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"Beatmania" for the PS2 is Konami's first attempt to port their "Beatmania IIDX" franchise to the US market. While this game succeeds in doing so in many ways, there are other aspects that unfortunately fall a bit short. Firstly, it should be pointed out that the pass or fail benchmark for any rhythm game is in the music selection. While IIDX in Japan has always been known for music that is on the cutting edge by combining artists that are "underground" with ones that are well known for their current R&B and Techno hits, the US release certainly falls short in that reguard by featuring music that is terribly outdated by artists that most Americans have never heard of. Of the three or so songs that would be familiar to the American market, I feel that perhaps they are not the type that would be expected in the first release of a game such as this. (i.e. Britany Spears and Van Halen) Other than those gripes, I feel that the game overall proforms well and runs smoothly. Of other note is the scoring system that is used. While this game is in no way a game that is easy to master, The scoring system used in this game is MUCH more generous than that of it's Japanese counterparts. While getting a grade of an "A" on a song might be difficult at times, mathmatically it would only be a "B" on the Japanese version. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perceptions. All of these things aside, it really could have been a worse release, but I would still strongly recommend grabbing a Japanese ps2 and a few Japanese games if you want a much stronger and refined version of the game. The one major redeeming factor of this game is the controller that comes packaged along with the game. Of any game that I have played that comes with it's own controller (Dance Dance Revolution, Karaoke Revolution, etc.) this one is a real diamond in the rough. The construction and playability of the DJ controller is phenomenal, and well worth the price of the game/controller package alone. Based on the design of the Japanese IIDX controllers, this controller is actually a major improvement over it's Japanese counterpart, and does not suffer from many of the issues that chronically plague the Japanese version of the controller. To summarize, I recommend buying this game as it is a unique and plesant experience, and comes with a very high quality controller that will last for many years. But I would also suggest grabbing the Japanese versions of Beatmania IIDX to really get a feel of the capabilities of the game.Read full review
Beatmania is described as the ultimate DJ simulator, but the last time I checked DJs don’t press black and white keys while spinning a turntable to play their music. Although it can be played on a PS2 controller, Beatmania is best of being played using the DJ controller included in the relatively inexpensive bundle. The controller has one turntable, four white keys on the bottom row, and three black keys on the top row. The purpose of the game is to press the keys or spin the turntable in conjunction with the corresponding notes scrolling on the screen as they pass the action zone. You receive a grade based on the timing of each key your press ranging from ‘perfect’ to ‘poor’, which will add on to your overall score. Occasionaly a free spin zone will appear in which your objective is to spin the turntable as fast as you can to rack up points. At the end of each song, you will be given a grade ranging from ‘AAA’ to ‘E’ depending on how precisely you played. All technical difficulties aside, Beatmania on the PS2 is an innovative title that can provide hours upon hours of entertainment if you’re willing to take the time to learn how to play. If you aren’t a huge fan of the J-pop scene then this might not be the right game for you, but if you’re eager to try something unconventional then Beatmania is definitely worth checking out. While this “DDR with your fingers” game won’t receive a lot of recognition because it isn’t very newbie friendly, the US release of Beatmania is great for eager minds and veterans alikeRead full review
Beatmania is the classic Konami rhythm title that is a huge hit in Japan, as well as a select few in America. This is the only US title, which is why the game is rare, as well as expensive. I got a copy over Ebay, and the controller is very sturdy. You feel like each button press is reacting, and it shows in the game. However, the game itself is a bit of a let down. I have heard amazing things about the JAP titles, which is a shame, because Beatmania has pretty much the scraps of what the JAP titles have gotten. Don't get me wrong, I'm having a ton of fun with Beatmania, but you almost need to invest in a PS2 mod-chip or lid-mod so you can play the much more challenging and fun JAP titles like 5th mix and such. However, for a beginner's title, this is very much worth it. The game's curve is extremely steep, as titles ranging from 4 star (out of 12) to 5 star on the difficulty meter can completely destroy and discourage new players from the get-go. Thankfully there is a training mode, where you can practice the songs you keep failing at, slow them down, and repeat specific parts of the song that has you strung up. So despite the steep curve, there are ways to keep improving, and that is the name of the game. It's all about practice. For someone looking to break away from Guitar Hero, here is a different, yet difficult challenge for you. There's always something to work on in Beatmania, and as you progress, you'll find yourself slowly getting better, and making you push your reflexes to the test. I give this game an average for a fantastic controller, but a weak soundtrack and learning curve. Learn from the US title, then invest in the JAP titles and mod your PS2 as soon as you feel comfortable. You'll thank yourself for it. -ThatfreakingcatRead full review
I think Beatmania is actually a pretty good game. It takes a VERY long time to get decent at, but once you do, it is really fun. I was a little disapointed with the song list; most of the songs were songs that I have never heard of and some were just really awful. Also, each song was pretty short, causing you to have to keep playing them over and over again. I do find myself playing it a lot, but you do need time to get decent at it, it will be very FRUSTRATING in the beginning. So overall, I like Beatmania, and I wish Konami would make another game for the U.S. so I have more use for the controller!
It has been over a month since I received this controller. This controller is very hard to find these days and are sold above the original pirce (I even saw someone selling for over $100). I wanted to buy a beatmania controller so I can hook it up to my computer and play Lunatic Rave (BMS). I bought a PlayStation2 to USB converter on Amazon and plugged the controller in to my PC. It took several minutes to establish the settings. Everything was done automatically and Lunatic Rave noticed the controller right away. There were minor input lags, but this is easily fixable by increasing the USB polling rate. After short time the controller worked perfectly without any lags at all. The controller itself is used so there were some scratches, but the overall condition was very good. Buttons and the turntable were very responsive. I am glad that I got this controller (and the orginal game that no one plays) just for $20. Astonishing deal I have to say and after over a month, I am still very happy with what I got.Read full review
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