A Day at a Rhythm Game Arcade
I played a bunch of arcade rhythm games and decided to talk about it.
Getting to the Arcade
"Well, how did I get here?"
So, how did I end up at the arcade? Well, my boyfriend decided to have a mutual friend over for a week long visit. As a part of that visit, he has planned out a bunch of activities, such as going to a shopping center, going to a restaurant, and of course the thing I'll be talking about here: going to an arcade with rhythm games.
The arcade is located at the Nationaal Videogame Museum in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. It has a collection of the usual arcade games, such as various versions of Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Street Fighter and Outrun. There was more, but that wasn't really what I was interested in. Apart from an arcade cabinet for... Jazz Jackrabbit 2? I've had no idea there was an arcade version of that game! However, I did not get a chance to check it out because it wasn't plugged in. Sleuthing around the internet, I found this blog post, and apparently this arcade cabinet was made especially for a Jazz Jackrabbit event that was hosted at that very arcade.
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| The Jazz Jackrabbit 2: Arcade Edition cabinet in its full(?) glory |
Anyhow, the main point of interest was the section with the rhythm games. Unfortunately, we forgot to bring headphones, so it was quite hard to hear the music. Thankfully, the staff did have ear protectors they could lend to us for the duration of the stay. Yes, the sound was muffled, but surprisingly made the music more listenable somehow. Admittedly, I wish we did bring our own headphones, but oh well. Still, I think it was a fun experience! But now, let's get into the interesting part where I talk about the rhythm games I've got to the play there.
I have to note that we didn't have any of those cards you can use to log-in (such as Konami's e-amusement or SEGA's ALL.Net) to be able to save your progress and get extra features, so all gameplay was done without them.
beatmania IIDX
Spin the disc! It makes a... crash cymbal sound?
Since Konami's BEMANI games are what kinda kickstarted the whole rhythm game genre (yes, I'm aware that PaRappa the Rapper did it before, but it wasn't the game that pushed the genre into the limelight), I think it's only appropriate that we begin with them.
First up, since original beatmania wasn't available, is beatmania IIDX. More specifically, the 30 RESIDENT version running on the old 60fps cabinet. Since BMS clients (or simulators as some people may call them) are very much "inspired" by IIDX, the gameplay is very familiar to me. Heck, I even have a DJ DAO controller for this game! So, how different is it?
Well, it's admittedly quite a different experience, since the screen is actually way larger than I expected! As in, when you're at your control deck, you can only really see your half of the screen. This means the notes are a lot bigger than what I'm used to. At least this explains why quite a few BMS skins have two flavors, which mainly differ in note size. It made the gameplay more uncomfortable for me since I'm not used to it, obviously. The thing I really liked about the cabinet was the bass platform. Feeling the bass flow through your body is a such a pleasant feeling. I didn't manage to score that well, since I'm not used to the arcade machine '^.^
Overall, I don't have much to say, it's exactly what I expected for the most part. After all, this whole website wouldn't have existed if not for BMS, which in itself wouldn't have existed if not for beatmania. What I'm saying is that this game rocks, and so does BMS.
Dance Dance Revolution
Overthrowing your back out, one step at a time.
I did not get to play this one, because the cabinet was constantly occupied. Not too surprising, it's the rhythm game most people know, apart from Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The only time it was free was when someone started the tutorial stage and apparently just left, but at that time I already had to leave, so yeah.
Sound Voltex
Motion Sickness Type Beat
Definitely one of the more popular rhythm games out there. The version of Sound Voltex I've got to play was Exceed Gear. As for the cabinet, it was the 60fps standard cabinet. Anyhow, I'm slightly familiar with the game thanks to its popularity. However, I did not expect the controller to be this big! The buttons are surprisingly large, and the distance between the knobs and the buttons is quite big. But, this is quite a large part of the game's appeal, since you have to move your hands quite a lot to hit all of the patterns, and that's really fun! The gameplay feels great and the game is the right amount of flashy in its presentation.
The only real criticism I can give is that I'm not exactly the fan of the music direction in this game, but this is mainly a matter of taste and with more experience I'd probably warm up to it. Also, the game has a noticeable case of "Writer's Barely Disguised Fetish" syndrome, with some artwork and character animations being a bit on the risque side of things. It did make it a bit awkward to play since it's meant to be played in a semi-public setting, but that could just be my social anxiety acting up, so maybe that's just me.
