THE IDOLM@STER Shiny Festa

THE IDOLM@STER, this title seems to be familiar if you are a complete speed freak. It's a game that pits you as the producer and nurture the idols of 765 Productions to fame and stardom. They did have a PSP game on it but now, in 2012, they're back. THE IDOLM@STER's back on the PSP. It's the new THE IDOLM@STER SHINY FESTA but however there's a bit of a problem. Which version of SHINY FESTA do I want?

HONEY SOUND - with Haruka Amami, Chihaya Kisaragi, Azusa Miura, and Ritsuko Akizuki

THE IDOLM@STER Shiny Festa
Honey Sound

GROOVY TUNE - with Miki Hoshi, Takane Shijou, Makoto Kikuchi, and Yukiho Hagiwara

THE IDOLM@STER Shiny Festa
Groovy Tune

or

FUNKY NOTE - with Ami and Mami Futami, Hibiki Ganaha, Yayoi Takatsuki, and Iori Minase

THE IDOLM@STER Shiny Festa
Funky Note

If I was that geek in Japan shopping for one of these, my choice is simple. I went the one with Haruka, Chihaya, Azusa, and Ritsuko on it.

About Shiny Festa, this game is becoming a "rhythm action" game, much like the Hatsune Miku Project Diva video games before. So what you gonna do is simple, you gonna need a lot of concentration and timing to push the buttons right while listening to your favorite IDOLM@STER songs. Because I can't explain that on words, why don't we let the promo videos do the talking?

Oh wait! I almost forgot. Each version comes with a new anime footage and some bonus extras. The people from Aniplex's A-1 Pictures and director Atsushi Nishigori from the TV anime adaptation of THE IDOLM@STER, are now responsible for those three anime stuff included in three versions. Like I said, HONEY SOUND - with Haruka Amami, Chihaya Kisaragi, Azusa Miura, and Ritsuko Akizuki. GROOVY TUNE - with Miki Hoshi, Takane Shijou, Makoto Kikuchi, and Yukiho Hagiwara. And FUNKY NOTE - with Ami and Mami Futami, Hibiki Ganaha, Yayoi Takatsuki, and Iori Minase. Each run about 23 minutes for you to enjoy.

WAIT! According to Namco Bandai, those who pre-ordered will get a "backstage pass" that allows buyers to log into the limited premium shop site, a product code for "The world is all one!!" song, and a serial number for obtaining an exclusive Haruka Amami idol card in the separate Idolmaster Cinderella Girls game.

So, how can I say about this game? Even though it has three different versions, the gameplay is still has some Project Diva push-button stuff to keep it in the rhythm. It's either a good, perfect, almost, or a miss but with such effort, your effort pays off.

URL: http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/cs/list/idolmaster/festa/