View Full Version : Music/Rhythm games that DON'T feature guitars
El Mullet
06-07-2009, 08:20 PM
I come from the old school of music gaming. A time where the music genre was niche; a small piece of the overall gaming pie. A time where games didn't require something shaped like a guitar in order to be fun and enjoyable. I'd like to strike up a discussion of music games that DON'T feature an instrument of this sort.
Don't get me wrong, though. I adore Rock Band, and Guitar Hero makes a decent substitute when Rock Band isn't present. But there's SO MANY versions of both franchises flooding the market in 2009 alone, much less previous years. Yet its easy to forget the games that paved the way for these cash cows, and most places I frequent forget as well. Who else plays the lesser known, or less popular music games here? Dance Dance Revolution? Frequency/Amplitude? beatmania IIDX? Samba de Amigo? Donkey Konga? Anyone?
Regulus Tera
06-07-2009, 08:29 PM
RHYTHM HEAVEN has, like, 47 games not about guitars.
Also, REZ.
El Mullet
06-07-2009, 08:37 PM
Ah, a good catch. Rhythm Heaven is amazing. I've gone through the game twice with complete Perfects on every game, and am in the middle of my third. It's one of those music games where the ride to the end is much more engaging than simply unlocking everything.
Also Elite Beat Agents. One of the best underrated games I've ever played. Also contains one of the few legitimately tear-jerking moments in gaming history. This can be found VERY cheap at your local game store, and is more than deserving of a pick-up. (Or if you hate American music, import Ouendan 2. All the above still applies.)
russianreversal
06-07-2009, 08:46 PM
Ok, so I'm finally up to Jamiroquai on hard for EBA, and DAMN is it hard. Every song past medium is an uphill battle.
On another note, I gave up on being any good at DDR or similar a while ago after learning that my friend is a beast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNtTQV8xDW8&feature=channel) (unfortunately, that was the best video I've found of him, but that's still rather easy).
Lumenskir
06-07-2009, 08:49 PM
Samba De Amigo, bleh. I don't know how you can make maracas notfun, but Samba De Amigo found the way.
Donkey Konga I've only ever played in the side-scroller format (where the drums and claps made DK run and jump) and it was fun, if impossible to play while living with roommates.
Mike McC
06-07-2009, 08:49 PM
I play a lot of Frequency and Amplitude, Harmonix's pre-Guitar Hero games. I also have an odd little game by the name of Mad Maestro, and of course, Space Channel 5 Special Edition.
Also, who could forget Parappa the Rapper, and Um Jammer Lammy?
El Mullet
06-07-2009, 08:57 PM
On another note, I gave up on being any good at DDR or similar a while ago after learning that my friend is a beast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNtTQV8xDW8&feature=channel) (unfortunately, that was the best video I've found of him, but that's still rather easy).
If I let it get to me that other people could out DDR me like that, I wouldn't be as good as I am today. I'm a nine-year vet at the game, and while half the boss songs still kick my ass when attempting them, I still play the heck out of it. Its probably the one game I put more time and effort into perfecting my skill than any game before or since. Its nowhere near as awesome as it was a few years ago, but its still fun. In any incarnation. (Except ITG.) There's something about moving WITH the music as opposed to creating a track FOR the music that appeals to me.
Space Channel 5 is also amazing. I still have my special edition, although I need to go back through the second game and perfect all the stages.
I don't do much DDR, but I enjoy it. I need to redownload some Stepmania so I can play some of me anime musics.
Mondt
06-07-2009, 09:17 PM
I just acquired a DJ Max game on the PSP.
It could be cooler but its fun to have portable press-certain-buttons-on-time.
russianreversal
06-07-2009, 09:18 PM
Well, I just don't have the same mindset as Kurt. He has the ability and the patience to repeat something over and over until perfection. My ADHD self might be captivated by the flashing lights and loud music for a few more seconds more than usual, but it's a passing fancy, really.
As for stepmania, I play it frequently (or at least I did until my PC tanked).
Actually, one game I intend to get in spite of the fact that I am destined to be disappointed is the Hatsune Miku rhythm game for the PSP. I have an unhealthy addiction to Miku :(
phil_
06-07-2009, 10:19 PM
Strangely enough, when I got home today, Step Mania's idle animations were playing on my laptop. Mike must've been playing it, but I have no idea what's become of him. He got sucked into the machine, perhaps?
bluestarultor
06-07-2009, 10:23 PM
One could argue The Legend of Dragoon is a rhythm game. It's got a sort of rhythm-based battle system. I personally liked it, although a lot of other people didn't.
I can do some of their Additions blind, though.