To sum it all up, definitely a very fun game! I do enjoy games that require the player to move their hands around quite a bit, and this one definitely hit that spot really well. Also, the various visual effects with the lanes spinning and waving around definitely add to the experience. It might not be for everyone due to the sheer amount of sensory stimulation it provides, but it's definitely quite a great experience!
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| My boyfriend playing Sound Voltex |
jubeat
That MPC Energy
This one was actually more fun that I expected! The version of jubeat that I played was Ave., which looks kinda awkward when you put it this way, so perhaps I should've just written down jubeat Ave. since that looks much nicer. The cab had some pretty bad burn-in, so the whole game was in sepia tones, but otherwise was playable.
So, the controller is a 4x4 grid of translucent buttons with a screen behind it. Each button has a little animation inside of it that tells you when to hit it, obviously. Sound simple, and admittedly it kinda is, but this simplicity is what makes the game good. The complexity comes from figuring out how to hit the patterns the game throws at you, and dealing with the fact that your hands aren't see-through, so that you don't end up missing notes because your hand was in front of a button. It's not too different from a lot of mobile rhythm games in that regard, but having actual buttons makes the gameplay feel a lot more pleasant. The game is surprisingly not that flashy compared to most rhythm games, but then again this game's strength is in keeping things simple and on point. If you get the chance, definitely give it a go!
NOSTALGIA
Piano ain't my Forte
Did not play this one. Half because I didn't get around to it, half because it didn't seem all that appealing to me. My boyfriend said that it's pretty much "we have CHUNITHM at home", but I wouldn't actually know if his assessment is true since I haven't tried the game myself.
Pop'n Music
The Big Slappy
Another rather popular series of rhythm games from Konami, and another long-runner. It's Pop'n Music! In this case, I've had the pleasure to play the UniLab version, running on an old cabinet judging by the fact that it had a CRT monitor. I don't like CRT monitors, they make my eyes feel like they're carbonated, which isn't a pleasant feeling. However, that didn't stop me from giving it a try.
I've already had a degree of familiarity with this game thanks to its popularity within rhythm game circles. The game looks cute, the music also tends to lean in that direction, but the game's anything but child's play! The 9 buttons are large to the point where you're expected to slap them with the palms of your hands, and that admittedly gave me more trouble than expected. Also, the timing is on the stricter side of things, which combined with the aesthetic, is rather puzzling to me. Like, who is the target audience here, exactly?
Still, the game has a lot of appeal, the characters are cute, the graphics are pleasant, the music is good and the control scheme provides for challenging gameplay. Overall it's quite the fun package that I definitely recommend playing, though my eyes were pleading to be averted from the fizzling grace of a CRT, so I didn't get to play it as much as I wanted to.
DrumMania
An instrument everybody loves!
Well, I did get to try DrumMania, the V8 version, to be exact. However, I can't really judge the game since I was unable to find the options menu to change speed settings and such. So, I was stuck with the painfully slow default speed, which made the game impossible to time properly for me. It wouldn't be fair for me to judge a game if I can't even play it properly, so unfortunately I can't say much about it.
DANCERUSH STARDOM
Hete Dans Actie
To finish off the BEMANI section, I've saved the best for last. DANCERUSH STARDOM is pretty much THE dancing rhythm game! Instead of pressing buttons on the floor or just waving your hands around, you'll have to jump, duck and move your feet all over the cabinet's dancefloor, which has a built-in screen that sparkles with your every step. Yes, this game is quite a workout and is actually designed to make you dance to the beat. The game's learning curve is quite simple, with a helpful tutorial to get you going, but you'll be working up a sweat in no time while pulling off various dance moves to the best of your ability.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to play this game much at the arcade due to the fact that the room was quite hot, and I was dressed for the chilly autumn weather outside, but gosh I wish I could've. Obviously, the game requires a certain level of physical fitness to play it effectively, so that can pose a barrier to entry. Still, if you're able-bodied and come across this game, definitely give it a go!
