BeatMania

"Beatmania is in da house, and it is, like, totally whack! I is down wiv da beats!"

Beatmania is an alien game and also something of a breath of fresh air. A game with no cars in it? No ice levels? No focus-group designed, non-threatening human/animal hybrid main character? It's commercial suicide! In this age of over-cooked genres, filled to bursting with similar games separable only by the merest hint of a variation, Beatmania is refreshingly different, and, get this, a pretty original idea.
Okay, so it's a bit like fellow weird musical odysseys Parappa or even Bust-a-Groove, with the gameplay being no more than copying sequences of button presses that appear on screen. However, actually learning what needs to be done and discovering how the game works is the first task players face. Not that a huge amount of reading needs to be done in preparation - the fact that it comes with an A4-sized lump of plastic with buttons the size of France, points you in the right direction - press the buttons and twiddle the 'deck' in time with the tune. It's that simple.

There's really only one word needed to summarize playing Beatmania, and the word is...fun. Especially when using the chunky DJ controller, with its five buttons and plastic mini record deck making play much more intuitive. It's possible to play with the regular joypad, but the extra brain processing time needed to translate the on-screen display to the correct pad button spoils the flow. Besides, the DJ controller is much cooler than a joypad, so use it!
Beatmania is also made better by the inclusion of 'proper' music tracks by famous dance acts. Some of the bizarre Japanese pop songs (complete with off-key Japlish singing) are just as entertaining, but playing along with real bands like Moloko, Les Rhythmes Digitales and Ruff Driverz really grounds the game in reality.

To start with it is a confusing challenge, as players desperately try to match the on-screen actions with their finger presses on the controller. Anyone can manage a simple drum beat, but the complex melodies of the tougher tracks need loads of practice and a good dose of natural rhythm to beat.
Mastery of the game requires key sections of each track to be memorized, so that it becomes instinctive to bang out certain difficult sections. Do you ever see piano players looking desperately at the keyboard, trying to work out which key to press? No, and it's that level of skill and gut reaction that is needed to beat some of the tougher songs in the game. Getting perfect grades all the way through is a true test for master gamers.

But as well as obsessive types who must win at all costs, Beatmania caters just as well, possibly even better, to the usual chap who just fancies messing about to kill half an hour. Rather than offering a massive challenge that requires hours of play just to get through the intro scenes, Beatmania's bite-sized design makes it the perfect game to play in short bursts, with the easier tracks taking a couple of minutes to whizz through for a laugh. Once tracks have been beaten in the Normal game, they're accessible for one off-usage in the Free section - ideal for showing off your DJ skills to guests and visitors. So they can laugh at you.
But it's not a game to be completed. It needs to be perfected and mastered, with the Normal and Expert games offering over 25 tracks to learn. Those who like to complete a game and forget about it will find that Beatmania lasts a couple of days at most, while perfectionists will be plugging away for months to get perfect A grades on every track in the game.

As such, it's not a game for everyone. It's too cute and a bit simple for many, but the originality and sheer fun of playing it shines through, seeing Beatmania becoming a firm favorite with anyone who takes a chance on this odd little beauty. Although, beauty....not visually then. As you'd expect for a game selling on its musical aspects, the visuals take second place. Disco effects but little else.
It's inventive and fun, Beatmania is highly recommended for those becoming bored with the numerous sequels on offer. It won't last forever - all of the game can be seen in a few hours if you're determined - but should bring a smile to most faces.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/15/02, Updated 12/15/02