Sorry, folks – I didn't see that Tonberry got it, because I didn't get a notification for this thread when he double-posted! Xenforo, you can goon me off till the day I die, but I'll still dislike several features of yours.
THAT'S RIGHT!!!
Superstar Dance Club #1 Hits!!! (known in Japan as Love♡Para) was a budget rhythm game released during the waning days of the PS1 that, inexplicably, got a full-scale translation across all major markets. Tonberry, you're not far off – the subculture I was referring to was para-para, though it's so closely interlinked with turn-of-the-millennium Japanese culture that saying gyaru was essentially correct. (It's from the same genus of stuff as Tokyo gothic lolita street fashion and Super Milk-Chan, I guess – totally a favourite period in Japan's pop-cultural history for me!) This is the only non-arcade para-para game I can think of, but I'd love to see a lot more.
Despite being marketed towards ten-year-old girls, the game is fucking TOUGH! It is not an easy game whatsoever – it's kind of like a mix of DDR and Parappa the Rapper, but you need to be dead-on precise to get anywhere in it, and progressing in the game requires a lot of replying old stages to earn in-game currency. I consider myself quite strong at rhythm games, but the timing in SDC#1!!! requires a lot of getting used to. It's got some really excellent character art and catchy music, though! And it's completely unknown on the western internet – no Wikipedia page or anything, just some scattered GameFAQs guides and a TCRF page.
If the game used the protagonist, Suzy, more in its promotional materials, there's no doubt in my mind it would be quite popular on today's 'net, because people are shallow morons who'll give anything a chance as long as it's got a buggering anime girl attached to it. I just think everyone's scared off by the cover and have never actually seen any gameplay. I first discovered the game on CD Romance years and years ago, and had a fun time playing it through. If you're interested in the game, no need to fire up Mednafen – it's literally on Steam. I wonder if the game will ever get a big boost of popularity with the kids, like everything obscure I like does. OH WELL
My apologies for making you wait, everyone. @Tonberry – YER UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
THAT'S RIGHT!!!
Despite being marketed towards ten-year-old girls, the game is fucking TOUGH! It is not an easy game whatsoever – it's kind of like a mix of DDR and Parappa the Rapper, but you need to be dead-on precise to get anywhere in it, and progressing in the game requires a lot of replying old stages to earn in-game currency. I consider myself quite strong at rhythm games, but the timing in SDC#1!!! requires a lot of getting used to. It's got some really excellent character art and catchy music, though! And it's completely unknown on the western internet – no Wikipedia page or anything, just some scattered GameFAQs guides and a TCRF page.
If the game used the protagonist, Suzy, more in its promotional materials, there's no doubt in my mind it would be quite popular on today's 'net, because people are shallow morons who'll give anything a chance as long as it's got a buggering anime girl attached to it. I just think everyone's scared off by the cover and have never actually seen any gameplay. I first discovered the game on CD Romance years and years ago, and had a fun time playing it through. If you're interested in the game, no need to fire up Mednafen – it's literally on Steam. I wonder if the game will ever get a big boost of popularity with the kids, like everything obscure I like does. OH WELL
My apologies for making you wait, everyone. @Tonberry – YER UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