I have to say, I'd absolutely love to have this game at home! However, that's not gonna happen for obvious reasons. Still, I can dream about it~
Taiko no Tatsujin
*blows up balloons with drum*
Let's start the non-BEMANI part of this write-up with a rhythm game with quite a bit of popularity. Namco's Taiko no Tatsujin, also known as Taiko Drum Master, fits that bill well, so let's talk about it. As the title of the game implies, it revolves around hitting a taiko drum to the rhythm. The version I got to play, according to the list located on the Zenius -I- vanisher website (seems a bit outdated, since it lists the version of DrumMania to be GITADORA HIGH-VOLTAGE, even though when I was there they had the V8 version instead), was the Green Version. I have to note that this was the last rhythm game I've got to play before I left, so I was in a bit of a hurry.
The game seems pretty fun, though I struggled with the controller. Mainly, I had a very hard time hitting the blue notes, which require you to hit the rim of the drum. Usually I'd just miss and the hit would count as a regular one. I don't know if it was an issue with the controller or just a skill issue on my part. Also, sometimes it felt like the game wouldn't register my hits, which also could be a skill issue with me not knowing how hard to hit the drum with the sticks. Who knows, I didn't get much of a chance to grasp the game due to being in a rush, but if I ever get to, I'll definitely give it another go.
Love Live! School Idol Festival: After School Activity
Trying to find video game music on YouTube only for it be yet another Snow Halation remix
Didn't play it because I've only noticed the cab after I was done playing Taiko no Tatsujin and had to go home. Don't know anything about the game to be honest, all I know is that Snow Halation was a meme on the SiIvaGunner channel and that one of my exes was into Love Live! (those two facts are connected, believe it or not).
Groove Coaster
Not Quite Polybius, But Close Enough
Taito's Groove Coaster is quite unique in its presentation. The screen is absolutely massive, and for a good reason. The visuals have a very distinctive style, with its hypnotic, aliased vector graphics that wouldn't be out of place in a demoscene production. I love this kind of eye candy, so the game gets big ups for the graphics alone. As for the gameplay, your controller is 2 big joystick-like thingies with a button on top of each. Admittedly, they look like a pair of oversized 3D mice.
The charts take place on a rollercoaster-type track (hence the name Groove Coaster) with the notes being laid on that track. The main note types seem to be the usual press/hold notes and notes that require you to nudge the joystick in the direction indicated by the arrow coming off the note. There's more note types, but those appear in harder charts that I didn't get the chance to play (hey, I'm not gonna dive right into the hardest songs on my first playthrough, don't be silly).
Anyhow, the game feels really fun to play and is in a way quite entrancing. Definitely a strong recommendation from me. Apparently, there's a version of the game on Steam, but apparently they abandoned it in order to focus on the Nintendo Switch version. Bummer.
maimai
Rave at the Laundromat
Let's talk about SEGA's washing machine of a rhythm game, which is maimai. The laundry detergent version I got to play, if I'm remembering correctly and the list is right, is FiNALE. Jokes about how the cab looks aside, I don't really get this game. So, you have a screen surrounded by a ring with 8 big buttons on it. The notes emerge from the center of the screen and fly towards where the buttons are. Makes sense so far. But then you have those weird slide notes that I couldn't figure out for a while. Apparently, you have to press the button, then drag your finger across the screen according to the path it's taking? Very awkward, and otherwise it doesn't seem like the game uses a touchscreen?
Also, the game comes in a pair of 2 cabs that are linked together, which isn't unusual (Groove Coaster does that too). The unusual thing is the fact that the cabs can't be played separately. As in, if someone starts a single player game on one of the cabs, the vacant cab cannot be played on until the player is finished with their session. You can't even late join as a second player. That's pretty silly if you ask me.
Overall, I don't know what to think. I didn't enjoy it too much, I don't understand what the hype is all about (the game is apparently really popular in Japan). The game, from top to bottom, just comes off as very eclectic and not in the interesting way. However, seeing that it's a very successful series of rhythm games, they must be doing something right. I guess it's just not for me.
WACCA
You'd think it's a Pac-Man game with a title like this
Time for another circular rhythm game! This time, it's WACCA, specifically the REVERSE version. This one is a bit of an oddity, being developed by Marvelous, which is a company better known for their Story of Seasons series of farming simulators and not having much experience within the rhythm game genre as far as I know. Despite that, the game is a banger! It feels like a really pleasant blend between maimai and CHUNITHM, which is why I was surprised to find that it wasn't a game developed by SEGA.
