Typing this with sweat streaming down my face, I can confirm Fitness Boxing Hatsune Miku game gives you a pretty strenuous and enjoyable workout. The problem is if this game will keep you coming back regularly as it? gets repetitive too quickly.

Upbeat, yet monotonous workouts

When you play a Hatsune Miku game, you expect upbeat, sometimes fast-paced music mixed with rhythm elements. You get that with one side of this Fitness Boxing game, but the majority of it has you jabbing and uppercutting to unlicensed music. You see, the music of Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku comprises mostly original music and some inclusions of Miku songs yo??u know and love. Thankfully, the original music doesn't sound like a track from a boring infomercial and is engaging to move your body to.

The game itself has you stringing together jabs, uppercuts, straights, and other boxing moves together. As the workout proceeds, it will slowly layer in a combination of strikes to keep you moving. You'll have a Hatsune Miku character like Kagamine Len acting as your mirror while there's a coach directing you through the routine. Sometimes Len or Miku chime in to say you're doing a good job, and thankfully, their movem??ents accurately portray each move you have to perform. The animation is well-implemented.

The game's routines often move at a glacial pace for the first half of the workout, making the process somewhat boring to play. However, as the action picks up, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku gets more engaging to play. It's a good respite and alternative from Ring Fit Adventure, which desperately needs a sequel, by the way. Overall, it can be fun in short bursts, but don't expect Fitness Boxing to keep you entertained every day. Mix it up with other titles like Just Dance or the aforementioned Ring Fit.

Overly long routines

Some of the routines, however, feel overly long, sometimes lasting between 10 to 15 minutes, revolving around the same type of move like an uppercut. It would be better for the daily workouts to include shorter bursts of original routines from Fitness Boxing ??and implement more Piapro songs that feel sparse in comparison.

When a Piapro song is playing, the game gets far more exciting. The punches are flying and sometimes go too fast for you to catch up. It might be my large frame or the game i??tself, but the punch timing doesn't seem consistent enough when the action is faster. Additionally, when you have to swerve to the left and the right, the Joycon doesn't seem to pick up this motion well enough.

Lots of stats to keep track of

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku tracks a lot of data for you to look back at. There are graphs with your estimated calorie burn, and you can keep inputting your weight, so you can see your progression on-screen. It shows your BMI, punches thrown, the number of time??s certain body parts are trained and all sorts of information by day, week, and month.

Not enough unlockables

One thing that the developer of Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku missed out on the unlockables. You have three characters to unlock with Hatsune Miku, and ?a few costumes to unlock for each, including their original outfits. They each start with a fitness get-up at the beginning. There are only ?three costumes per character, with a fourth coming for Miku via DLC.

It feels like a missed opportunity to add more outfits by completing your fitness goals. Sega's Project Diva series has many to collect during a playthrough, and it would have been great to get additional styles for the characters to wear in Fitness Boxing. The silver lining, on the other hand, is that there are a bunch of songs to unlock by using th?e in-game currency you earn by working out.

Overall, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku is a decent alternative to the likes of Ring Fit Adventure. It acts ??as a great detour from your usual workout routine??, but there's not enough substance to make it a daily fix.

The post Hands-on: Fitness? Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku makes you sweat with some cracking tunes appeared first on Destructoid.

Aksys Games has announced that the next installment of their Fitness Boxing series is coming West this Fall. Previously announced for Japan, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku is a version of Fitness Boxing that features Hatsune Miku, if that wasn’t clear.

If you’re unfamiliar, Fitness Boxing is an alleged exercise game where you perform various boxing punches in time to pop music instrumentals. If you’re unfamiliar with Hatsune Miku, she’s a Vocaloid voicebank that broke free from her software prison to become a full-fledged pop sta??r. If you’re unfamiliar with Vocal??oid, it’s a voice synthesizer so you can experience what it’s like to control a computerized voice before they control us.

It’s not a terribly weird mix when you consider that Hatsune Miku is a music�thing and Fitness Boxing is a rhythm game. However, she’s not what I think of when I think about fitness or boxing. We last saw Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star, and while that’s a license that isn’t focused on boxing, it is at leas??t fighting-adjacent. Punches are often thrown.

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku will set you up to train with Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, and Megurine Luka, with Lin and Evan from the core Fitness Boxing seri??es joining as instructors. I don’t know who any of the??se people are. It will feature 24 songs from Piapro, along with "Melt" and "The Vampire�which I’m guessing are popular.

I don’t have much familiarity with Hatsune Miku. I was considering getting Fitness Boxing 2, since I recently started taking Muay Thai kickboxing lessons. Not that I think it will help, but it might at least be fun exercise that al??igns somewhat with my new interest.

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku has a vague release date of Fall for the West on Switch. ??It’s already out i?n Japan and is supposed to come out in the rest of Asia on July 12.

The post Next Fitness Boxing starring legendary boxer Hatsune Miku coming West this Fa??ll appeared first on Destructoid.

There have been plenty of strange Magic: The Gathering crossovers, but if you showed me cards based on virtual idol superstar Hatsune Miku, I'd have assumed they we?re fake if Wizards of ??the Coast hadn't posted them on its own website.

Per the official announcement, a whole set of Hatsune Miku themed Magic: The Gathering cards will be coming out over the coming months as part of the Secret Lair series. The first batch, titled Secret Lair x Hatsune Miku: Sakura Superstar, will launch on May 13 for $29.99 (non-foil) and $39.99 (rainbow foil), but it'll only be available unt?il June 2. Here's hoping Wizards of the Coast has measures in place to prevent scalping because I can foresee these cards being hoarded and sold for obscene prices on sites like eBay.

There will be four Hatsune Miku drops throughout 2024, with each one representing a different season. The announcement only has details for the Sakura Superstar batch??, which consists of the following six cards:

• Harmonize
• Inspiring Vantage
• Miku, Lost but Singing (identical to Azusa, Lost but Seeking)
• Miku, the Renowned (identical to Feather, the Redeemed)
• Miku's Spark (identical to Chandra's Ignition)
• Shelter

As you can see, half of the cards are just Hatsune Miku variants of already existing cards, but they've got some fantastic art (I especially like the look of the Inspiring Vantage card), and they're a nice alternative for those who want to run a themed deck based around the Vocaloid idol. Plus, it'd be amusingly jarring to place her in a deck alongside MTG's own fantasy icons and other crossover characters, like The Doctor from Doctor Who and The Walking Dead's Negan.

MTG has many other sets planned for 2024, and you can find the full release schedule for yourself here. This also includes yet another crossover, one with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series, which will be out in the summer. In the meantime, you can check out the new Hatsune Miku music video made to promote her MTG crossover over on YouTube.

The post Ha??tsune Miku is getting her own set of Magi?c: The Gathering cards throughout 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

The pop princess returns

Electronic diva Hatsune Miku certainly gets around. The latest diversion for the turquoise-haired Volcaloid icon sees her bouncing around with the silly, madcap world of Mediatonic's multiplayer title, Fall Guys, with a limited-time event.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuVQumBjtyk

As part of the new in-game event for Hatsune Miku "The Sound of the Future," players will be tasked with bagging glowsticks and spring onions as they battle their way through Fall Guys' typic??al 1 v?s. 100 battle royale action. Players can earn themselves Miku-themed nameplates, as well as new Miku-based fan gear for their Beans, by completing challenges.

