If you have ever been curious about Hatsune Miku, I have found the perfect entry point.
You probably know a little bit about Vocaloid, a computer-created pop singer who shot to fame in Japan in 2008, and has since spread across the globe. But you are less likely to know the details, because despite the global fandom, Miku has not always been easy to enjoy in the US.
When I was a teenager, an early Miku game Diva project, It was released for PlayStation Portable, but never reached the United States. Determined to play it, my friend and I were determined to make a pandora battery for my PSP, so I could … root my PSP, allowing you to play any game you download from the internet. Eventually our efforts were thwarted by my strict parents, who didn’t want me to mess with electronics. My dream of owning a Miku game was crushed.
Today, anyone can enjoy Miku games without potentially breaking the expensive hardware of video games. The pop star has had multiple games in the United States. I’ve dabbled in some of them, but none are as welcoming as Diva Project: Megamix for Nintendo Switch
The game is more or less a simplified port for PlayStation 4 and arcade game, Diva Project: Future Tone. The graphics are simplified a bit and a couple of new songs have been added, such as one of their latest songs, “Sand Planet”.
Controls are simple enough. The icons fly across the screen and you must press their buttons corresponding to the rhythm of the music. Controls work well with Joy-Cons in portable mode, but strangely when using a Pro controller – the buttons feel awkward. My scores on my handheld are still much higher than my scores on my TV, even after playing around with the delay and sync settings.
The “Mix Mode”, created specifically for the Nintendo Switch, has potential. While holding the Joy-Cons upright with your thumb on the shoulder triggers, you must rotate the controllers and press the triggers at the right time to play the incoming notes. The motion-based controls remind me of the fun and unique rhythm games that involve movement you’d find in a special room, but the controls aren’t implemented well enough, making it seem unreliable. I’m sure that over time I could find the best way to make the drivers stick out, but I’d rather stick with the classic game anyway.
Megamix It has become a personal staple for me when I have moments of inactivity. While I wait for my Final Fantasy 14 tails of dungeons to explode, I will rip and play one or two songs. I could easily see this as something I do while waiting for my friends to meet me at a restaurant or while I relax at an anime convention. It is the perfect game that you have downloaded on your Switch to see Vocaloid jam bites here and there.
Most Vocaloid fans have probably already answered MegamixBut if you want to understand the hype surrounding the music synthesizer program then you should take it. After listening to the catchy songs and seeing all the cute designs, you can dive into concerts, art exhibitions, and iconic images.
