Beatmania 2 DX 4th Style: New Songs Collection

Beatmania 2 DX 4th Style: New Songs Collection was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc. and was published by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. The game is based on the Beatmania concept, already popular in Japan at the time of the release, and is mostly an update that brings in new songs and new moves for the game, without changing the gameplay mechanics.

The game comes bundled with a special controller that acts like the DJ scratch pad, complete with seven keys. You must be able to manipulate the scratch pad and the controls in accordance to the instructions that appear on the screen. As you achieve a degree of rhythm, you earn the approval of the audience and get points. Only if you get the audience to react to your moves will you be able to progress through the game.

Each of the keys on the controller has a corresponding vertical bar on the screen. The turntable also has special bars and they are used to indicate the path that rectangular icons follow as they go down towards a horizontal line, which is placed near the bottom of the same screen. You should hit the key that corresponds to the bar and also rotate the turntable when the icon matches a line. This will trigger a preset sound sample and you recompose the song properly. Players are judged according to the accuracy of each key press.

The basic concept is used today by such critical and commercial successes like Guitar Hero III and Rock Band, while the original Beatmania games have earned a small but loyal fan base.

UNLOCKABLES

Survival mode

Get an "A" or greater rank on the Original Expert course.

Internet Ranking screen

Pass at least three stages on a course that hasn't been previously used to unlock an Internet Ranking screen.

Bonus songs

Successfully complete arcade mode the indicated number of times to unlock the corresponding bonus song.

ErAseRmoToR maXimUM: Seven times
Gobble: Three times
Infinite Prayer -floating flock style: Five times
Sana Mollete Ne Ente -B.L.T. style: Two times
The Big Voyager -Infinite Prayer Reinterpretation: Six times.
The Shining Polaris: One time.
Trancemission: Four times.

Here's a gameplay video: