Hatsune Miku Project Diva F

There were very few games at PAX my wife was intending to play at PAX.  Hatsune Miku Project Diva F was one of them, but the line was consistently long enough to deter us.  However, since the game launched before PAX, there was a demo waiting on the PlayStation Store.  We played late into the night - hours consumed by this distinctly Japanese rhythm game, or rather, it's demo consisting of three songs.

Project Diva is one of those games you just don't expect to see released outside of Japan.  The entire game centers on J-Pop vocaloids.  However, this niche focus is largely what makes the game stand out.  All the aethetics are built to that cute/anime theme.  The visuals are vivid and alive, and a lot of work has been poured into giving the vocaloids personality.  The soundscape is fully complemented by the music videos and menus.  In short, it all looks and sounds right.

It feels right, too.  The gameplay is challenging and deeper than the Dance Dance Revolution predecessors - or it just feels that way because the designers clearly built the interactions specifically for the PS3 controller. Aside from the usual push/hold <button> at the right time, flicking a control stick acts as a fifth button. Then there are the strong notes.  These require pressing a button and matching directional button at the same time.  This seems like nothing special,  but its usage is reserved (in most cases) for when the vocaloids hit those notes they need to belt out or when you hit the emotional high of the song.  It really pulls you into the song, and there's just nothing quite like landing a series of notes with a strong note finisher.

On top of an excellent rhythm game, there's plentiful customization.  While playing, you unlock further songs and earn Diva Points to buy new outfits and accessories for your vocaloids.  Each song allows you to choose and customize your performer, which adds a nice personal touch to every video.  There's a fair assortment of these outfits and items, ranging from cute to sexy to kind-of-slutty to goofy.  Accessorize however you want, the game won't judge.

There's also a feature where you can visit the vocaloids in their room to give them gifts and play games with them (rock-paper-scissors), but it feels creeper-y.  It's like the voyeuristic version of The Sims.  However, certain items are unlocked by leveling up your affinity with each vocaloid, requiring you to play this part of the game for 100% completion.

Finally,  we get to the editing tools. The toolset is extremely powerful and more than a little overwhelming.   You have an incredible amount of control, and I'm sure there will be some amazing music videos from die-hard fans.  However, anyone with a passing interest will likely be too intimidated to try their hand.

What Project Diva amounts to is an excellent rhythm game with several features built purely as fan service.  The controls are slick, intuitive, and approachable for newcomers, yet the incredible challenge of higher difficulties will keep advanced players more than entertained for hours on end.  There's absolutely no reason not to try the demo, so give it a go and find out if this game is for you.  Even if it sounds like something you wouldn't like, take the time to try it.  At the very least, you'll have a unique gaming experience, and at best you'll discover a new game you love and some excellent earworms.

TL;DR: Try the demo now to find out if you'll love it.  Buy it if you do.
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See you next week.