Season pass holders who battle all the way to level 100 will earn the grand prize, a super cute bean skin of the holo-singer herself, complete with her iconic uniform and long pigtails. It's a cool skin, perhaps one of the best in Fall Guys to date, but it's going to take a lot of rough 'n' tumblin' ??before you can take to the stage as Hatsune Miku herself. The Sound of the Future event is now live, and runs through October 3, so get cracking.

Fall Guys is available now as a free-to-play game on Play??Station, PC, Xb?ox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

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Catch the Wave

Hatsune Miku, otherwise known as "Dave's Bane," is back on the Nintendo Switch.

Her latest outing, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix, isn't all t?hat d??ifferent from her previous ones; but it'll do just fine.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix (Switch)
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: May 15, 2020
MSRP: $39.99

There really aren't very many?? tricks this ?time around.

This is Miku on Switch, with some new songs (this one comes with over 100, with 10 new tracks), motion control support and more ways to customize the rhythm heroine. It's easy to tell this is generally for more hardcore Miku fans, as there's a whole menu option for dressing up the titular character and her entourage. The main mo??de is "Rhythm Game," which offers song-by-song arcade play and a motion control remix gametype.

If you've never played this Sega franchise before, it's easy to dive right in so long as you're a fan of the type of poppy vocaloid stylings Miku offers. Notes float across the screen that mirror the buttons on your Switch. Wh??en a note starts to hit a target area (to the rhythm), you have to hit a face? button or a cardinal direction. You also have to account for multi-notes and holds. If you don't know the Switch's face buttons by heart already, you'll learn them!

The main draw of Miku games is the simplicity behind it all, that a lot of rhythm fans have craved since Elite Beat Agents, and the pure pep that Miku's step offers. You can listen to a Miku soundtrack for 15 seconds and tell whether or not it's your bag. It's sort of a mix between pop, electronica and "anime music??." I can see some of you running for the hills!

As every anime fan knows, that includes a hell of a lot of subgenres, and many Miku?? songs approach jazz (On the Rocks), metal (Tengaku), happy hardcore (Ooedo Julianight), ballad (Snowman) and even R&B (Gemini) lines. The vocaloid structure unites the vast setlist, but there's plenty of nuances within and a large collective of great songs to mash buttons to (i??n a timely manner of course). Its simplicity is how it gets away with being so tough on the higher difficulties, throwing tons of notes your way in a seemingly scattered fashion.

If it's too much to take in at once, you can opt for the motion (mix) mode, pictured below. It takes an Arkanoid/brick-breaker approach, with the left and right Joy-Con controlling tiny little light bars on the bot?tom of the screen. All you need to do is use motion to line them up and press ZL/ZR (or hold) when a note comes up. Contrasted to busier arcade play, there's only three difficulties to master instead of five, and things are more relaxed. It ultimately overstays its welcome quicker, but serves as a decent introduction to players who enjoy the vocaloid vibe but want a more chill way to interact with it.

That's really all there is to Project DIVA Mega Mix. You can sift through all the songs and play them at least once, replay them on easy/normal/hard/extreme/extra extreme, then dress up Miku's squad. Difficulty rankings (per "setting") are clearly marked by a number value, so there won't be any confusion as to what you can handle. Beyond personal score attack goals and mastering said challenges, most of the unlocks are cosmetic. More songs are on the way as DLC, of course. With this edition, you're essentially ?sacrificing some content for portability.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix isn't as fully featured as some previous games (Future Tone on PS4 had over 200 songs a few years back), but the DNA is still decidedly Miku. Most of the tracklist is widely available on YouTube: skim through some songs and if you dig it and have a Switch, you'll probably get plenty of playtime out of Project DIVA Mega Mix.

_{[This? review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix appeared first on Destructoid.

Promoted from our Community Blogs

_{[LaTerry straps on his dancing shoes, and gives us a peek into his evolution from a total stiff to a rhythm-obsessed fanatic! This stuff is pure, unadulterated fun. Resistance is futile. I see that head bobbing. Don’t stop shakin’ those hips just yet because it’s time to learn how LaTerry got his groove back, baby! – Kevin]}

Rhythm games have had a few waves of popularity. The first that I remember was the DDR wave. DDR was huge for a while. I remember playing it back then and having fun but getting frustrated with the dance pad. The one that we had for it was pretty cheap and slid across the?? floor, making playing the game more of a chore than anything else.

The only song that I remember from DDR.

After DDR waned in popularity, Guitar Hero took up the reigns of rhythm games. Guitar Hero, and soon Rock Band, were everywhere. The games were coming out nonstop and people just kept buying them. I had a Guitar Hero? game, and, while I thought it was a lot of fun, I didn’t much care for the music selection. It worked for what it was, but I never really connected with any of the songs. That problem persisted through basically every game of the series that came out.

The best song Guitar Hero ever included.

It didn’t take long before the world got burnt out on giant plastic peripherals, and Guitar Hero died. Rhythm games have never been as popular as they were back in the heyday of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and I didn’t give them much thought after they left the spotlight. Little did I know that there was another wave of rhythm happening, but it was contained mostly? in Japan for a while.

If you had asked me before I played my next rhythm game what I thought of the genre, I would have told you that I didn’t care for it. I would have said that it was a dead genre that no one cared about anymore. All those instrument controllers and dance pads were long forgotten in attics and landfills, so it makes sense that when Theatrhythm Final Fantasy came out, I initially ignored it. Final Fantasy games are supposed to be epic adventures not silly little dancing games. Then one day I had a bit of extra cash to spend, found myself browsing some used games, and I saw Theatrhythm on the shelf. I’m not sure what finally compelled me to pick it up and buy it. The Final Fantasy brand was and still is a huge draw for me. It was cheap too. Under $20 if I remember correctly. Wha?tever the reason, the stars aligned and I bought the game.

This was everything I wanted.

I absolutely adored it. Final Fantasy music has always been some of my favorite and playing along with it was a lot of fun. This rhythm game solved all the problems that I’d had with all the others. There wasn’t an annoying, large controller that I had to buy just to play it, and I loved the music. The game included a lot of my favorite tracks from the series, and I played them over and over again. I soon learned that the sequel had already been announced and that it was coming out soon. I bought it as soon as I could and played it as well. The sequel improved upon the original in so many ways?? that I couldn’t believe it. I wanted more games like this. These were amazing. Why hadn’t I heard of these before?

It even has The World Ends With You songs as DLC!

