2009-06-20 03:08:05 The Irresistably Shaking RHYTHM GAME thread! OLE!

What the topic says. Rythm games are awesome. From the littlest Vib Ribbon or Rythm Heaven type of button presses to the full on looking like a complete tit, spazzing out in front of the telly episodes. They all tap into that fundamental, core, human relationship with rythm and music, thus engaging you unlike any other genre.

Amongst the tip of the iceberg franchises like Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Guitar Hero, it's not exactly easy to get a grip on the more obscure sub-categories. Some because there is only the one entry on a distant, long forgotten platform, and others because there's about a bajillion sequels, thus expecting you to be a total franchise wiz with the latest release being about as accessible as a brick wall. With spikes and laser beams shooting out of it.

Now, since I post based on my own, current whims, I have a rather specific inquiry devised in part to kick this topic off. I played Samba de Amigo on the Wii recently, which was absolutely atrocious, and my first question to you other rythm buffs (if you're out there) is if the dreamcast version is worth shelling out the ebay asking price for. In short, is the dreamcast version as good as it's cracked up to be? I like everything about Samba Wii apart from the whole being unplayable thing. Are the DC maraccas spot on in what you're meant to be doing?

Also, I'm looking into getting a dance mat and hopping aboard Dance Dance Revolution and there are just... so god damn many entries in that franchise I really need to narrow it down some. Pointers please if you have any.

And just generally, rythm games people? Which are awesome?

*strikes a maraccas pose as finish*

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-20 03:17:16

As for DDR if you have the ability to play japanese games, get yourself a copy of DDR Extreme. I think that should be one of the most complete collection of classic DDR songs. In general i think the japanese versions are the best, the european ones i've tried suck real bad at any rate. Other than DDR which is alright i'd recommend Pop n Music. Great games, though probably the hardest to play considering the 9 buttons. Also it could be tricky getting a controller unless you order one off ebay, or build one yourself.

Edit* Seems like DDR Super Nova is also a good pick, though i've never played it myself.

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-20 04:30:12

Thanks for the tips! I can play imports on everything but the 360.

How are the DDR games interface wise? I have Beatmania 13 Distorted, and although you do eventually figure out kiiiinddaaaaaaa what stuff means, it's still a bit of a mess with no obvious career mode or any sort of options for a newbie. Are the DDR games better in that sense?

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-20 05:04:39

I haven't played DDR in YEARS, but i think most of the stuff in DDR Extreme is in english. If not it was real easy to work things out, cause i got the hang of everything from options to the exercise mode :P

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-20 05:51:16

Hmm, swedish site CDON has a cracking price on Universe for the 360 and Supernova 2 for the PS2. I might get Supernova just to get a mat for cheap, then order japanese games off Playasia.

I wonder how much of the 5/10 scores Universe has recieved can be chalked up to long running series/lack of changes cynicism.

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-20 05:57:18

Well in the worst case scenario you'll end up with one crappy and one good game so i guess it's worth a try :)

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-20 06:11:39

Yah, I purchased Supernova 2. Regardless of what that's like, getting a dance mat roughly winds up the same price anyway, so this way I'll be able to actually try out the game and then grab japanese versions with snazzy music if I want more. Supernova 2 apparently has all the current workout modes and a pretty substantial track list. Unless the pal port is borked, timing wise or something, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Supernova 2 + mat was 319sek so it's a pretty painless amount even if I'd outright hate it.

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-20 15:06:53

I owned Samba De Amigo when it came out, which was a really fun and risky purchase at the time. I had never played any rhythm game up to this point and I found myself carrying out a long thin box by a handle with the most outrageous designs on the outside.
The game is really, really fun, but I would caution that maybe it hasn't stood the test of time like many other semi old games. The fact the market is so flooded with newer more advanced rhythm games might ruin the experience to some degree. Thinking back it was a lot more simple than what has come after. That would be my only warning. Personally I have no desire to re obtain Samba De Amigo for Dreamcast. There are a few gems I'll never obtain or want back that I'll probably never find again or be willing to spend the money on ebay. Space Channel 5, Seamen, the list goes on.
As for the peripheral, it is amazing. It doesn't really have any weight but the sensors are spot on.

