AngellicLulu
CAGiversary!
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- 4 (100%)
I've decided to do my first review for CAG on Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!, Ouendan for short, for the Nintendo DS. This currently can only be imported from Japan.
Background/Story: Ouendan is a quirky music rhythm game from those who brought us Gitaroo-man. The plot of this game is you are a member of the "support squadron", whose job is to go around cheering on those who request aid. Some of the people you help include a horse trying to catch a crook, a police team trying to stop an invasion of robots, and yes, even a businessman turn giant trying to stop a giant rodent from terrorizing a young girl.
The story is told through a beginning and intermission sequences during each stage. It is not hard to understand what is going on in the comicbook style story, even if you cannot read Japanese.
Story: 9; funny and original
Gameplay: The game is played completely with the stylus and makes a great use of the DS's touch screen capabilities. The gameplay is easy to pick up because there is a tutorial that demonstrates it and it really is not complicated.
Ouendan makes use of a system of 'hit markers' that you hit with the stylus when the circle around them matches the circle of the 'hit marker'. There are also long bars which you follow with your stylus on the screen. It's easy to understand but difficult to master, much like DDR. You must learn timing on the game for you have a timer bar that decreases with time but will replenish if you are doing well. When the song is finished you recieve a score and a letter grade, I have yet to get an A
Ouendan has two modes in single player. The top mode is the hard difficulty and the bottom is the easy difficulty. To play two player you need another cart, but another DS without the cart can download the tutorial. I was unable to try out the two player mode so I cannot comment on that.
Gameplay: 9; A great rhtyhm game that really makes use of the DS's stylus/touch screen.
Sound/Songs: Ouendan is a rhythm game and consists of a song selection of 15 songs that vary from J-Pop, J-Rock and J-HipHop. The song selection is small but very good. If you enjoy anime opening/ending songs, you'll recognize some of the bands like L' Arcen' Ciel, B'z, and ORANGE RANGE. After playing the game for a day, I began to seek out the soundtrack, unfortunately they did not make one but some people have compiled a torrent of the mp3s. It's a very good lineup of music starting with a Loop & Loop from Asian Kung-Fu Generation and ending with Ready Steady Go! from L' Arcen' Ciel.
Sound: 10; Great sountrack and good sound effects. It really makes the game.
Graphics: Ouendan has bright graphics that really convey the feelings of the characters. It gives the game a comic-book feel and really adds to the gameplay of the game. The graphics are nothing spectacular or innovative but they are fun and functional. The graphics reminded me of Viewtiful Joe.
Graphics: 8; Nothing spectacular, but gives life to the game.
Overall: Ouendan is a must-have game for fans of the DS, music games or japanese music. It's style is unique and the story idea is unique and fun.
Overall: 9; Well worth the import!
I hope you enjoyed my first review.
Background/Story: Ouendan is a quirky music rhythm game from those who brought us Gitaroo-man. The plot of this game is you are a member of the "support squadron", whose job is to go around cheering on those who request aid. Some of the people you help include a horse trying to catch a crook, a police team trying to stop an invasion of robots, and yes, even a businessman turn giant trying to stop a giant rodent from terrorizing a young girl.
The story is told through a beginning and intermission sequences during each stage. It is not hard to understand what is going on in the comicbook style story, even if you cannot read Japanese.
Story: 9; funny and original
Gameplay: The game is played completely with the stylus and makes a great use of the DS's touch screen capabilities. The gameplay is easy to pick up because there is a tutorial that demonstrates it and it really is not complicated.
Ouendan makes use of a system of 'hit markers' that you hit with the stylus when the circle around them matches the circle of the 'hit marker'. There are also long bars which you follow with your stylus on the screen. It's easy to understand but difficult to master, much like DDR. You must learn timing on the game for you have a timer bar that decreases with time but will replenish if you are doing well. When the song is finished you recieve a score and a letter grade, I have yet to get an A
Ouendan has two modes in single player. The top mode is the hard difficulty and the bottom is the easy difficulty. To play two player you need another cart, but another DS without the cart can download the tutorial. I was unable to try out the two player mode so I cannot comment on that.
Gameplay: 9; A great rhtyhm game that really makes use of the DS's stylus/touch screen.
Sound/Songs: Ouendan is a rhythm game and consists of a song selection of 15 songs that vary from J-Pop, J-Rock and J-HipHop. The song selection is small but very good. If you enjoy anime opening/ending songs, you'll recognize some of the bands like L' Arcen' Ciel, B'z, and ORANGE RANGE. After playing the game for a day, I began to seek out the soundtrack, unfortunately they did not make one but some people have compiled a torrent of the mp3s. It's a very good lineup of music starting with a Loop & Loop from Asian Kung-Fu Generation and ending with Ready Steady Go! from L' Arcen' Ciel.
Sound: 10; Great sountrack and good sound effects. It really makes the game.
Graphics: Ouendan has bright graphics that really convey the feelings of the characters. It gives the game a comic-book feel and really adds to the gameplay of the game. The graphics are nothing spectacular or innovative but they are fun and functional. The graphics reminded me of Viewtiful Joe.
Graphics: 8; Nothing spectacular, but gives life to the game.
Overall: Ouendan is a must-have game for fans of the DS, music games or japanese music. It's style is unique and the story idea is unique and fun.
Overall: 9; Well worth the import!
I hope you enjoyed my first review.
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