Somehow or another, I saw an advertisement for another rhythm game. It looked… really weird. It had these obnoxiously cute chibi girls on the cover. It looked like it was being marketed towards girls, so I was hesitant to try it. Thankfully, a demo was released on the eShop, and I gave it a go. The Project Mirai DX demo had two songs. Two songs that remain favorites to this day. One was "LOL -Lots of Laugh-" and the other? was "Senbonzakura." I had heard that song title before. One of my favorite musicians, Lindsey Stirling, had done a cover of "Senbonzakura" on her YouTube channel relatively recently. Could it have possibly been based on this song from this weird little video game?

Is too cute.

They were the same song. I had already been a vocaloid fan, and I didn’t even know it. I loved the demo and bought the full game as soon as I had the funds. I had caught the rhythm fever. I had no idea that these games were a thing. They were a huge deal in Japan apparently, and I had been missing out. Before, I had scoffed at the idea of something like Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Now, I was pre-ordering it. I learned that I had missed out on a lot of Hatsune Miku games and one was coming out soon called Project Diva X. I pre-ordered that as well??. I couldn’t get?? enough of these games that finally matched my odd taste in music. I had found my rhythm, and my rhythm was Japanese.

Very Japanese.

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Monster gaming jig

Two wily modders, including renowned P?C designer Fabio Moma, have created a custom tower that appears to have a miniature Hatsune Miku dancing within. It's adorable.

The effect is created via a modified LCD screen which is installed on the tower's side panel. The inside of the tower was then customised to create a stage for the Vocaloid idol to dance on. The one-of-a-kind PC i??s currently on di??splay in the store window of Tokyo store Oriospec.

Though there are sadly no plans to sell or mass-produce the unit, hopefully other modders will be inspired to create other inventive designs using a similar method. Until then, having your favourite waifu cheer you on whilst you get wrecked in Battlegrounds remains the stuff of a madman's dream.

The post Cute custom PC features dancing Hatsune Miku ef?fect appeared first on Destructoid.

No word on the physical version

Sega has confirmed that the previously announced digital plans for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX will be happening for international fans this year. This means that current owners of Future Tone ??will be able to download the upcoming content, ?which includes the new song "Ghost Rule" by DECO*27.

Sega has not confirmed a date for the downloadable content at this time, nor if the physical version, along with the limited edition, will be coming to international shores. While I can understand the lack of any news on a physical version compiling all of the Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone content together, the lack of a date for the downloadable content is odd, given that there shouldn't be much to translate other than the song. Then again, I've never played the games nor looked into their development, so perhaps there's something I don't know.

If you're curious about the original release of Hatsune Miku: Proejct Diva Future Tone, our own Josh Tolentino reviewed it earlier this year. Giving it a 8.5, Josh had high prai?se, stating "What it lacks in frills, it makes up for in staggering volume, enough to satisfy anyone that's accepted Miku into their heart."

The post Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DLC announced for ??the West appeared first on Destructoid.

Digital owners rejoice!

Hot off the heels of the recent announcement for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX, Sega has opened an official Japanese website for the game with official clarification, and right now things are looking good  for previous owners of  the digital version Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone.

Currently, the biggest detail on the site is in regards to the previously released digital version of Future Tone. Sega has stated that the new elements included in Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX will be released as downloadable content for the digital version of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone. The content will be released sometime in December, save data will be carried over, with more details to come at a later date.

Sega also further detailed the bonuses that would come with the "Memorial Pack". The Blu-Ray disc set of over 200 promotional videos covers six specific Hatsune Miku titles: Hatsune Miku: Project Diva, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2nd, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Extend, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd, and Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X. It will also include the opening movie for each title.

There were also further details given about the "Special Mini Soundtrack CD", a pre-order bonus, which w?ill include the following 12 tracks listed below.

1. D by EnbanP
2. Deadheat by EnbanP
3. Doitagain by EnbanP
4. nATALIE in White World by LEMM
5. "IroniA" ~the Launch Sequence~ by LEMM
6. Tracks of the shine by LEMM
7. Night_of_the_Magic by shu-t
8. VOX by shu-t
9. Various_feelings by shu-t
10. Arcade Version: Photo Studio Advertise Screen BGM by Sega
11. Future Tone Results Screen by Sega
12. Random Select BGM by Sega

New details and images were also shown off for the new song "Ghost Rule", including the stage image and the module design for it. It was also revealed that Sony will release a special PlayStation 4 Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX model via the Sony Store, with further details to come later.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX is currently set to be released in Japan on November 22. An international release date has not been given at this time.

??Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX first detail?s, screenshots [Gematsu]

The post First details for Hatsune Miku: P?roject Diva Future Tone DX shown appeared first on Destructoid.

Idol game of the year edition go!

The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has revealed Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX for PlayStation 4.

Currently set to be released in Japan for November 22, the game will be receiving a physical release, and will contain the songs and modules from Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone along with additional new content.

In total it'll feature 237 songs overall and 396 modules, the majority of which are from Future Sound and Colorful Tone, along with the 12 songs from the Encore Pack add-ons. There will also be three new songs for the release, one of which is "Ghost Rule" by DECO*27. A new module will also be included which is the Hatsune Miku 10th Anniversary Commemoration Module, which is the design created by Mari Shimazaki, the person responsible for designing Bayonetta. Another new feature is "Prom??otional Video Photographing", although there are no further details at this time.

Project Diva Future Tone will be receiving a standard edition and limited edition release, called the "Memorial Pack". The limited edition will come with a set of Blu-Ray discs which contain over 200 song promotional videos and the opening movies of six video games from Hatsune Mike: Project Diva for PSP to Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X for PlayStation 4. Those that pre-order either edition will rec?eive a "Special Mini Soundtrack CD", wich includes 12 tracks that consist of background music and clear singles from the game.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone DX ??announced for PS?4 [Gematsu]

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The Bible of Mikuism

If I didn’t know better and wasn’t aware that the timelines don’t quite add up, I’d say the subtext around the release of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone feels aggressive, even adversarial.

The second Project DIVA release in less than six months, Future Tone might even be taken not just as a response to last year's Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, but as a rebuke to it.

It's as if Project DIVA Future Tone was released as an answer to anyone who looked at Project DIVA X, sighed, and asked "Where are all the songs?"

Here are the songs. Here are ALL the songs.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone (PS4 [Reviewed])
Developer: SEGA
Publisher: SEGA
Released: January 10, 2017 (NA/EU), June 23, 2016 (JP)
MSRP: $29.99 (Individual packs), $53.99 (Bundle)

With over two hundred playable songs in its tracklist (with potential future additions via DLC), Future Tone offers nearly every song ever committed to a Miku game soundtrack, with the exception of Project DIVA X. More budget-conscious buyers can even have something of a choice as to just how much of the collection to pick up, as the Future Tone comes in a split release.

The songs are divided between two packs, "Future Sound" and "Colorful Tone", each with differing song lists exclusive costumes. A slight discount can be had by picking up the whole thing as a bundle. Fans who tried to get into the iDOLM@STER games released on iOS may find the scheme familiar, but outside of budget concerns or unless one pack is complet??ely devoid of desirable content for a given player, I don’t see why anyone would bother only getting half of the offering.

