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Konami's and the worlds first music game has arrived for the PlayStation 2. No I'm not talking about the Japanese PlayStation 2's. Believe it or not, Konami has released a US beatmania for the PlayStation 2. Yes. beatmania available for US PlayStation 2's. But if you're already a hardcore beatmania player, you're probably saying "why do I need to get the US version when I have all the Japanese versions?" and I would answer your question in this entry as I review beatmania for the PlayStation 2.
Since the early to mid 90's, Konami created a whole new genre of gaming with their hit game for the arcades. That game is of course beatmania. But the first music game from Konami to arrive to the US is DDR. But is beatmania just as fun as DDR? The answer is yes, if not more fun. But for most beatmania or IIDX players, they already have the Japanese version for their modified or Japanese PS2. I myself have both. The game play for the US version of beatmania is still the same as the Japanese version. You hit the notes as the drop down from the top of the screen and as you hit the notes, you play the music.
Now most IIDX players are raving that the song selection sucks. Well it doesn't. The game provides a lot of the good songs from the Japanese versions. Plus it does provide some decent US songs like Toxic and Really Got Me. Yes. I just called US music decent. Shocker. Although the US songs are too easy for most IIDX players who play the game. But it provides a change for newbies to get a chance to get into the game without going "oh fuck this shit" at every song that they can't figure out.
Getting a newbie who has never played the game but wants to play a Japanese version of beatmania is as difficult as getting Oprah off the Twinkies. But getting them to play the US versions will give them a better chance as it doesn't have the 7key Another difficulty. But the game still packs some difficult songs for veteran IIDX players to work up a sweat.
The best thing about getting this game is the controller. Finally you don't have to spend $120 to replace your old IIDX controller with the keys that stick. If you take about the key plate off of both the Japanese and the US controllers, you'll see a major improvement with the US controller. There are 4 guide slides for each key that allows the keys to just go straight up and down without tilting. The Japanese controller just has the rubber round nubby thing that just completes a circuit as you press down on the key. However, the turntable on the Japanese controller moves easily and doesn't require a firm press with your pinky finger when you play those crazy streams of notes as the US controller does. So they both have a strong and weak point. But if you already have the Japanese controller, then you can just replace the bottom case on the keys plate of the US controller with the Japanese controller, then just slide the keys plate form the US controller to the japanese controller and you have yourself the best controller to play the game with, if you don't mind not playing doubles. But then again, you might not even bother with playing with two controllers since it's a bitch to play, unless you have absolutely no life what so ever.
A new feature that the US version offers is the replay mode. No I'm not talking about the training mode. The game actually lets you replay the song you just played and see how you did and even save the replay onto your memory card. Not really much there but it is pretty nifty.
The bottom line is that the US versions of beatmania is no different than the Japanese versions. It's just another version of the same game. So the game would be just something to get if you want to get a new controller that comes with the game. Or if you're actually too poor to get your PS2 modded or even get yourself a Japanese PS2.
I am giving beatmania for the PlayStation 2 a 3 out of 5. |
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