LogFAQs > #949399995

#77. Pop'n Music (series) (Arcade, 1998 + other years)

Pop'n Music is a rhythm game series with tons of games that all have the same base gameplay. There's easily over 20 different arcade versions, plus some spin-off arcade games. And then there are like 15-20 home versions? I could try to count it up, but it's quicker just to type these figures and estimate. It started in the late '90s/early 2000s Bemani series boom from Konami, but the series is still active today, coming out with new games. I've never owned a Pop'n Music game, though. The home releases were Japan-only when I was really into it, and the home version controller was crazy expensive. I had a friend who owned it though, so I got to play at his place quite a bit.

The main draw for Pop'n Music is the cutesy aesthetic. Everything is bright and colorful and cartoony. Each song has a specific cartoon character with it, so it's as if you're battling that character when you play the song. There are 9 buttons to hit, which make a loud sound when you hit them (almost like a loud pop oh ho ho). The buttons themselves are called Pop-kuns, as if they are their own cutesy character. The series also has a very wide variety of music, trying to draw in any and every genre possible. You get stuff like Ragtime, Twee Pop, Romanesque, 80s Werk, Drm'n Fry, Retro Future Groove, Tea-sy Listening, Loud Beach, Elemental Jig, and Velvet Bullet Hit. Okay, the genres just got kind of silly after a while.

Of course, this cutest exterior hides that the game can reach brutal difficulties. The hardest songs get pretty nuts to play, and require a lot of arm and hand movement and finger stretching. I'll never get there without a lot of work, so without owning a version for myself, this probably won't ever climb higher on the list. Also, I tend to hit the buttons hard, so sometimes I have very sore hands after playing Pop'n Music. The soreness is a sign I had fun and played a lot, but maybe also a sign that it's good I just play this casually.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hDRbLadSyI

The video above is a very recommended viewing of who I believe is the top player at the game playing a very hard song. Easier songs are much much simpler and way easier for anyone to start. Pretty wide range of difficulty in these games!

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