Having more songs definitely helps, as Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone is a fairly spartan game, otherwise. As a port of the arcade version of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA, the game doesn't mess around with narrative, progression, or any of the RPG-esque systems that serve to fill out the average title Every song is p??resented, unlocked and ready to play, from the off. The only things to unlock are more costumes (with points earned by playing songs) and the "Extreme" difficulty. The extra-hard "EX EXTREME" difficulty is restricted to players who own both song packs. Players can create custom playlists, and view the arcade game's attract movies in a gallery. Customization is limited to mix-and-matching hairstyles and costumes, with a relatively small selection of accessories to mount on various slots in the model. Optional gameplay modes like No-Fail, Hidden or Surprise Notes make up the rule variations, and any song can be played in Music Video mode for people who'd rather see what's going on behind the swirling notes.

Of course, one person's "spartan" is another person's "focused", and there's no doubting that absent the faffing about with story modes and friendship-building fan service, there's nothing in Future Tone to get between Miku-lovers and the music they crave. And there's plenty in the game to appreciate. Thanks to aggressive anti-aliasing, the visuals are arcade-perfect - even down highlighting the slight differences in character design between Miku's arcade and home incarnations - and never seem to drop a frame. Nearly all the costumes are present, along with a number of cutesy Sega fan-service numbers, like a Sonic the Hedgehog hoodie, and costumes mimicking Alicia from Valkyria Chronicles, Virtua Fighter's Sarah Bryant and Space Channel 5's Ulala.

The musical offering is no set of leftovers either, encompassing many beloved Vocaloid compositions, including my own favorites like "Melt" by ryo and Livetune's "Tell Your World" (AKA the Google Chrome song). Better still, the music videos have been kept largely intact (at least as far as I remember), including some truly creative pieces like the video for "Two-Sided Lovers". Newer videos like the one for "Black★Rock Shooter" include "success effects" that trigger some extra flair for players with good coordination. Even hardcore SEGA fans can look forward to OutRun and Afterburner-themed songs.

There's also plenty to master for people who want to contract carpal tunnel syndrome right now. For one, the note patte??rns haven't been tuned for gamepad-based play, being largely identical to the arcade version. This means that even Normal-difficulty songs can call for multi-button holds and slide?s, and players will get tripped up by tricky blended inputs that make use of the way the game treats face button presses and directional pad presses as one and the same. 

Put plain, Future Tone is tough as nails, and one of the most demanding rhythm games I've ever played. I can just barely scrape by on Normal difficulty, and I can't even imagine what kind of three-armed, thirty-fingered hell beast might be needed to perfect some of these songs?? on EX Extreme. Of course, I am pretty bad at rhythm games, so take my word with a grain of salt. Suffice it to sa?y that the notes come hard and fast anywhere above Easy, and they don't let up. 

As a bit of advice, I did achieve better results by laying my DualShock 4 on a flat surface, positioning my hands above the face of the controller and pressing buttons with my fingers rather than thumbs. Owners of one of the custom Project DIVA controllers may also find themselves in a more comfortabl?e situation, as those peripherals mimic the a?rcade layout. 

In terms of content and presentation, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone ?is less a "Greatest Hits" compilation than a near-total PS4 remaster of more than half a dozen Miku games released over the last six years. What it lacks in frills, it makes up for in staggering volume, enough to satisfy anyone that's accepted Miku into th??eir heart (that isn't already sick of playing older songs), or serve as a playable canon of popular Vocaloid compositions to pique the curiosity of the yet-to-be-converted.

_{[This review is based on a retail bui?ld of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming in January in the west

David ?Letterman couldn't get enough Mi??ku in his life, and we all can't either, it seems.

Sega has announced that Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone is coming west -- a PSN exclusive that will feature "more than 200 song?s" to perform. It'll be released on January 10, 2017, and comes wit??h a free demo that hosts two songs, and two $30 packages of tunes alongside of a $53.99 bundle of both.

The publisher claims t??hat si?nce this is the "arcade" edition of Miku it'll be tougher than normal, and will be rendered at 1080p60 on PS4. Since I generally enjoy console editions of the series than the portable ones, I'm excited to give this one a whirl.

The post Miku will return in Project Diva Future Tone appeared first on Destructoid.

YAAAAAAASSSSS KAWAII KWEEN!!!

The kawai??i queen and her Vocaloid cronies are back to pleasure your earlobes with their magical robo-voices for the first time on PlayStation 4, and the third time on PlayStation Vita. That's right, the PS4 finally has an exclusive music and rhythm game that doesn't suck, and it has tweens in swimsuits, which will make someone happy for sure. 

If you've not jumped on the Vocaloid bandwagon, ??now is a great time to start, that way when Hatsune Miku becomes official queen ?of the world you're ready to bow and kiss her digital toes while complimenting her smash hits. Plus, this is probably the best music game on PS4, so you can't go wrong there.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X ( PS4 [reviewed], PS Vita)
Developer: Sega, Crypton Future Media
Publisher: Sega
Released: August 30, 2016
MSRP: $49.99 (PS4), $39.99 (PS Vita)

The previous titles in the Project Diva series on PS3 and Vita have all been pretty great little games that seem to not get the recognition they deserve. Cult status, if you will. This one makes improvements in a few different ??ways, bu??t also shoves a stick in its proverbial spokes -- though not enough to derail the game.

The Hatsune Miku games are very standard music ??games, with the only differences being notes can fly in from any side of th??e screen, and you get to play dress-up with your characters. In previous iterations, the process of selecting a song, dressing up your characters, and unlocking content was marred by a slow-loading menu system which has now been streamlined to be far quicker and more intuitive. However, the newly added story mode is that stick I mentioned. To unlock songs, you've got to play through this mode, which is essentially a bunch of dialogue between characters after every few songs. 

If you're buying with the hopes of finding a deep story, you're going to be let down. The story amounts to the Vocaloids performing different themed songs to fill up crystals. Why? I'm not quite sure. Each crystal has a theme like cute, cool, quirky, or so on, and the story amounts to the Vocaloids being concerned they can't sing in that style or present that style well enough while the others ensure them they can; over and over. If anything, the story gets in the way of the actual gameplay, though not as much as the previous clunky menus. Thankfully you can ?essentially skip story se?ctions, and trust me when I say you won't be missing anything.

Whether or not the song selection is better than the other games depends on your tastes. There are tracks here from many genres except country -- even rock and rap songs, including one from what I assume is some recent iteration of what we know as Power Rangers (you can even unlock ranger costumes for the characters). I especially love the song "Satisfaction," because it has that sweet EDM beat and build-up that I like to dance to when drunk (I'm shit at dancing, in case you were wondering). All the lyrics to songs are subtitled, and while I'm not sure how you're e?xpected to read them when you're frantically mashing buttons, it is a nice touch. You can get such great lyrics as "Dripping from the cracks of meaning" which I swear I didn't purposefully screencap for this review, it just happened to be there. Sometimes things just come together, you know?

