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*

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?

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.

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.

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.

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. :)

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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?

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. :)