believe the 10 Points only happen if you get a high rank (like S rank) too.

[conurebleu]

I cannot do much of physical activity, so DDr is my training.I love it

[nunuu]

Turns out that this thing is more like a StepMania version of TAP SONIC in that you have options to change the skin, turn off the hold and slides notes, and some other stuff. Still sucks hardcore that the point system makes absolutely no sense in the Free version. Like ... why even offer the chance to win back points if they're not going to accumulate? >_>

Anyway~


http://pics.livejournal.com/nunuu/pic/00305atw/s640x480.jpg

I'm pretty much only playing tunes that are under 3 minutes (which pretty much means all DJMax tunes ... well, their in-game edits, that is)~!

I think the placement in the all-time rankings isn't all that bad since it's out of a hundreds upon hundreds of players. XD But as time goes on, it'll probably get pushed further down.

Considering everyone plays different tunes and the number of notes vary slightly between them, I would take it the main factors that determine your ranking score are how long you maintain your combo and your accuracy. Afterall, if you manage to keep a x10 multiplier, you get score bonuses. :D

I just wish it wasn't so easy to accidentally hit the edge of the screen. That's usually how I miss notes when I'm playing on Normal difficulty. >_>;