Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X Review

The gameplay in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X is something that anybody can get behind. It may seem simple at first – press the corresponding buttons as they appear on the screen, and try not to mess up. However, things can get downright challenging with the inclusion of Technical Zones (which require you to clear a succession of notes), Rush Notes (which require a good deal of button mashing), and Chance Time events (which net prizes upon successful completion). Those playing on Easy or Normal will only have to deal with an average of two different button types per song, but the Hard and Extreme modes are downright relentless in the amount of button prompts it throws at you. Much like conquering a challenging boss in Dark Souls, completing one of these difficult songs is worthy of the highest accolades.

Tying everything together in Project DIVA X is its story mode, a first for the series. Your mission is to fill up a number of Cloud Prisms, each with its own unique style. How do you do that? Through the power song and dance, of course! Dubbed “Classic,” “Cool,” “Cute,” “Elegant,” and “Quirky,” each of these five Clouds has a different musical style it. Those visiting the “Cool” Cloud will be dancing to rock-based songs, while denizens of the “Quirky” Cloud will be moving along to Super Sentai jams. It adds a good amount of variety to the game’s 30+ track list, and will keep you humming and tapping until the very end.

However, this game has some serious legs. Successfully completing Chance Time events nets you a “Module,” which gives Miku and co. a new costume to dance around in. These Modules also net you a perk, and quite possibly the chance to net yourself more Voltage to recharge the Cloud Prisms. Herein lies the fun – there are more than 300 Modules to collect, with some being “rare” modules that come out once in a blue moon. Those looking to flesh out their wardrobe will no doubt enjoy min/maxing Miku’s outfits and accessories to get the best Modules and to come out on top.

There is also the chance to spend some time off the stage with Miku and her friends, giving them gifts and building their friendship meter (which helps you during songs). This mode is a bit more spartan compared to F and F 2nd, but it is a welcome addition nonetheless.

Fans of catchy music, arcade-based rhythm gameplay, or even good games should give Project DIVA X a go. This is one of those titles that will stick with you, in more ways than one. After all, how can you resist the siren call of a VOCALOID?

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Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs Force Review

Those unfamiliar with the Gundam Extreme Vs series (or are unfamiliar with the long-running Gundam anime series) should know one thing – these games are fast. As the pilot of a giant mechanoid robot called a Gundam, players take the fight to a giant battlefield, shooting, strafing, and boosting their way to victory. Paired with a fellow player, these frantic battles require you to be aware of your surroundings at any and all times. This chaos gets even deeper with advanced techniques, including boost hopping, rainbow stepping, and brake cancelling.

Sounds fun, right? It most certainly is.

Force takes things in a slightly different direction. Those still itching for a more traditional fight can still get one with its “Vs” battles, which offers the action the series is known for. However, these fights are tied into its lengthy Campaign mode, which dictates who you’ll be battling next and when. It’s a little disheartening to not be able to plan out fights the way Gundam fans dream of, especially since this feature was available in the Japan-only PlayStation 3 releases. It would be like if Street Fighter had a Story Mode for its single player shenanigans, and nothing else. An ad-hoc multiplayer mode and online mode are available, but it is somewhat stripped down compared to previous entries. Fewer Gundams, maps, and even abilities are available, but those uninitiated with the series will still have fun squaring off.

However, those looking to relive the past glories of the many Gundam anime series will find a lot to like in the Campaign mode. Taking place across multiple anime series and decades of material, the story has players reliving conflicts as key heroes (and villains). Itching to relive a fight from the One Year War? Now’s your chance. Battles play out like you think they would, with multiple targets and constantly-changing objectives. Successfully completing these missions net you Haro Medals, which in turn unlock more missions (including dream, non-canon battles). It’s a bit of a grind to unlock everything, as the key to get more medals is to complete the objective in a unique way (pilot a certain Gundam, etc.). However, the ol’ carrot on a stick technique will keep you playing until the very last battle.

Most of the battles in Force’s Campaign mode use its new “Force” system, which ups the ante with 6-on-6 battles. The scale is much larger than before, but so are the objectives. A new overhead map is now available at the touch of a button, which allows you to command AI troops to fight or overtake posts. Perks are also available, which can increase offensive or defensive abilities. These things are lifted straight from the finest of strategy games, but it feels a little jarring. When you are forced to stop the fast-paced fighting the series is known for every 30 seconds, it gets annoying fast. If anything it almost feels like two different games fused into one. It’s a shame that close to half of the missions use this format, as it is just not as strong as its more traditional battles.

Gundam Extreme Vs. Force takes the series in a new direction, but not exactly the right direction. Those unfamiliar with the series will no doubt dig the “Vs.” and multiplayer fights, but the “Force”-heavy battles may turn people off.

