This week, after announcing the arrival of MLB Stickball, Microsoft surprised us with two additional titles, Beat'n Groovy and Shadow Assault / Tenchu. Of the three games, let us tell you that Beat'n Groovy is definitely the standout title this week. Let us tell you also that it's the standout title for all the wrong reasons. That should really be the takeaway from this week's XBLA In Brief, even if the other two are decent (particularly Shadow Assault) games. Hear our take on all three in the video above.
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Controls are spot on in Beat'n'Groovy. They're exactly as they were on the Playstation's Beatmania.. I got no quarrals, there..
I just didn't like how the blobs seemed to stop at the bottom for a while. Kinda freaked me out as I played.
I'd prefer a good old Black background, BM title, to all this fluffy happy animated gubbins..
Bah, humbug...
Not defending any title but you severely missed quite a lot in Beat'n Groovy as in the Camera mode. Personally I did not buy it because 9 tracks is just not enough but the camera mode you actually have to move rather than just pushing a button like boom boom rocket.
I think the camera mode needs to be looked at and previewed. I cannot for the life of me remember the arcade cabinets name but you wave your hand, legs or I've even seen head though the light sensors.
I think you should not be so bias and review the entirety of the game not just the single mode. You may not like the game but really this review isn't for you it's for your readers.
Very similar but this machine had like 4 pods and you could wave your hand above for the high notes and use your knees for the low notes if you can understand what I'm talking about.
i completely disagree with your opinion on the rhythm game. i played a lot of "video games hero" and my nintendods (its homebrew). there are 5 colors and they are assigned to the d-pad and the buttons (2 to the d-pad 2 to the buttons und 1 can be operated by both). this makes perfect sense! do you really think u can handle !!4!! colors with your tumb?!?! this would mean:
a) you are jesus or something
b) the game is as boring as watching paint dry.
WTF man, I can't believe you didn't touch on the rich and beautiful tapestry of history of the Pop'n series. Much like the art of the ancient Greeks, the Pop'n series have always enjoyed both critical and popular acclaim.
DJ Max 360.. now there's a thought. Beat n Groovy is too cutesy for me :/ Gameplay is the same as any other bemani game so that's fine. I don't like how the notes pause for a second at the bottom of the screen. music selection does indeed suck. can't complain about the controller config cuz it makes sense to me - lanes match button positions - akin to Beatmania and P'nM.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
10-10-2008 @ 6:26AM
Jayenkai said...
Controls are spot on in Beat'n'Groovy. They're exactly as they were on the Playstation's Beatmania.. I got no quarrals, there..
I just didn't like how the blobs seemed to stop at the bottom for a while. Kinda freaked me out as I played.
I'd prefer a good old Black background, BM title, to all this fluffy happy animated gubbins..
Bah, humbug...
Reply
10-10-2008 @ 6:56AM
OrdinaryHero said...
I can't believe you have never heard of The Adventures of Lolo. Used to be one of my favorite games.
Reply
10-10-2008 @ 9:43AM
Outinthedark said...
OK so I'm usually a fan of these XBLA in brief.
Not defending any title but you severely missed quite a lot in Beat'n Groovy as in the Camera mode. Personally I did not buy it because 9 tracks is just not enough but the camera mode you actually have to move rather than just pushing a button like boom boom rocket.
I think the camera mode needs to be looked at and previewed. I cannot for the life of me remember the arcade cabinets name but you wave your hand, legs or I've even seen head though the light sensors.
I think you should not be so bias and review the entirety of the game not just the single mode. You may not like the game but really this review isn't for you it's for your readers.
Reply
10-10-2008 @ 10:46AM
Aeikozz said...
Para Para Paradise.
Yet another wonderful konami franchise.
10-10-2008 @ 11:23AM
Outinthedark said...
Very similar but this machine had like 4 pods and you could wave your hand above for the high notes and use your knees for the low notes if you can understand what I'm talking about.
Tried to find it before I posted.
Thanks for your help Aeikozz.
10-10-2008 @ 9:59AM
alex said...
i completely disagree with your opinion on the rhythm game. i played a lot of "video games hero" and my nintendods (its homebrew). there are 5 colors and they are assigned to the d-pad and the buttons (2 to the d-pad 2 to the buttons und 1 can be operated by both). this makes perfect sense! do you really think u can handle !!4!! colors with your tumb?!?! this would mean:
a) you are jesus or something
b) the game is as boring as watching paint dry.
Reply
10-10-2008 @ 10:45AM
Neuromancer said...
WTF man, I can't believe you didn't touch on the rich and beautiful tapestry of history of the Pop'n series. Much like the art of the ancient Greeks, the Pop'n series have always enjoyed both critical and popular acclaim.
Reply
10-10-2008 @ 12:47PM
Tony said...
Honestly, I thought MLB Stickball was terrible. Looks awful and is just mindless and boring.
Tenchu wasn't so bad.
Reply
10-11-2008 @ 12:30PM
Jef said...
DJ Max 360.. now there's a thought. Beat n Groovy is too cutesy for me :/ Gameplay is the same as any other bemani game so that's fine. I don't like how the notes pause for a second at the bottom of the screen. music selection does indeed suck. can't complain about the controller config cuz it makes sense to me - lanes match button positions - akin to Beatmania and P'nM.
Reply