2009-06-20 19:06:50

Well, the thing is that even through the terrible shaking recognition you sometimes get into the groove proper on the Wii version and I honestly think the game underneath is utterly fantastic. I've got all the rock band and guitar hero plastic around and I still think Samba holds up remarkably well. I think it's in large part because it only employs your hands independently of your body and so it really kinda gets "the rest of you" into a freestyling dancing mood. :D

With your testimony on the peripherals I really do need to hunt that game down. It's not as obcenely priced as I would've imagined either.

Is the Dreamcast version two player if one were to shell out for another set of maracas?


On a different rythm note that you touch on; Space Channel 5. The american PS2 release of that game, Space Channel 5: Special Edition, comes with both of the SC5 games on two separate discs and is an absolutely awesome deal. The ports are fantastic, just like the PS2 version of Rez was. Hugely recommended.

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-20 19:11:05

Yep 2 player! That means you have to find another set of maracas though!

I'll have to check out that Space Channel 5 PS2 port :)

2009-06-21 00:58:18

I got it mainly for Space Channel 5 Part 2, which never came out for the DC in europe. Lemme tell you, if you haven't played that yet and know this already, that game is pure fucking class. I mean the first one is great, but 2 is mind blowing. The guitar standoff with Pudding, CLASSIC! :D

The only thing that doesn't quite live up to the first one is the ending. It's cool, but it's not AS cool as the first one's acapela-powered super finish. :)

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-21 01:47:35

*sigh*

Now I want a SC5 part 3 :(

It's kind of depressing how many good games sega have let fall to the roadside.

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Marumaro for the WIN !!

2009-06-21 02:44:34

Actually, after sticking a second Wiimote in as the second maracas (maraca? maracae?) the game does perform a great deal better, and it can't help but be pretty entertaining despite its still-obvious flaws. I beat it on Super Hard and played some of my favourites in quick play for an hour or so. It's just sad how you need to kinda be very mechanical in how you approach the shaking.. something that becomes second nature eventually, but is still a bummer especially considering how accessible the game must be on the Dreamcast in comparison.

So yeah, I'll still put effort into obtaining two sets and the game for my DC though, but perhaps my initial reaction to Samba Wii was a little harsh. Considering how cheap it is now and the hassle free way to play it it might still be worth a look. Only if you can find it below 20 euro like I did though for sure.


Speaking of SC5 and games that don't really fully engulf you in a crazy dance move atmosphere but are still sick amounts of awesome. Ouendan is probably my favourite nowadays. It kindof builds on the Space Channel school of direction based, rythm input, but it somehow manages to be even more engaging in a lot of ways. The first one, Osu Tatakae Ouendan, is... well.. the first one.. but my favourite has to be its sequel, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2... phew, that's a mouthful. Both are available off Play Asia for pretty cheap. Excellent games.

I actually traced the dev's back catalogue to Guitaroo Man and got the PSP version of that.. but severe load times, super annoying english lyrics/voices and PSP input woes made me hate it. I hear the PS2 version is excellent, but I haven't tried it.

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-23 21:16:13

Okay, I was wary at first, trying to figure out where my feet were seeing as I so rarely use them for gaming, but once I found my orientation, where to step on the mat and so forth, I slowly wrapped my head around the mechanics of DDR. Eventually I dared the next category of songs where you can also adjust the difficulty to something managable for a newbie, and that's where the game really unleashes the japanese club stuff and gets awesome proper.

I really like it. I hesistate to call it "brilliant" seeing as there's about five billion nearly identical DDRs out at this point, but the fundamental mechanics of it are awesome in their simplicity. It's not really just about jumping around like a freak to the beat, it's got some really satisfying rhythmic quirks to it inbetween and within the dance steps themselves. Nuances that only come out once you spend some time with it.