The action going on behind the notes on-screen can sometimes be distracting, but I never found it enough to make me miss or not be able to see notes, and because notes are shaped liked the buttons you have to press, I don't think color blind people will have any issues playing. The performances leave a bit to be desired, as now they are more live performances when previous g??ames had some that were closer to music videos or stories being told th?rough interpretive dancing. This could be due to being able to edit performances to your liking with a simple-to-use but in-depth mode that looks similar to most video editing software out there, timeline, camera edits, and all.

Speaking of cameras, there is a photo-taking mode where you can pose the Vocaloids in a tremendous amount of poses, with backgrounds that range from realistic to things a bit more gamey like a fighting game background. Hilariously, if you try to rotate a character to see up their skirt, they'll turn into a silhouette and start to change their pos??ition. What makes this so funny is that every character has unlockable swimsuits which are basically just them in skin-tight un?derwear. Maybe it was an ESRB thing?

As I've mentioned, there are tons of unlockables, with each character having many outfits that are specific to them. On top of that, you're able to unlock accessories for various parts of their bodies. Costumes are unlocked via completing chance sections in songs successfully, which are essentially solos that end in a star icon. Stars can only be played ??by flicking one of the sticks or sliding on the PS4's touchpad which is actually the way I preferred to play. Finally, a game that put it to good use! Accessories and gifts are unlocked at the end of songs seemingly randomly if you get high enough scores. Costumes are earned randomly as well, and sometimes you will get duplicates, meaning there can be a bit of grinding, but at least you don't have to save up points to buy them like you did previously.

In the story mode, you'll have to try to dress your characters based on the "aura" of the song you're playing. Costumes and accessories have auras assigned to them and when matched to the song, it grants you a bit of a head-start. Certain accessories can be combined for bonus aura as well, so you can experiment a bit to get bigger head-starts in songs. While this gives clothing a bit more reason, it also prevents the player from dressing however they want (at least in the story mode, as it is the only place that it makes a difference). That said, all the costumes are so pretty that it is hard to be upset a?bout playing with any of them. 

You'll also earn gifts to give to the Vocaloids that increase their friendship levels and are then displayed on the home menu, which is fully customizable with different settings and any characters and their respective costumes. When giving gifts, you'll sometimes unlock cute little videos with the characters using said gift. I never thought I'd want to see Hatsune Miku pretend to box a suit of armor, but now I'll always have that memory. Thanks, video games! I never really fully underst?ood the friendship stuff aside from reaching max level grants you some additional outfits and I believe a trophy for each character. It didn't seem all that important, that is for sure.

While this iteration fixes many of the annoyances of the previous titles, it added a few of its own, though not enough to sour the experience. This is hands-down the best music and rhythm game of the current generation of home consoles, though it isn't exactly a competitive genre these days. I'd rank Project Diva X in my top ten favorite music games ever, but no one has yet to topple the king; PaRappa the Rapper is still the funky ?flowing top? dog of the genre. 

Now if you'd excuse me, I've got to go back to praising my Vocaloid queen.

_{[This rev?iew is based on a retail build of the?? game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X appeared first on Destructoid.

Available for PS4 and PS Vita in the Americas and Europe

_{[Everyone welcome Cory into the fold, who will be helping me, CJ, and others out with the Japan beat! -Chris]}

Sega has announced that Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X demo is now available in North America, South America, and Europ??e (it is available in Australia and New Zealand as well). Only the Easy and Normal difficulti??es are playable out of four total, so you rhythm masters out there will have to wait until the full game releases to test your skills.

Also in the demo is a look at the Event Requests, where you'll be asked by other characters to put together a music festiv??al. These will come as you talk more with the other c?haracters, a part of the new character interaction element.

Sega also released a schedule for DLC. Prices range from free to $12.99. Included are the two songs that released as DLC for the Japanese version, but is mostly comprised of character models/skins and unlocks for obtainable-in-game models and accessories, if you really must. Most are available ?Day One?, a few models in September.

The full game will release on August 30th in Europe and the Americas in both digital and physical ?form on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. 

Get the demo here: 

• US Vita
  
• US PS4
  
• GBR Vita
  
• GBR PS4

Three songs are available in the demo: 

• "Satisfaction"
• "LOL -lots of laugh-"
• "Raspberry * Monster"

Here's the full lis??t of announced DLC with?? Sega's descriptions:

DLC: Concert Editor for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X

Price: Free

Availability: 8/30/16

Description: Create and watch concert footage of your favorite singers! The PS Vita Concert Editor will add Concert Editor functionality to the PlayStation Vita edition of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X. This feature makes you the producer of your own music videos!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Sharing The World

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/16

Description: "Sharing The World," the first single released by BIGHEAD, was the main theme of "HATSUNE MIKU EXPO 2014 in LA&NY." Now that it's available as a rhythm game song for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, you can bring the MIKU EXPO experience into your home!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Hand in Hand

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/16

Description: "Hand in Hand," written and produced by kz(livetune), was the official theme of Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2015. Now that it's available as a rhythm game song for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, you can bring the live concert experience into your home!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Snow Miku 2016

Price: $1.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: Celebrate the 7th annual Snow Miku festival with this Snow Miku 2016 module for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X! Miku's ready to hit the slopes! Hokkaido's winter sports have never been livelier!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Snow Miku 2010-2015 Pack

Price: Free for a month, then $7.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: Celebrate Hokkaido's annual Snow Miku festival's history with the Snow Miku 2010-2015 module pack for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X! Features 7 wintry costumes, including designs by: Nanaka (2012), Nijita (2013), dera_fury (2014), and taran (2015).

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Extra Character Module Pack

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: It's a bird... It's a plane... No! It's the Extra Character Module Super Pack for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X! Supersize your songs with 12 Extra Modules: Akita Neru, Yowane Haku, Sakine Meiko, and Kasane Teto each come with 3 Classic Aura costumes!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Mikudayo

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: When you gaze into the eyes of Mikudayo, Mikudayo gazes back into you. Unsettlingly adorable, this Classic Aura module is our most creepy-cute Extra Module for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X. Better stock up on otoro, in case she comes for you next...

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Classic Modules Unlock

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Classic Modules Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Classic Aura module costume (not including DLC) instantly available for all six singers, including the iconic Original, V3, and Append series, plus their set of Ultimate forms!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Cute Modules Unlock

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Cute Modules Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Cute Aura module costume (not including DLC) instantly available for all six singers, including the absolutely adorable "Star" series and other seasonal sets that are sugar-sweet!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Cool Modules Unlock

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Cool Modules Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Cool Aura module costume (not including DLC) instantly available for all six singers, including the amazingly awesome "Stone" series and gear that'll light the fire up in the night!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Elegant Modules Unlock

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Elegant Modules Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Elegant Aura module costume (not including DLC) instantly available for all six singers, including the alluring "Butterfly" series and both the Electronica and Pâtissier pairs!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Quirky Modules Unlock

Price: $2.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Quirky Modules Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Quirky Aura module costume (not including DLC) instantly available for all six singers, including the mysterious "Ivy" series and the entire Urotander, Underhanded Rangers team!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Unlock all Module Keys

Price: $12.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: Unleash the true potential of Miku and her friends with the ability to Unlock All Module Keys! Once you unlocked every module in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X (excluding DLC), the only real challenge will be choosing what to wear out of ~300 costumes!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Classic Accessories Unlock

