bit-tech Shopping: Konami Beatmania (PS2)

Rating: 4

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Great controller

Weaknesses: Bad Mix of music, plain too hard

Summary: I wanted to like this game, I love all other music games but this one was just not fun. Even of the easiest setting, the game was too difficult for me to play. This was a waste of time even for the hardcore music game fans.

Rating: 4

Time with product:

Strengths: Rhythm game, cool idea

Weaknesses: Controller is too big, too much to do, songs are no fun

Summary: When I first saw this, I thought it sounded like a fun game. I picked it up and tried it out. Within an hour I was sorely dissapointed and will probably never play it again. The songs just weren't very good. The difficulty is unbelievable (the easiest songs are fine, but there is a HUGE difficulty jump to get to the next level of songs). Lastly, the controller is just big, bulky, and inconvenient. It's one thing to try and press the buttons in time with the beat (even if the buttons are all spread out like they are, making things more difficult than need be). But on top of that, you have to spin the DJ mix board just like it was another button. Overall... not a fun game. Just something that's going to lead to lots of frustration and wasted money. Try out one of the other GOOD rhythm games.

Rating: 6

Time with product:

Strengths: great controller, less expensive than importing a Japanese controller, lots of songs to play, 5 key and 7 key to appeal to beginners and experts

Weaknesses: song list is pretty weak, can get difficult rather quickly, not as good as the japanese versions

Summary: Beatmania US is not so bad if you havent played Beatmania before, as you probably won't notice the terrible song list. But the game gets challenging pretty quickly and doesnt allow you to ease in with the difficulty. There is a 5 key mode though for people who can't handle all 7 buttons. The controller itself is very nice and good quality, and probably worth it for the purchase alone. Import the Japanese versions if you want to get serious with the series.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Innovative gameplay, long lasting game

Weaknesses: so-so soundtrack

Summary: Don't have a lot of money to spend on video games for your kids? Just looking for one or two games that will last them for a few months before you have to dig back into your wallet? Then definitely pick this game up. It is a very easy game to learn, but will take forever to actually master (and possibly) beat it completely. Much like Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero, you have to keep beat with the songs on the special controller. The harder songs have more beats in complex patterns while the easier songs have pretty standard repeating beats. The game definitely lacks an "awesome" soundtrack, but don't let that stop you from making this purchase. Your kids will enjoy, and hey... you might even find yourself trying to squeeze in a little gameplay ;-)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 7

Strengths: Lots of gameplay out of this - challenging

Weaknesses: Songs seem to be too short - really hard

Summary: Being a fan of Guitar Hero, Amplitude, Donkey Konga, etc. , I had to check this game out. Man, it is hard! I can barely beat 2 star songs, and they go all the way up to 10. I can see this being fun once you get the hang of things, but as a beginner it can be very frustrating. i would say rent this first, but you really need the special controller so that wouldn't work. So far I love and hate the game. So basically, if you have the patience to invest some time into the game - I recommend it. If you just like to pick up a game and go - Stay away.