What are your thoughts on the Beatmania IIDX series of rhythm games by Konami?

[OmegaKatanaXIII]

I heard the beatmania iidx series is super duper hard due to some songs go for inhuman speeds and timings at the later entries. As well they are really hard to get into or im not looking at the right places. The reason i'm interested in the series is because of it's artwork by character designer Goli Matsumoto as shown here: Despite being his eariler work during the 2000's I find it the perfect blend why I love the anime artstyle so freaking much over the years because it looks cool. For the longest time I was looking for the character designer for the video doll by Terra in DDR supernova and while I was on twitter I some random stranger told me his name and the roots26 project he created along of these characters and I became a fan ever since.

 

[PrinceRogue]

The artwork goes hard, that's truth. Regarding the game... It's really a matter of preference.

From my point of view, it's among the hardest ones and, it's easier to get lost on the keys even though they're very few of them. I like it, but several times a song I miss keys because my fingers can't find them haha.
Don't let that discourage you, though. As with all games, it's all a matter of practice. They music is good and the maps go crazy and that's part of the fun!!

I'd say that, if you're interested, either try to find one around you area (something hard, but you may be lucky) or find a diy guide and try to build a controller for yourself so you can try it out. With a quick search I found this guide, for example https://consandstuff.github.io/rhythmcons/beatmania-iidx/iidx-small/ . Plus, to cheapen the cost you can use keyboard keys instead of arcade buttons so it's not such a heavy commitment on your wallet.

 

[Stingy Perry]

I’ll play this over Guitar Hero anytime.

 

[dropsmegamega]

I still listen to some of its gems from time to time

Post automatically merged: Jan 6, 2025

 

[Cu-Neo]

The art style is pretty good and I listen some songs. Specially this one that is also in Rumble Roses (the konami wrestling game and one of Vinny best corruptions)

 

[bjork]

I'm horrible at them but I love them anyway. When you hit that point where your focus is perfect for a section of a song and you're nailing every key while the world around you kind of disappears for a brief moment, what a cool feeling. Then you realize it's happening and mess up the next section completely and blow your overall score, but it's worth chasing that feeling.

 

[Sumea]

Used to be huge head for IIDX and DDR. These plays let it behind me no home gear nothing anymore. One of the best rhythm games ever for sure.

I have my own collections of art rips from the games and such over the years still should be around if someone wants the stuff nothing really fancy aside stuff that goes hard

 

[Opapete]

Wish the games would come overseas, especially here to germany. Been mostly playing 5 key beatmania but honestly, if I actually got a proper IIDX controller, i might end up playing the old PS2 home ports, since all I can play 5 key with is a literal 3rd party pro controller.

I would love the arcade cabinets to come over, but that's a pipe dream considering we don't even really have DDR here. DDR would also be a dream to come over, but at least there I have more options for getting it set up at home. (still need at least a softpad)

 

[Sumea]

Wish the games would come overseas, especially here to germany. Been mostly playing 5 key beatmania but honestly, if I actually got a proper IIDX controller, i might end up playing the old PS2 home ports, since all I can play 5 key with is a literal 3rd party pro controller.

I would love the arcade cabinets to come over, but that's a pipe dream considering we don't even really have DDR here. DDR would also be a dream to come over, but at least there I have more options for getting it set up at home. (still need at least a softpad)

I think IIDX games even today still let you limit it to 5key mode but is considered an assist, and it might not be that helpful on full IIDX 7 key control deck. The PS2 home ports are best bet since home use of the arcade games is a whole another rabbit hole, but those games had and might still have issues with HDD or other types of loading; I had to burn discs of IIDX games onto high quality DVD's myself to get best experience without dunking hundreds of dollars to imports.

 

[Opapete]

I think IIDX games even today still let you limit it to 5key mode but is considered an assist, and it might not be that helpful on full IIDX 7 key control deck. The PS2 home ports are best bet since home use of the arcade games is a whole another rabbit hole, but those games had and might still have issues with HDD or other types of loading; I had to burn discs of IIDX games onto high quality DVD's myself to get best experience without dunking hundreds of dollars to imports.

Nope, afaik, 5 key modifier has been removed since Rootage. And that's why I didn't mention arcade data, it's too much of a hassle in my view unless I get some real dough to buy a proper arcade-style IIDX controller.

 

[Opapete]

Update:

I have begun playing the PS2 games, specifically empress + premium best, with a literal regular game controller. Dear god. I'm on 4th Kyu right now, so it's not going as horribly as I initally thought it would.

 

[bigstinkie]

i will try and attempt to breathe the fart into this thread with my post
for me beatmania has long been the gold standard for the rhythm genre really since the inception of the original game. traditional 5key beatmania used to be what i would refer to as stanknastie in both the garish visual design and occasionally outright funkmonster music, really charming visual style and music, but not something that i think people rush to go back to, not when the greater beatmania franchise evolved from the previous linked track to songs like this:

to me, the jump in quality is very obvious
i have no idea why i said all this
anyway i have all the ps2 beatmania releases, a jp koc, an offline arcade rip of resident on my pc and i think beatmania as a franchise is up there with the all time great arcade game franchises

 

[NotGodlike]

I actually used to suck at these games, but I've started to slowly build up my experience by playing other projects like Quaver and DJ MAX. The end result is extremely satisfying, probably more so than in any other rhythm games I've played simply because it teaches you independent finger coordination and focusing on hitting multiple notes in quicker succession.
I plan expanding my skill curve by trying out 8 button modes and eventually getting into games like IIDX and Sound Voltex, simply because I'm more confident to jump into those than before

 

[Opapete]

i will try and attempt to breathe the fart into this thread with my post
for me beatmania has long been the gold standard for the rhythm genre really since the inception of the original game. traditional 5key beatmania used to be what i would refer to as stanknastie in both the garish visual design and occasionally outright funkmonster music, really charming visual style and music, but not something that i think people rush to go back to, not when the greater beatmania franchise evolved from the previous linked track to songs like this:

to me, the jump in quality is very obvious
i have no idea why i said all this
anyway i have all the ps2 beatmania releases, a jp koc, an offline arcade rip of resident on my pc and i think beatmania as a franchise is up there with the all time great arcade game franchises

Just gonna say, Salamander Beat Crush Mix (Crash Mix) is supposed to sound like a bemani pocket. Yes, that means that the high compression and literal albert TTS are not just intentional but part of the very identity of the song. Also a fair share of very early IIDX stuff was highly reminicient of old 5key, the swap to IIDX didn't immediately start the transition over to the higher quality cuts. Honestly I think IIDX only really got it's own identity with 5th mix and beyond.