beat’n groovy.

Yeah, beat’n groovy. Apparently it is Pop’n, kind of. I won’t say that it is the “Button Revolution” that I joke around about every time somebody says Pop’n should come to the US, since it still has judgments, Konami Originals, and a lack of Terry Bogard lookalikes. However, it is far from perfect. Really, really far.

Click at your own risk.

First, and probably the issue with the most complaints, especially on Bemanistyle, the new character designs. I could understand why Voltex/Konami would consider changing them just to suit them towards an American audience. And by understand, I mean “barely comprehend.” I mean, Sanrio didn’t have to give Hello Kitty a mouth, lipstick, glitter, Magic Color-Changing Hair (TM), and Barbie porportions to sell her here. Yet, her brand has a specific store. Then again, I guess it helps when you’re just a character design and not a peripheral music game.

Speaking of which, another problem is the lack of peripheral. As much as I think DJMax Portable was a great music game that didn’t need such a peripheral, that was on the PSP. This is the Xbox 360, home of the never ending problems with the horrendous d-pad. Some people have commented that a Hori Stick would work well. Those people are assuming you can remap the controls.

And, finally, there are apparently only nine songs (I count ten characters in that title screen, though). I know, this is an XBLA title, but they can easily at least try to be a little better than Boom Boom Rocket. It’s not like they have to actually make the songs, the entire songlist was pulled straight from Pop’n releases. Not that being pulled straight from Pop’n is a bad thing, especially when one of them is 100sec. Kitchen Battle. But, what about Daikenkai? Classic 4? That DDR Megamix?

But maybe this isn’t supposed to be a Pop’n release. Maybe this is just like some location test of the gameplay. Too bad most people cannot play games when their eyes are bleeding. Despite this, I will try out the demo. I just have to see what else Voltex/Konami (Volnami?) has done with Pop’n, even if I know I will regret it.