Price: $1.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Classic Accessories Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X makes every Classic Aura accessory instantly available. Includes fan favorites such as Puyo headgear, the charming Tako Luka and Hachune Miku, and the... unique Shiteyan'yo and Larval Rin!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Cute Accessories Unlock

Price: $1.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Cute Accessories Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Cute Aura accessory instantly available. Lovable pieces include a pink motif, animal parts like cat whiskers, rabbit ears, duck bills and dog tails... and LOTS of flower power!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Cool Accessories Unlock

Price: $1.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Cool Accessories Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Xmakes every Cool Aura accessory instantly available. This killer gear sports rad stuff like a blue motif, multiple masks, stylish goggles, devil-may-care details, and mechanical equipment!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Elegant Accessories Unlock

Price: $1.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Elegant Accessories Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X makes every Elegant Aura accessory instantly available. Some of its most high-brow highlights include refined regalia, extravagant jewelry, regal crowns, and even a fancy fake mustache!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Quirky Accessories Unlock

Price: $1.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: The Quirky Accessories Unlock for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X makes every Quirky Aura accessory instantly available. This big ol' box of swag contains the game's most epic loot, like a clown nose, gag glasses, a dinosaur tail, and even an ocarina!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Unlock all Accessory Keys

Price: $7.99

Availability: 8/30/2016

Description: Take the virtual world by storm and conquer all five Clouds with the power to Unlock All Accessory Keys! This download lets you master the Classic, Cute, Cool, Elegant, and Quirky Auras by giving you every accessory from Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Cabin Attendant Style A

Price: Free

Availability: 9/06/16

Description: "The singing stewardess soars on stage! This Cool Aura costume, designed for Miku in collaboration with AIRDO, sports a sharp uniform and short hair in a bun. Fly to new heights with the Cabin Attendant Style A module for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X! "

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Cabin Attendant Style 39

Price: Free

Availability: 9/06/16

Description: The singing stewardess soars on stage! This Cool Aura costume, designed for Miku in collaboration with AIRDO, sports a sharp uniform with iconic twintails. Fly to new heights with the Cabin Attendant Style 39 module for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - Racing Miku 2016

Price: $1.99

Availability: 9/13/16

Description: On your mark... Get set... SING! The Racing Miku 2016 module rolls onto the racetrack of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X! Aerodynamically designed by Koyama Shigeto, this Cute Aura outfit is inspired by a fiery phoenix with a serious need for speed!

 

DLC: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X - P4: Dancing All Night Miku

Price: $1.99

Availability: 9/13/16

Description: The Persona 4: Dancing All Night Miku module was designed by Shigenori Soejima, the Persona series' character designer! Miku first lit up theMidnight Stage as DLC in P4D, but now her Elegant Aura costume is available in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X!

The post Ha??tsune Miku: Project Diva X demo now live, DLC announced appeared first on Destructoid.

In the Americas, anyway

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is a-comin' ??to ??the Americas on August 30, Sega says. 

The rhythm game will feature some PlayStation VR compatibility in the concert editor's "Live View" mode,?? which sounds like it will allow you to create and watch your own Miku performances.

Sega plans to sell the title for $50/CA$65 on PlayStation 4 and $40/CA$55 on PlayStation Vita, and hopes to incentivize pre-??orders and launch day purchases by throwing in this cloth pouch:

Sega once again confirmed that it has nothing to confirm regarding a European release for this game (or any other, really). Thankfully, the PS4 and Vita are bot?h region free, so any scorned Europeans out there at leas?t have the option of importing a copy from North America or Japan (where it's already available).

The post Hatsune Miku: ??Project Diva X take?s the stage on August 30 appeared first on Destructoid.

As am I

Sega's Miracle Girls Festival borrows from all over the place. The rhythm game features girls from a number of different anime, and it employs the same engine as Project Diva titles. If you're familiar with all of that, you'll probably be familiar with Miracle Girls Festival.

Through some sort of miracle unto itself, Steven got me to play it at Tokyo Game Show. I have passing introduction to the genre. I played Project Diva F at a pre-E3 event two years back, and, more recently, I took a go at one of Kyle's Hatsune Mikus during PAX Prime. I'm hardly well-versed.

Still, that familiarity (with the gameplay presentation, anyway) smacked me in the face and ears when I demoed Miracle Girls Festival. Button prompts flying from every which direction confused? until they didn't anymore. Eventually there's a rhythm (ha!) you fall into. At least I felt connected to the music through my interaction.

But, the honeymoon was short as Miracle Girls Festival ranked me as? "standard" after all three songs I played. Cold. Not as chilly as all the times it flashed "worst" at me, but frigid ?nonetheless. The tracks were brief (probably two minutes, tops) so the onslaught of insults didn't stretch too long.

Slightly ironic that Miracle Girls Festival repeatedly called me standard when it's the one cobbled together on the frames of other works. In doing so, it's completely predictable. Not that the fact will bother Project Diva fans, but it is.

I can name-call too, Miracle Girls Festival.

The post Miracle Girls Festival is fairly standard appeared first on Destructoid.

On PS4 in 2016

Get warm, vocaloids. You're on stage soon. The Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA train keeps a rollin' with Future Tone in 2016.

This new title was announced during Sony's TGS press conference. It's coming to PS4 next year. Chances are we know what to expect from a Hatsune Miku game: A lot of colors and butto??n prompts flying all across the screen.

The post Future Tone is the next Hatsune Miku title appeared first on Destructoid.

FINE

In many respects, Hatsune Miku symbolizes my interest in Jap?an. It doesn't matter how m??uch I learn about the virtual pop star or the amazing/bizarre subculture that has taken root around her; it's tough to imagine ever truly fathoming the vocaloid phenomenon. And yet that's a large part of the appeal.

Miku is foreign and mysterious -- to me, anyway. For others, she's far more understandable and accessible than any corporeal idol could ever hope to become. Anyone can create music with her, not just? record producers or industry professionals, meaning so much of what we enjoy about Miku and h??er music can be directly attributed to fans... which is a heartwarming sentiment.

Even if I may not be able to fully comprehend why or how she became the international sensation she is today, I can sti??ll appreciate the community and their efforts -- especially when those efforts come wrapped up in the form of some of the ??loveliest rhythm games in recent memory.

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX (Nintendo 3DS)
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Release Date: September 8, 2015
MSRP: $39.99

While Miku's looks will never fade with age, she certainly has received a bit of a makeover in her latest outing. In Project Mirai DX, a spin-off of Sega's successful Project DIVA se??ries for Nintendo 3DS, the digital singer and her band of vocaloid pals sport a super deformed chibi aesthetic. 

Inspired by Nendoroid toys, the characters all feature m?assive, distended heads and petite frames, reminiscent of toddlers. The new art direction is one I can't say I'm terribly fond of, as it gives rise to some awkward moments where the infantile performers unadvisedly attempt to exu??de sex appeal. 

