|
PS2
Pop'n Music 14 Fever
- New Import, In Stock |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
NCS Game Synopsis
«©NCS»
In the
1980s, a form of music known as Italo Disco hit
Japan and became a sensation. NCS recalls Italo
Disco becoming pretty big in Hong Kong in the 80s as
well but not to the extent that it captured Japan.
Notable names in Italo music include Giorgio Moroder
(Together in Electric Dreams), Ken Lazlo (Tonight),
C.C. Catch (Jump in my Car), and Fockewulf 190
(Body Heat). Listening to a sampling of the
songs in PnM 14 this morning such as "1/6
billionth" by NAOKI and "Denki Dance"
from Freddy Hotae, we're reminded of the catchy
hooks and synth-pop sensibilities of Italo Disco.
The mix is diverse however since the song "Craze
for You" sounds like something the Ramones would
wail and "Let's Go Out" from Ucchies <3 Noria
is high energy J-Pop. The song "Akumajo
Dracula Medley" spools together classic tunes from
the Akumajou games.
Pop'n Music 14 was released in
Japanese arcades on May 17, 2006 and the game
migrates to the home consoles a little more than a
year later. The PS2 conversion features new songs,
new characters, and a new mini-game challenge where
14 micro-games are played in quick succession ala
Made in Wario. Tried and true game modes such as
Taisen Mode, Challenge Mode, and Battle Mode return
to mix up the action.
Jan Code: 4988602135930
|
|
|
NCS Game Notes
» Before the intro appears, a dude with a massive
pink afro appears and asks for your confirmation
to create a save data file in memory card 1.
» On the title screen, the Pop'n Music Fever! logo
appears along with Mimi in pink and Nyami in blue.
Both are wearing baseball caps, matching outfits,
and are walking in place. Leave it alone and a
demonstration loads up which shows off the basics
of Pop'n Music gameplay to the beat of a song
called, "Craze for You" by
TAKA featuring
百太郎. If you leave it alone some more, the
next song in the demo is Cappuccino bossa by
Hashed Box.
» Press START and the game modes that pop up are:
ARCADE.......... Enjoy five fast and
furious modes of Pop'n Music Fever.
FREE............... Freely Select the
Music, Button Configuration, Character, and toggle
Cool and Norma options.
TRAINING...... Practice your button
slapping skills in the Pop'n proving grounds
before heading onto the ARCADE or FREE modes.
RECORDS....... View the top scores for
CHART, EXPERT, MINI GAME, SECRET, and overall
STATS
OPTION.......... Set GAME LEVEL, VIBRATION,
OPTION SELECT, KEY CONFIG, SOUND MODE, and SOUND
VOLUMES.
SAVE&LOAD... SAVE your progress to memory
card, LOAD data from memory card, or toggle AUTO
SAVE.
SPECIAL.......... Play MINIGAME, listen to
tracks in MUSIC LIST, and check out the CHARACTER
GUIDE.
» Play an ARCADE mode game and you can choose EASY
or HARD and then select the following submodes:
ENJOY
CHALLENGE
BATTLE
EXPERT
TAISEN
» After each game, your ranking of various cues
are tallied up along with combo strings. Your
Groove Gauge is also shown on the bottom of the
screen.
» » If you go to the SPECIAL/CHARACTER
GUIDE section, you can view images of every
character in the game and watch their reactions
when you score any of the cue rankings (NEUTRAL,
GOOD, GREAT, FEVER, MISS, JAM, DANCE, WIN,
FEVERWIN, LOSE). There are 44 characters in the
game including:
April / Dark skinned agent who wears a
yellow top and green short-shorts with white
thigh-high stockings.
Saddle Shoes / Blonde party girl with a
pink cocktail dress and purple shoes. She has two
compatriots.
Shoko / Blue-haired schoolgirl who has an
interesting FEVERWIN animation where she seemingly
breaks through glass.
Charlotte / Demure lady with a red
carnation on her hair and a matching red dress.
Blows kisses in FEVERWIN
P-14 / Green hydrant-shaped robot with
hands and feet that sway when dancing with
himself.
Bremens / Pink burro who waves a wand and
has apparently befriended a green-colored rooster
who sits atop his head.
Aiko / Brunette girl who flirts with a
fellow and finds love underneath a tree in her
FEVERWIN animation.
Ms Mush / Hoity-toity older woman who wears
a yellow fox stole and a massive white hat.
Tsukuba / Saturday Night Fever got nothing
on this wind-up dancer with blue hair and glasses.
Hanako / Blonde smoker who doesn't blow out
smoke rings but hearts. Her daisy which is mounted
on her waistband also spins.
Ai Chan / A disturbing-looking patchwork
bear with buck-teeth who rides a scooter and
savors ice cream.
Poet / An angel of a gal complete with
white robes, a halo, and precious animal friends.
Honey / A blonde gal who wears a blue dress
that's adorned with seashells and stars.
Tran / Expressionless as usual but girl can
dance.
Murasaki / Lively geisha in violet kimono
rocks it out with a banjo.
photon / A deity with flowing hair and a
dress that's celestial.
» The Mini-Game option in the Special Mode
features micro-games which only take a few seconds
each to play. Each session contains 14 micro-games
which are played in sequence and when you're done,
a grade is assigned to your performance. The
mini-games that we played this morning are as
follows:
● Move the D-pad moved left and right so a guy can
wipe a towel across his backside to dry himself.
● Press the O button to fill up a gas tank up to
the red line but don't overdo it or the engine
will explode.
● Press the O button to help a guy try to catch
the bus. If you don't make it to the door on time,
the bus zooms off without you. There is a
variation of this game where your guy jumps to
avoid obstacles rolling on the ground to get to
the bus.
● Hop on the grey-colored rocks to save a stranded
kitten by moving the d-pad left, up, and right.
Avoid the red rocks.
● Mathematics equation problem that's very simple.
● A guy sticks his hand into a column of water and
you hold a hammer. Swing it by press "O" after his
hand is gone but don't hit him or the game ends
prematurely.
● You're on an elevator headed down and a floor is
designated on the top of the screen. Press the "O"
button when the elevator reaches the target floor.
● Motoring on the highway, one must follow the
signs on the road to avoid danger and calamity.
● Knock on a bathroom stall to enter and relieve
oneself.
● Press the "O" button when the ignition cue is
hit to start up an engine
● Hit the "O" button rapidly to blow-dry someone's
wet hair
● Push people into a filled subway car by hitting
the "O" button like a madman.
● Five plates full of food are on top of a table.
Swipe all of the food into your mouth by pressing
the "O" button, the TRIANGLE button, and by
pushing Left, Right, and Up on the D-pad.
● Rev up on a motorcycle by moving the D-pad left
and right.
● Toss rolls of toilet paper into stalls where
hands are reaching up to grab the rolls.
● Press the O button to open up a garage door so a
vehicle can get out.
● Clip colored wires that are connected to a
block of dynamite
» The formula of Pop'n Music remains the same but
the trappings and music change from version to
version to breathe new life into each rendition.
It's sort of like the annual baseball or football
games from EA. Every year, there's a new version
of the basic framework of the game but the little
extras and additions make it worthwhile to an ever
expanding library of Bemani entertainment.
|
|
This document and photos are ©NCSX 2007. All rights
reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of
this document may be made without express written
consent of National Console Support, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
