Update: July 12, 2007
«©NCSX» 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 View the back cover and screenshots for this item on the main NCSX website.
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 is ©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.
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