The new look isn't the only notable change to the established formula, though, as the rhythm game portion of the package has seen some revisions. The basic premise is the same, with notes flying in from off-screen, challenging players to keep time with the beat of the music. Players must? either press specific buttons or tap the correct portion of the touch screen at certain times, the accuracy of which (in the aggregate) will determine the level of one's success or failure.

The touch controls are a new and entirely optional way to play the game. On easy mode, players will tap a single circular area on th??e portable's lower screen, with each subsequent difficulty level adding another zone to tap on. This initially seems more forgiving than using the buttons, but on normal and hard mode, with multiple areas to worry about, I actually found this was more challenging. Keeping track of the action on the top screen while needing to tap certain sectors below can be quite the feat, particularly in an up-tempo song when the notes are coming in rather quickly.

The touch controls can also be rather finicky, though. It's not only easy to tap the wrong portion of the screen, but sometimes the inputs don't seem to register at all. At other times, the game will ask the player to slide the stylus in a particular direction, which can be difficult if you? are already p??ointing at the edge of the surface and are asked to move in a direction where there's no room to go.

In contrast with the Project DIVA titles, where notes fly in from every which way to a variety of targets, Project Mirai introduces a single rail system, which I actually found to be a helpful change in most instances. There are times where this can be convoluted, with a crowded rail looping in on itself, or seemingly unfair, where the speed will change at a moments notice and throw off y?our rhythm, but for the most part it seems to be a better, more straightforward system.

Another aspect where Project Mirai is remarkable is the sheer?? amount of content included in the package. The rhythm game mode vaunts 48 tracks in total, which span all sorts of genres and visual themes with minimal repetition, keeping the experience fresh and varied throughout.

There are a lot of secondary aspects of the experience, which didn't necessarily appeal to me, but at the same time don't take anything away from the game. You can play dress-up and house with a selection of characters. There are mini-games and a somewhat limited mode that allows you to design your own compositions. By far my favorite throw-in, though, is PuyoPuyo 39!, a fun little Miku-themed version of?? Sega's tile-matching puzzle game that even incorporates local competitive ??play.

One thing Project DIVA veterans might not appreciate about Project Mirai is it's a much easier and more lenient experience. On the other hand, some people find those games to be incredibly difficult and have a high barrier for entry. Personally, I was just fine with the challenge on the hard setting, but some rhythm game masters may?? be left feeling wanting for more in that area.

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX retains the essence of the Project DIVA series, but it's definitely its own unique thing. It may not appeal to all fans of? the vocaloid songstress' previous work, and it's certainly my least favorite outing of hers in the realm of games.

However, that all said, I still generally enjoyed my time with Project Mirai. Despite its missteps, this is a decent game that has a lot ??to offer for both rhythm game enthusiasts and Miku devotees alike.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX appeared first on Destructoid.

But I'm not complaining

Persona 4: Dancing All Night looks rad -- really rad.

And it's getting even more rad with the inclusion of Hatsune Miku, a clear effort to link At??lus and Sega, who I constantly still forget is under its wing. This newest trailer gives us a feel for ho?w she'll be incorported in the game, and I have to say, it fits.

Speaking of Miku, expect our review of the delayed 3DS game Project Mirai early next month.

The post I still can’t believe Miku is in Persona 4: Dancing All Night appeared first on Destructoid.

A match made in Heaven

In case you were wondering just how long it would take for Sega and Atlus to finally cross streams, Hatsune Miku is making a guest appearance in Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

The digital diva will perform a remix of "Heaven," the them??e from the dungeon that shares its name.

Atlus is releasing the downloadable song in mid-August, at least in Japan, where the rhythm game has been available since late June. The western localization is currently still on track for an autumn release, which just so happens to be when Sega is publishing a new Hatsune Miku game.

Seems like a perfect pairing and great opportunity for Sega? and Atlus to, dare I say it, syne??rgize.

P4Dに初音ミク参戦！8月中旬、追加楽曲配信決定! [Persona Channel]

The post Hatsune Miku joins Persona 4: Dancing All Night appeared first on Destructoid.

That name is art in its purest form

Monster Hunter’s pretty big at the moment, isn’t it? With its unforgiving combat and fantastic enemy designs making it hugely popular, it’s no wonder other developers have been wanting in on some of the success. The latest attempt at this is Aeria Games and X-Legend’s creatively titled Dragomon Hunter.

Promising over 100 monsters (dragomon, I guess?) to hunt, and the interesting ability to make any slain monster into a usable mount, it’s looking fairly solid. The trailer released makes it look like a pretty competent, if maybe a bit unpolished, answer to those wanting a free-to-play alternative to Monster Hunter on PC.

Oh yeah, and it's got Hatsune Miku in there by the look of it, because everything to do with? anime ever is contractually obliged to put her in. It's law.

The game’s due to release this autumn ?in both English and French. Let’s see if this can actually play with the big leagues, or whether it&rsqu??o;ll just get devoured by the Rathalos.

The post Dragomon?? Hunter puts Hatsune Miku in Monster Hunter appeared first on Destructoid.

I'll Miku-Miku You♪ (For Reals)

Hatsune Miku is an international sensation. Despite the ??fact that she's a simple digital creation, she's managed to rack up a massive amount of record sales and sold-o??ut concerts, including a tour with Lady Gaga and even an appearance on Letterman.

It's impossible to ignore her cultural significance now as she only skyrockets in popularity, and with Sega publishing the sequel to last year's Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, now's a better time than ever to get acquainted with the diminutive diva. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd is your ticket to J-Pop heaven, overflowin??g with content and a real challenge for anyone wh??o decides to take the plunge.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd (PlayStation 3 [reviewed], PS Vita)
Developer: Sega, Crypton Future Media
Publisher: Sega
Released: November 18, 2014
MSRP: $49.99

The Rhythm Game mode is the main attraction, offering over 40 different songs featuring Hatsune Miku, Len and Rin Kagamine, Luka Megurine, and other Vocaloids. They're a chorus of different voices brought to life via the popular singing voice ??synthesis software, and each has its own unique timbre and quirks.

There's a healthy mix of songs presented in this collection, with many returning from previous entries in the Project DIVA series, some with brand new accompanying music videos, and brand new tracks exclusive to Project DIVA F 2nd. For instance, songs like "Melt" and "The World is Mine" were originally seen in the original Project DIVA title released for the PlayStat??ion Portable back in 2009. Songs like "Pinky Promise" and "Doubleganger" are new to the series, gi??ving even veterans plenty of reasons to return.

Players will find several genres and song types to explore as well, from sugary sweet pop to sweeping techno tracks that should please any Vocaloid fan. But, as many Vocaloid faithful can attest to, Miku's voice is a bit of an acquired taste. She'll either grate on your nerves or open up an entirely new world of aural delights to you, and that will make or break your enjoyment of Project DIVA F 2nd.