So, the controller is a giant loop of a touch controller surrounding the circular screen. The note variety is pretty nice, you get your standard tap and hold notes, but also you have slide notes that can have you do 360 degree motions across the loop with your hands, swipe notes that require you to swipe your hand in either direction and even forwards and backwards. Also, the song select has you doing a motion like you're spinning the inside of a washing machine trying to find that one sock :p
Apparently, the music direction was done with close involvement of the Hardcore TANO*C music label. Personally, I think the music choices are pretty nice and sometimes even quite experimental (the game has 1BPM, which is a harsh noise track, and I'm pretty sure this is a first for any commercial rhythm game), so I definitely appreciate that.
I was quite shocked to find out that the game was discontinued, considering that it's actually a very good rhythm game! I guess not being made by one of the bigger companies in the field definitely didn't help things, but still, it's a shame since this series still had a lot of potential in my eyes. I guess that's life, sometimes you do everything right and still lose. All in all, I highly recommend playing this game if you get the chance. It's just a shame the game wasn't successful enough for whatever reason.
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| First time playing the game, those were my scores. I think I did pretty well! |
CHUNITHM
Put your hands in the air like you want to hit those AIR notes!
So, I've saved the best for last. SEGA's CHUNITHM is absolutely fantastic! The version I got to play is the PARADISE LOST one, which is the last one that is actually compatible with the old 60fps cabinets (the later versions were developed for new 120fps cabs, and have a giant input delay when played on the 60fps cabs, which for a rhythm game is absolutely unacceptable). [UPDATE: Apparently that was only an issue with early versions of CHUNITHM NEW] Anyways, this game is SO FREAKIN' GOOD! So, the controller is a touch controller with two sensors at the sides for checking if your hands are in the air. This provides for some crazy fun gameplay, with notes requiring you to slide your fingers around, and then ending with an arrow that forces you to rise your hand, and many other things like that.
Yes, your hands will move a lot, and the game feels so good to play! The music selection is ridiculously varied, so you'll definitely find something you'll like, the charts are really fun to play with quite a bit of variety. This game just hits all the right spots for me!
Ah, the only reason I didn't play it more at the arcade is because I didn't want to hog the cabinet (you gotta let other people play, you know) and also wanted to try out other games on offer. I'd absolutely LOVE to have this game at home, but I don't have 320€ to spend on a TASOLLER, and [UPDATE: I do have a TASOLLER now!] it seems like the situation with CHUNITHM sims is a bit dire, as it's absolutely impossible to find charts for them. I'd love to have this game, I'd love to play it more, but I don't think it's gonna be happening the foreseeable future in any shape or form. Seriously, if you come across this game, play it! It's definitely one of the best rhythm games out there!
Thank you for playing!
We hope to see you again soon!
So, to sum it up, despite not being the best equipped to enjoy the games to their fullest (we REALLY should've brought headphones), I still had plenty of fun playing the games! It was nice to have a real rhythm game arcade experience, and I've also got to check out a bunch of games I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. As for my favorites, I have to say CHUNITHM blew me away in that regard, and DANCERUSH STARDOM is surely a quite a star of the show too. WACCA is also worth mentioning in here, since I really enjoyed it too.
I don't think I'll be getting another chance of playing these games anytime soon, since the drive is rather long and also it costs quite a bit of money (yes, the machines are set to FREE PLAY, but there's an entry fee of €27.50 per person for a whole day stay, after all they gotta make money somehow). For some of the games, this isn't much of a problem since they have free simulators you can play on PC and for the most part have good support from community. However, this doesn't apply to all of the games, such as DANCERUSH STARDOM with its special dancefloor pad controller. Yes, I'm aware of Dance Dash's existence, but while quite similar and having the same idea in mind (rhythm game that involves whole body movement and actually dancing), it's not really the same.
Still, if I ever get the chance to go there again, I'll definitely take it! However, that time I'll be sure to grab a pair of headphones, preferably closed-back ones, so that I can enjoy the games to the fullest. Well, it'll probably be several years before I have the chance to get back there, so hopefully they'll still have my favorites by the time the possibility comes by! In the meanwhile, I'll keep on rhythm gaming at home as always ^^