Pop'N Music n00b - where should I start?

[norkusa]

I've been doing the DDR thing for a while and I'd like to try something different now. I've read a lot about Pop'N Music and watched some gameplay vids and it looks like a great game. There aren't any arcades near me that has a machine though, so it looks like playing on consoles is my only option. What's a good version to start out with?

Also, I see that there are generally 2 types of controllers to play on: the mini ones and the big arcade-sized ones. I'd like to get one an arcade one but that's a lot of money for me to drop on a game that I've never played before. The smaller ones are obviously more affordable but do they ruin the experience?

[heyricochet]

Out of curiousity, what bemani/music games do you already have? If you don't have drummania yet, I'd recommend that (even though its a bit more expensive) over pop'n'music. Or really any other bemani game, except for beatmania. For some reason I was never a fan of the DJ keyboard thing. I played an actual pop'n'music arcade machine, and I have pop'n'music 10? I think (no real controller, bootleg game) And it is all really poppy(obvious from the name) almost kiddy music that is kind of grating. Interesting game because you have to memorize the order of the color of the buttons to know what the hell you're doing. But yeah, I can only give you rating on the arcade machine I played and the game I have, maybe theres someone here who knows more then me.

[Kroogah]

Welcome to the dark side.

Pop'n Music 8 is the best game in the series, but 9 and 11 are really good too. 10 isn't bad, but it's harder than the rest so it's not good to start out on.

People may say otherwise, but the small controllers are great to start out on. I played with a small controller for a year, before switching up to the Arcade-Style Controller (or ASC as us addicts say)

Start with the small controller and if you fall in love with the game, upgrade to ASC, which is exactly what I did. MAKE SURE it's a Konami brand controller, 3rd-party small controllers for Pop'n are generally awful.

I've played almost every Bemani game; DDR, Beatmania, IIDX, Guitar Freaks, Drummania, Pop'n Music, and the one with the most staying power for me was Pop'n Music.

P.S. http://64.159.77.51/~helmet/yashiro/vids/ :D

[davidbrit2]

I second the suggestion for 8. This one has always struck me as having the most memorable music (including stuff that's been in DDR).

Drummania is fun and all, but the current home versions just can't hold a candle to the home releases of Pop'n Music.

[norkusa]

Thanks for the replies guys. Like those vids too, Yashiro!

I think I'm going to break down and buy Pop'N but I'd REALLY like to get an ASC controller instead of starting out with the cheapies (like I did with DDR). Where is a good place to buy from and how much should I expect to spend?

[Kroogah]

Thanks for the replies guys. Like those vids too, Yashiro!

I think I'm going to break down and buy Pop'N but I'd REALLY like to get an ASC controller instead of starting out with the cheapies (like I did with DDR). Where is a good place to buy from and how much should I expect to spend?

An official Konami ASC is $300+, especially factoring in importer fees. Plus, it's all plastic, and not really built as well as the alternatives that popped up in the last couple of years.

www.ransai.com - Great stuff, solid wood controller with same buttons as the Konami one (more or less) $275 shipped, but you'll have to wait until they get to you in the order queue. Takes a little more than 2 months.

www.desktoparcade.com - What I used for a year and a half. I played on both Ransai and DA controllers, and they are the EXACT SAME THING. $225 shipped, I waited a month for mine.

If you really want to go with Konami brand, try the usual import suspects like www.himeyashop.com or www.play-asia.com they might be in stock there.