Reemphasizing Rhythm Heaven and Elite Beat Agents. Of course, it really goes without saying that alongside EBA is their Japanese Ouendan counterparts. The same thing but MANLIER. I didn't know that I liked music games so much until I played these three, but those are the ones I've connected with more than any of the typical RPGs I usually buy.
The music is catchy, always, and... well, I feel like a huge and amazing creepo saying it, but the way these games get me to think about music has been practically spiritual. That's how much fun they are.
The great thing about these sorts of games, beyond being great toe-tappers, is that they're really very goofy. You know that they do not take themselves seriously for one instant. Secret agents who dance to make people feel better, such as getting gorillas and cows to help change the weather. Ninja dogs cutting vegetables. Most of the Perfect Rewards in Rhythm Heaven point out all the things that don't make sense. It's that sort of madcap fun that you just enjoy for the hell of it.
russianreversal
06-07-2009, 10:28 PM
What kind of music does Rhythm Heaven have? Because aside from one song, the thing that set EBA apart for me is that there are no song on it that I hate.
Also, REZ.
Doesn't REZ come with a vibrator?
Amplitude is pretty fudging (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1A1bbgKN7Y&feature=related) awesome, though when you say "that DON'T feature guitars," I'm taking that to mean a guitar shaped controller.
Solid Snake
06-07-2009, 11:40 PM
Man I just bought Elite Beat Agents yesterday and I'm having way too much fun.
I mean any game that includes the song "SK8er boi" should suck by default, and yet this game is so goddamn awesome it's insane.
"AGENTS ARE GO!"
Regulus Tera
06-08-2009, 12:10 AM
What kind of music does Rhythm Heaven have? Because aside from one song, the thing that set EBA apart for me is that there are no song on it that I hate.
It's all original music.
Mirai Gen
06-08-2009, 01:34 AM
Doesn't REZ come with a vibrator?
Protip: You can supplement Rez with three vibrators all using 360 controllers on Xbox Live! Up to three, in fact!
But yeah Rez is one of the greatest games ever. I haven't gotten Elite Beat Agents yet though I know every instinct and urge and Regulus Tera is kicking me in the ass to do it.
Also I didn't like Rhythm Heaven :(
My problem with Rhythm Heaven isn't that it's a bad game. Far from it, just that if you don't have super rhythm skills you won't be very good at it and it just isn't as fun. It's a real rhythm game. Guitar Hero and Elite Beat Agents are visual rhythm games where visual cues tie into the rhythm of it and it is generally more enjoyable and less impossible for those of us who lack the rhythm skills of others.
EVILNess
06-08-2009, 02:59 AM
My problem with Rhythm Heaven isn't that it's a bad game. Far from it, just that if you don't have super rhythm skills you won't be very good at it and it just isn't as fun.
You just described my affair with every rhythm game ever, even the ones you describe as visual.
Yes, Rhythm Heaven is all original stuff, mostly light and perky tunes, simple enough in composure. There's only... what... five songs with actual words to them? Something like that. They try to skip around to give them western feels, island feels, spacey feels for different ones, but overall the main idea is that they're simple and easy to find a beat to. But still hard.
I've already given my point of view on visual rhythm games versus non-visual ones recently, so I won't repeat it. Elite Beat Agents used the visual aspect to hone my sense of rhythm greatly, to the point where Rhythm Heaven is not utterly impossible for me. Also, the second Ouendan game has a feature that takes away most of the visual aspect.
Ryong
06-08-2009, 08:33 AM
Ok, so I'm finally up to Jamiroquai on hard for EBA, and DAMN is it hard. Every song past medium is an uphill battle.
Yeah, I just got stuck on Canned Heat and Material Girl and can't ever progress. Hard is way hard.
One could argue The Legend of Dragoon is a rhythm game. It's got a sort of rhythm-based battle system. I personally liked it, although a lot of other people didn't.
I can do some of their Additions blind, though.
Same here. It's a shame no one ever thought of using the battle system ever again.
Like with Legend of Legaia...What's that? Legend of Legaia 2? Which changes the system drastically into something horrible? Doesn't count.
Regulus Tera
06-08-2009, 09:38 AM
Mirai I made a post about how Rez is all awesome and the shit and you pay me with not liking RH? :(
Yeah, I just got stuck on Canned Heat and Material Girl and can't ever progress. Hard is way hard.
Wait for Jumpin' Jack Flash and its stupid arse spin wheels of death.
Ryong
06-08-2009, 09:47 AM
Wait for Jumpin' Jack Flash and its stupid arse spin wheels of death.
I believe you didn't understand what I said. I can't get past Canned Heat nor Material Girl on Hard. Ever. It's simply too hard. I'm happy enough with completing the game on Medium, it was crazy hard enough already, Hard is just ridiculous.