Of course, the music is only half the fun, so even if you aren't as enamored with the tracks as you could be, there's still the excellent framework of the rhythm game left to win you over, which is a unique tonal shift from other similar games on the market. Sure, you're still tasked with pressing buttons on your controller that correspond to the symbols on-screen, but they don't simply appear in a neat and orderly fashion. Th??ey pop up in random places about the screen as notes fly in from off-screen as well. Not only do you need to concern yourself with keeping up with the rhythm, but as the accompanying video behind the notes and Miku's dancing plays on, you've got to stay focused to succeed.

Some icons require you to simply press face buttons, while others necessitate both a face button an?d the directional arrow that corresponds to the face button. For instance, with the triangle button you'd also need to press up on the D-pad to hit the note. Others still require flicks of the analog stick, with special notes prompting flicks of both analog sticks on the PS3 controller at once.

It can be a lot to take in at once if you're unfamiliar with rhythm games, and even if you're a hardcore devotee to the genre like myself, you might find that the game can be quite punishing at times, even on "Normal" difficulty, which I would caution new players against starting at. Once you work your way up to "Extreme," there's a true feeling of accomplishment in being able to look back on how far?? you've come, because this game can and will push you. You've got to hit a whopping 80% of the notes in order to clear a track successfully, so you've got to p?lay as though every note matters, because if you want to see everything the game has to offer, it does.

That's what makes ?Project DIVA F 2nd such a robust and inspiring rhythm game. Beyond the glitter and the sugary sweet characters, there's a depth to it that's sorely missing in most music-oriented titles these days. It's exciting to open up new tracks and earn new accessories for a job well done. There's a constant deluge of unlockables to hoard, like new outfits and accessories to dress Miku and company just as you see fit. 

If the Rhythm Game mode doesn't keep your attention long enough, you can always head over to Edit Mode to create and edit your own custom music videos using the Vocaloid tunes and an expansive set of tools to create your very own p??roductions. If you're not feeling particularly creative, you can keep up with your Diva Room, which allows you to customize your stable of digital pop stars, whether you change their outfits, the room furnishings, or accessories. You can purchase additional items for the room, but you can also interact with the Vocaloid team there as ??well.

But as previously stated, it's all about the music. You'll quickly find yourself losing hours at a time running through the tracklist, bettering yourself and obtaining new collectible items. It's even worth the slightly longer load times to take in a menagerie of colorful (and sometimes bizarre) fan?? art of Miku and the gang. There's also more content to come, with Sega making the very same DLC tracks released for the Japanese version available to Western buyers as well.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd is a full-featured, intuitive, and challenging pop star simulator dress??ed up as a rhythm game. Whether you ?love Miku and the rest of the virtual virtuosos there's something to enjoy here, even if it's just to prove that you know your way around a rhythm game. It's a worthy follow-up to last year's release and with translated English subtitles for each song, planned DLC, and a delightful mix of music, it's a surefire hit. Just don't get too disappointed when you remember Miku isn't actually a real person.

The post Review: Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd appeared first on Destructoid.

Just don't get weird with it

The next set of Hako Vision boxes have been revealed, and they'll feature virtual idol ?Hatsune Miku.

Hako Vision is a series of boxes that when opened up and assembled turn into a live "3D" rendering using the power of a smartphone, a quick video program, and some tricks of the eye. The series also previously took on the Gundam franchise. Each box will showcase one of four different songs. There are also two different bromide cards to collect and a pamp??hlet.

If tiny, eye-tricking, virtual pop ?stars are your thing, the Hatsune Miku Hako Vision boxes will go on sale September 19 in Japan. And I must admit they're pretty awesome. I kind of want to check one out.

Enjoy A Virtual Hatsune Miku Concert Nearly Anywhere With Thi?s Box [Siliconera]

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Sonic and Hatsune Miku, too, I guess

SEGA has announced its plans for San Diego Comic-Con, which is to chill at some place cal??led Nerd HQ ironically held at th??e San Diego Padre's baseball park. 

With how much videogame nerds try to bully sportsters for social medi??a passion on game days (endless tweets complaining about people tweeting about sports aren't more annoying than people tweeting about sports?), I'm not sure this is an appropriate venue. Just another way for the new age, wealthy bullying class of tech and gaming weirdos to exert power over us meek, handsome, athletic types. 

Anyway, go there to play Alien: Isolation and realize I was right about that game potentially being really, really good. There's also Sonic and my good friend Hatsune Miku.

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The songs are still in Japanese, though

It's exciting to see so much love for Hatsune Miku from Sega, especially given how fun the Project DIVA games are. Perhaps as an extension of said love, Sega has announced that Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd will feature full English lyric transl?ations for most of the 40 songs on its roster.

John Cheng, President and COO OF Sega of America is excited about the tran??slation project as well. “We worked closely with our partners in Japan and the artists to ensure that the lyrical intent of the original Japanese is maintained so our non-Japanese speak??ing fans can better understand the meaning and context of the amazing world of Hatsune Miku."

So, there you have it. Official English translations, a new trailer, and more Vocaloid coming your way this fall. I'm not a huge Vocaloid fan myself, but I do love me some Miku ?games, and this one looks absolutely excellent.

The post Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd to feature fully-transl??a??ted English lyrics appeared first on Destructoid.

Vocaloid is cool now

Something that is unsurprisingly rising in popularity is Hatsune Miku, the anime persona for a singing synthesizer called Vocaloid. She is literally on fire right now, opening for Lady Gaga on her most recent tour and even starring in her own game series Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA. Needless to say, this is pretty intense for just a cute synthes?izer.

This week I have picked some of my favorite songs that use Vocaloid. These aren't ??your ordinary JPOP songs, they are fantastic songs and remixes that use Hatsune Miku as an instrument.

The post Weekend Playlist: Hatsune Miku appeared first on Destructoid.

YISSSSSS!

We fo??rgot to say something the other day. I hate that we did becau??se I'm such a fan!

Sega has confirmed that Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd will be coming to our shores (North America and Europe) later this year, for both the PS3 and Vita. It includes new gam?eplay and 40 songs, with tunes that were stuck in Japan until now. 

Oh, and this is a packaged version for both ?systems! 

We'll know more about DIVA F 2nd closer to E3. Stay tuned.

The post Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd coming west appeared first on Destructoid.

Portable version coming exclusively via PlayStation Network

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA f is bumping and grinding its way to PlayStation Vita in North America ??and Europe early next year, Sega of America has announced.

The publisher cites the su??ccessful launch of the nearly identical PlayStation 3 version alongside the vocaloid songstress' increasing fame outside Japan as driving forces behind the rhythm game's impending localization. 

And given Miku is the world's most popular digital singer, it seems somewhat fitting the portable release will only be available as a download via ??PSN. Apol?ogies to any rabid collectors out there.

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That face

I found the weirdest video in you YouTube subscriptions this morning. It showed what looked like Sega's virtual idol, Hatsune Miku, walking through the Monster Hunter wo??rld. Then there was singing. And then? dancing. 

This is upcoming online game Monster Hunter Frontier G, and Capcom has worked it out with Sega to add Miku's clothing to the game. So that's not really Miku, whic??h explains the hilariously static face. 

Yep. Cosplay in your Mon Hun.

Japan gets Monster Hunter Frontier G later this month on Xbox 360.

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