I'd like to extend thanks to Megido for the quick guidance. I prolly wouldn't have ordered it otherwise. Cheers!

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-23 22:08:01

Glad you like it, though i have to say that i think you should look up an arcade machine to really play (or do as i did and boy a fat ass slab of iron and wood to stomp on) for the real experience. The hardest songs are nearly impossible to play with a mat :P

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-23 22:44:13

Yeah I can definitely see that happening eventually. The mat has a general mushyness to it that doesn't lend itself well to pseudo steps-between-steps and stuff like that.

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-23 22:52:38

Worst thing with the mat, for me, is that it has a tendency to slip around on the floor. After half a song it can be all crinkled up against the wall or something :P

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-23 23:04:19

Haha, yeah I noticed that early on, but I've managed to find a nice friction by employing my huge mat that is already on there, plus a towel, then the dance mat on top of those. At this point I have the hardest time simply deciphering the arrows that come floating up. It's still not quite in my bones to just react, I still have to think about where it's pointing.

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-24 00:17:30

I have to say though, and it's hardly surprising but.. playing this game är mer som att hoppa hage than actually dancing. :D Really, really advanced hage-hoppande. :D

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-24 00:23:33

Say that again when you are playing DXY, Healing vision or one of the MAX songs on expert ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUWuur2lhQw

Complete bar-rape but still. It's a tricky song :P

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-24 03:18:37 In reply to Megido (2009-06-24 00:23:33)

2009-06-24 20:47:50

That is definitely out of the realm of hopscotch, but I suppose my point still half stands. It doesn't really at any point resemble straight up dancing. That's not really even a criticism, just an observation since Samba actually kinda makes you dance. :)

When talking about Extreme before though, is that the japanese version you refer to? Playasia is reluctant to let me in on older japanese stuff for some reason. Most of it is out of stock except the later entires like DDRX. How do the different versions differ? Do they *replace* songs?

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-24 21:04:34

Simon: i honestly don't know, you could google some track lists and compare i guess. But the japanese Supernova version seems to have a pretty solid track list as well so that might work just as well, or perhaps even better :)

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!

2009-06-25 01:58:29

Ah, I see. Well, the single worst thing about Supernova 2 is that Cara Mia is in there.. I have to close my eyes, cover my ears and go LALALALA when I hop past it in the menu. Of course, the packaging already has me convinced I'm a 12 year old girl so it shouldn't really matter at that point.. I suppose I just wanna make sure I don't start developing girly parts.

It seems most of the japanese stuff in EU Supernova 2 is on the higher tiers, so it does seem that - at least initially - there has been some replacements done to the track list. Getting any japanese version would remedy that I'm sure. Much like Beatmania it's pretty difficult to know what version to get, but it does seem that DDR is generally better structured and just all in all doesn't expect you to be an eight legged goddess floating in mid air just because you're getting one of the newest additions to the franchise. In effect, like you say, getting a feel for the track list is probably all I have to do.

I was foolishly of the impression that a game called "supernova" would lean towards disco-esque songs, but that.. wasn't really the case. At least not on ground level, where I'm still very much conducting most of my irratic spasm freakouts. :)

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http://modeseven.blogspot.com | Dominic and Simon - dyanamic games blog duo!

2009-06-25 02:04:03

Generally i think that if you pick any of the later DDR games (japanese) you'll get something alright. The european and american versions have a lot of the songs that i consider more fun replaced with crap that isn't so much fun at all. I'd rather play a crazy japanese dance song than some boring pop tune from over here (caramia, lol) or some characterless Paul VanDyk song.

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El perro, el perro es mi corazón
El gato, el gato, el gato es no bueno
Cilantro es cantante
Cilantro es muy famoso
Cilantro es el hombre con el queso del diablo!