Mirai Gen
06-08-2009, 11:36 AM
Mirai I made a post about how Rez is all awesome and the shit and you pay me with not liking RH? :(
I suppose I should have acknowledged that much, but I feel guilty every time rhythm games are brought up and I remember my time with RH.
mudah.swf
06-08-2009, 01:15 PM
The DJ Max games on PSP are pretty cool rhythm games. Damn hard too. The first two came out in the US under the name DJ Max Fever. There's also a couple of MMOs, which are just the same rhythm gameplay only online and multiplayer, and levelling up. There were two other PSP games released in Korea recently, one of which is for new players and the other for experience players. Well worth checking out DJ Max Fever if you have a PSP. There's a PSP demo for DJ Max Portable 2 floating about too.
El Mullet
06-08-2009, 01:26 PM
Not to mention a DJ Max Technica arcade game currently beta-testing here in the states.
I've been looking to get DJ Max Fever, but that requires a PSP investment. Still, its the closest thing to a portable beatmania there will ever be, so that investment might not be too far off.
russianreversal
06-08-2009, 02:37 PM
Man I just bought Elite Beat Agents yesterday and I'm having way too much fun.
I mean any game that includes the song "SK8er boi" should suck by default, and yet this game is so goddamn awesome it's insane.
"AGENTS ARE GO!" I know. There are songs on there that I wouldn't like otherwise, but in conjunction with secret government agents, ninjas, fire breathing golems and aliens it stops being just about the music and also about the story. That said, Material Girl still sucks and I have resolved to not play it until I'm sure I can beat it. Also, what the hell kind of dancing are they doing on Makes No Difference? I actually got around to watching the agents while I play, and now I can't do that song anymore because I'm laughing too hard at the utterly idiotic "dance" moves.
Oh dude man I taught myself that dance. It's so completely stupid and that is what makes it WORTH IT. Working on getting the Material Girl dance down, too. One way or another, you gotta admit that Agent J knows how to make it work.
mudah.swf
06-08-2009, 06:30 PM
You know what was a great rhythm game? Bust-a-groove! It was a wacky breakdancing game for the PS1, and it got a sequel or two. You put in DDR-style commands to bust out moves, and if you did well enough you got an awesome solo section. There were even secret dances obtainable by deliberately putting in different commands to what the game tells you to do. Not only that, it was made by none other than Enix, before they became Square-Enix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bust_A_Groove
russianreversal
06-09-2009, 12:11 PM
Oh dude man I taught myself that dance. It's so completely stupid and that is what makes it WORTH IT. Working on getting the Material Girl dance down, too. One way or another, you gotta admit that Agent J knows how to make it work. Dudes charisma is over 9000. I was thinking about doing one of those real life EBA videos, and totally considering using Makes No Difference as the main dance model.
Anyway, I'm just posting to update you on my EBA progress: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!
Once you beat EBA you need to get Ouendan. I've beaten EBA. I'm still stuck on Ready, Steady, Go! on Hard on Ouendan though.
russianreversal
06-09-2009, 02:21 PM
Ok, so I've tried about 30 times now, and Jumpin' Jack Flash is just punching me in the face over and over. I can full combo up until the second chorus, but then it all just falls apart right there. I haven't even made it to the third part. *cries at ineptitude*
I believe you should direct your attention at my signature, R|Я. You know the truth now.
The thing that makes Ready Steady Go so irritating for me, is not only is it hard, but you have no choice but to rewatch thirty goddamn seconds of intro clip every time you restart. Throws off your groove like whoa, and that's a long level in the first place.
My recommendation is to make use of the "replay" feature when you fail, so you can see if you're hitting too slow or too fast, or check out a recording on line that may help you hear what the actual beat is supposed to be.
Solid Snake
06-09-2009, 09:43 PM
Boy, I had a hard time beating Jumpin' Jack Flash and just getting a B ranking out of the ordeal on easy mode with the easiest agent.
Now I'm playing with Agent J and boy, I am not looking forward to it.
Also for the record I've owned EBA for, what, close to a week now? And I still can't get higher than a B ranking on any difficulty level and with any song. And the strange thing is prior to this game, I was often told I did have a keen sense of rhythm.
Dude, don't even worry about the rankings, you probably won't start getting A's and whatnot until the hardest difficulty, and that's mostly because if you aren't doing well enough to get an A you will fail the song.
Solid Snake
06-09-2009, 10:36 PM
Dude, don't even worry about the rankings, you probably won't start getting A's and whatnot until the hardest difficulty, and that's mostly because if you aren't doing well enough to get an A you will fail the song.
