Only fans need apply.
Prior to playing this game, I had actually heard of Hatsune Miku. At least, I had heard the vocaliod music redone in other video game soundtracks before. Granted, I knew it was a bit of a sensation over in Japan. For the first time, Hatsune Miku is releasing its first title here in the US, and it comes in the form of Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX on the 3DS.
At its core, the game is a rhythm action game in the same vein as Elite Beat Agents and the Theatrhyhm: Final Fantasy games. Player will have to tap on the touch screen when certain beats align, as well as hold down on beats and swipe in certain directions. This comes in three different difficulties where color coded beats will appear and players must tap the correct color in order to succeed. Easy will only be one color to worry about, medium will have two colors, and hard will have three.
Platforms: 3DS
MSRP: $39.99
Completing songs will offer up points and currency that can be used for purchasing items in stores- more on that in a bit. There’s a decent amount of songs to choose from and with varying difficulty, and there’s a lot of content to have here. The songs are pretty standard J-Pop music with obviously Hatsune and friends singing along.
Aside from the song game play, players choose a character to “hang out” with when not playing the songs. Here, players can interact with their chosen character and play mini games with them (including actual Puyo Puyo). Players can also go to shops to purchase new items for decorating their apartment, as well as new outfits for their chosen character. All of these are purchased using currency obtained through completing and scoring well in the rhythm action part of the game.
That is really about the extent of the game. Players can watch the music videos and add emotes and commentaries to certain sections, then upload them to the network for others to see, but the rhythm action sections are really the most enjoyable part of the game, and for the most part they are well done.
Project Mirai DX is most certainly a game for a specific audience. I will be up front right now and say I’m not in that audience, but I can see fans of the genre as well as fans of Hatsune Miku enjoying this title, and even if it’s not for me, I can tell the rhythm action game play is well done and highly fleshed out. Still, people need to know what they’re getting into. This is a cutesy game with pretty much an entire Japanese soundtrack and theme. If you’re into this type of game, then you’ll enjoy it. If you’re not, then you won’t.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