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Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Review

Ever played a 2D fighter? You’re already ahead of the game with Dengeki Bunko. In true 2D fighting game fashion, battles play out with a bevvy of combos and quarter-circle moves. However, Dengeki Bunko cribs notes from some of the greatest fighters out there. Persona 4 Arena’s auto combo system is present here, allowing players to mash out combos by continuously pressing a single button. Guilty Gear’s “Roman cancel” system is also in place for certain characters, allowing players to cancel out of combos and jump into others. Even the assists made famous from The King of Fighters make an appearance. As a result, the game feels instantly familiar while still remaining fresh.

However, the biggest wrinkle to Dengeki Bunko’s fighting game system is its counter system. Unlike Street Fighter’s parries or Garou’s Just Defends, the counters present here are more akin to the ones found in Super Smash Bros. By performing a specific action, opponents can be baited into attacking, leading to even more damage. It leads to a more defensive style of play, one that makes reading your opponent absolutely crucial. This is the hallmark of a true fighting game, one that the fighting game community absolutely devours.

If anything, the only thing that could make Dengeki Bunko’s system even better would be an air dash and ukemi system. Some characters may possess these skills, but removing them from certain characters’ repertoire of moves sometimes makes the whole shebang feel slower than it has any right to be.

But what about the fanservice? No need to worry there – Dengeki Bunko has that in spades. Characters from Durarara!!, Oreimo, Sword Art Online, and even The Devil is a Part-Timer! make their playable debut here. All are lovingingly recreated from their respective series, with some of the most creative fighting game moves to date (UFO catcher supers, anyone?). SEGA’s stable of characters also gets some love, with to Sonic, Valkyria Chronicles, and even Virtua Fighter present.

Everything in Dengeki Bunko is tied together with its story mode. Presented in a light visual-novel format, each character speaks with their opponent before and after each match. There is an overarching plot with the nefarious Zersumu, but almost all encounters play out the same. Still, it’s interesting to see how each character reacts to certain situations. A Dream Mode is also present, which shows a more varied set of dialog choices between the characters, tailored around each specific character. It’s a real treat for fans of the respective anime series.

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax is a tribute to SEGA, fighting games, and some of the hottest anime properties out there today. The fanservice may bring all the fans to the battlefield, but the deep fighting mechanics will keep them around for weeks (if not months) to come.

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Persona 4: Dancing All Night Review

The Persona 4 train keeps rolling on with Persona 4: Dancing All Night, taking our hero Yu Narukami and the original Investigation Team on an adventure that is canon to both the RPG and Arena fighting game series. As the pop idol Rise Kujikawa gets ready to star in the Love Meets Bonds festival, strange happenings start to occur. Word of a strange online video appearing at midnight begins to circulate, causing people to come down with a coma-like Apathy Syndrome State. When members of the pop group Kanamin Kitchen go missing, it’s up to Yu and his friends to investigate and find out who is pulling the strings (or in this case, ribbons).

The story of Persona 4: Dancing All Night might have some JPOP flavor to it, but the underlying tone is still true to the series’ trademark namesake. Strong themes like staying true to one’s self and the importance of the bonds we form with others tread familiar ground, but are still presented in a unique way. The seven-hour story mode is surprisingly meaty, with tomes of voiced dialog interspersed with some dancin’.

Of course, Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a dancing game at heart, and a fine one at that. Gameplay is split between six buttons mapped to the d-pad and face buttons, with the analog sticks working overtime for optional notes. As the notes move outward from the center, it’s up to players to time button presses just right as they reach the outer circle. It might sound simple, but things can get awfully heated on the more difficult songs, especially when note holds and dual presses come into play. With each song ranked from 1-20 stars, even the most hardened of rhythm rogues will have their skills put to the test. Just be warned – the overly flashy dancing from those on the “Midnight Stage” can make the notes a little hard to read.

Song selection fares well too. Fans of the series will find a lot to love here, with practically every song from the RPG series present and accounted for here. Composer Shoji Meguro’s work translates well to the game, with a number of remixes punching up the already great tunes. Original compositions are available as well, all of which fit well with the classic tunes. It’s just a shame that there aren’t more songs to choose from – the 30 or so tracks are great, but pale in comparison to the 50+ songs that come standard in other rhythm games like Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F and Dance Dance Revolution (god rest its soul). DLC hopes to rectify the problem, with the current content (provided by ATLUS) covering content from the Persona 4 anime series.

Persona 4: Dancing All Night maintains the high pedigree the Persona series is known for while still being its own thing. Fans of both rhythm games and all things Persona will find a lot to love here – and who knows, maybe you’ll learn a move or two too.

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