Yeah, but I'm also a perfectionist, and I'm not happy about the fact that I still miss at least a few beats entirely in every song. Even on easy mode. =(
Dammit EBA, I will master you one day!!! Even if I fail all my law school courses, I will still conquer you!!!
On the hardest difficulty, you can fail a song without missing any beats. In fact, it is very easy to fail without missing beats. Think on that for a moment.
Solid Snake
06-09-2009, 10:47 PM
WHAT.
...How...how can you even possibly compete?
You just have to combo 300's like a motherfucker. Snorting a line of pixie sticks also helps.
Solid Snake
06-09-2009, 10:55 PM
...I can't even tell you how many times I actually had to stop trying to listen to the rhythm and merely concentrate on the shrinking circles in order to succeed. I'm not sure how it's possible to time 300's otherwise.
This most likely means that I do, in fact, have atrocious rhythm, and I compensate by relying on visual cues.
For bragging purposes and being a jerk:
I always restart a level if I miss a beat entirely. I strongly consider it if I ever get a 50. And I have beaten the Epic Hard Level.
Regulus Tera
06-09-2009, 11:27 PM
You would love Rhythm Heaven, Snake.
Solid Snake
06-09-2009, 11:43 PM
You would love Rhythm Heaven, Snake.
Hmm, care to share why you think so? I'm mildly intrigued.
As for EBA, I'm actually starting to get a little better in Normal Mode (with Agent J.) I still need the visual of the shrinking circle to assist with the beat because I'm absolutely convinced that occasionally, the beats don't quite match the music. (Either this or my ears are playing tricks on me!) Nonetheless, I've realized that I can eventually master certain sections if I repeat them enough (the first two sections of the White Blood Cell song are prime examples.) That doesn't say much for my sense of rhythm, I suppose, but at least I can master the timing through constant trial and error.
(And yes, I've been playing EBA all night.)
RT is a god-damned liar. In EBA the visuals help you. In RH everything, especially the visuals, is designed to confuse your rhythm-impaired ass. I've actually been better at some of the things in Rhythm Heaven with my eyes closed. I play Ouendan, which is harder than EBA mind you, because RH is too hard. Just to clarify, RH isn't bad, but Jesus Christ I can't handle it.
Mike McC
06-10-2009, 01:27 AM
Really? Huh. I got several S ranks in Breezin'.
Really? Huh. I got several S ranks in Breezin'.
Actually, when I played EBA I started out on the normal difficulty, and only came back to do Breezin' after almost beating Diva difficulty. I kept screwing up on Breezin' because I was doing shit too fast. :sweatdrop
russianreversal
06-10-2009, 07:42 PM
My recommendation is to make use of the "replay" feature when you fail, so you can see if you're hitting too slow or too fast, or check out a recording on line that may help you hear what the actual beat is supposed to be. Good advice, but I can actually tell when I'm going too fast and correct accordingly. The hard part is remembering when they set a pattern that goes on for every part of the song then suddenly gets switched out at the last part, totally throwing me off and screwing up everything.
On another note:
On the hardest difficulty, you can fail a song without missing any beats. In fact, it is very easy to fail without missing beats. Think on that for a moment. This. This is usually why I fail JJF now. I might get off beat a little too much and for a couple seconds there's 50's EVERYWHERE. Then the aliens take over. :( This is only true after Canned Heat though, the beginning of Sweatin' is a welcome relief after Cruisin'
Finally:
As for EBA, I'm actually starting to get a little better in Normal Mode (with Agent J.) I still need the visual of the shrinking circle to assist with the beat because I'm absolutely convinced that occasionally, the beats don't quite match the music. (Either this or my ears are playing tricks on me!) Nonetheless, I've realized that I can eventually master certain sections if I repeat them enough (the first two sections of the White Blood Cell song are prime examples.) That doesn't say much for my sense of rhythm, I suppose, but at least I can master the timing through constant trial and error. You're not entirely right, but you're not entirely wrong. The circles often deviate from the "beat," usually focusing on a different section (see the beginning of Canned Heat where it follows all the vocals, or Let's Dance with the guitar riffs), and it's hard to know the first time through exactly what they're following, but with enough practice, you can A pretty much any song. ...'Cept for JJF, what with it's stupidly fast triples.
Jagos
06-10-2009, 07:49 PM
Man, and I feel special for playing Drummania long before Rock Band got popular...
Ryong
06-11-2009, 08:20 AM
On Ouendan and EBA: Jumping Jack Flash is WAY harder than Ready Steady Go. At least on Normal. The only dickish part on Ready Steady Go are the three spinners on a row.
Okay, now go play Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobunda ze in Ouendan 2. It and JJF are best friends.
Best friends of kicking you in the face.
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