Japan’s most popular idol returns to Nintendo Switch with the original and expanded version of PS4. A port full of content, love and some sacrifices.
It is clear that there are certain genres of video games that do not work quite well in the West, but they are less and less. With a Japanese industry that increasingly dares to locate these niche works to other apparently less favorable markets, the name of Hatsune Miku seems to be one of the most suitable to serve as an example that everything depends on the way in which it is exploit the license; on how to make it attractive to the general public.
Because the Project DIVA saga, which is now celebrating its tenth anniversary, is quite a cultural phenomenon in Japan. The title that concerns us today, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix, is quite a celebration; a display of content, rhythm, fun and know-how where everything bad is forgotten. There are no great innovations; in fact, it is more attractive for newcomers than for lovers of the saga, because they will find little new. However, it works and does it wonderfully.
A perfected, comfortable and effective playable formula
To put ourselves in a situation, the character of Hatsune Miku is still a vocaloid compatible with the Vocaloid2 and Vocaloid3 engines from the company Cryptone Future Media. Born out of voice actress Saki Fujita, this equalized sound engine has garnered such popularity as a leading role in live concerts. A virtual pop star who, far from being a joke, has managed to bring out a smile and a sincere fan feeling in many people. If we add to this that his rhythmic video games perfectly mix arcade mechanics with catchy songs and a very organic rec room spirit, which does not wear out with the passage of time, we have as a result a formula that is still valid, still young, in Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix.
Nintendo Switch has taken over from Sony consoles since that summer of 2009, when PSP tried its luck in a UMD that many of us willingly remember. From there, new versions with more songs, small additions at the playable level, customization options and incentives to get the best scores; But, broadly speaking, what we find today is still a complete and expanded version of the latest iteration of PS4 and PS Vita: Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone.
With Nintendo 3DS (sub-series Project Mirai), something similar to Elite Beat Agents was chosen, in the sense that the touch screen was used in conjunction with the buttons. Here, the game parameters are the classic ones as a base: we press the A, B, X, Y buttons and the triggers when the notes are placed right in the place of the icon on the screen. If you succeed, you chain punctuation in multiplier form; if you fail, that multiplier restarts and we lose life, to the point that various errors can make us lose the game directly.
The most recommendable thing – both in this installment and in any other of Project Diva – is to start playing in Easy mode to then go to Normal mode and, finally, Hard (then we can unlock Extreme and Extra Extreme). Because you learn to play through mistakes and it is necessary not to skip steps. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix is not intended to punish our mistakes; does not base the difficulty on that. The objective of the game is that we internalize the rhythm, that we are able to be aware of two notes at the same time so that they are then three and that speed is not a problem. There is one point in common of the more than 100 songs included —all equally high-pitched under the interpretation of these young Japanese voices—, and that is that it always goes from less to more. All the themes have a certain complex aspect. It is not so much simple or difficult musical themes, but they all start slower than they end. The feeling of progress is total during the three or four minutes of the majority of games, so the most recommended is to play with headphones and … let yourself go. Concentration, being one with the music. Enjoy.
The texts on the screen are somewhat small; excessively small if we play on Nintendo Switch Lite.
Because we insist: it is a lot of fun. The grace of the higher difficulty modes is twofold: more notes appear on the screen and each typology prints a different rhythm of appearance; goes to different time signature. SEGA was aware that releasing Hatsune Miku: Project Diva on the Nintendo Switch was going to mean that a significant number of new players would give the series a first chance; therefore, it has been adapted to open up the range of playable opportunities as much as possible. The use of Joy-Con for motion control in Mix mode has not convinced us and we do not recommend it, simply because it is not precise. Except at the easiest level, which lends itself more to listening to songs and enjoying what we see and hear, in the rest it is not thorough.
That closeness – never better said – of improving our ability to touch with the buttons is where there really lies room for progress, for improvement; where there is the satisfaction that evokes ending each topic of this saga with a better score than the previous one.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix goes head-to-head and doesn’t miss out on unlocking themes or story modes – it gives you everything from the start. It’s a compilation, not a brand new installment, and also values that there are (many) fans who have simply migrated to Switch to continue enjoying their favorite idol. The work exudes affection, respect and passion for what it does. The personalization of the protagonists is merely aesthetic; there are no skill trees and no room for improvement: everything affects the visual spectacle of what you see on screen. We talk about more than 300 costumes and the ability to design T-shirts in an editor for the occasion.
Visual, sound and content quality: light and shadow
Regarding the content, which we have already said includes more than 100 themes (a considerable amount although far from the more than 200 that Total Tone grouped in total on PlayStation), it is more than remarkable, enough to dedicate tens of hours. Minigames and other minor additions from other versions have been dispensed with. The important thing is that this delivery of PS4 has been transferred to Nintendo Switch sacrificing as little as possible. What we do not understand is that, basing its nature as a compilation, from the Nintendo Switch eShop we have about a dozen additional paid themes (currently, the DLC bundle of 36 themes for 29.99 euros). It would have been a gesture to include them in the base game considering that we are talking about a title that sells for 39.99 euros (59.99 euros if we buy the pass).
We have been disappointed in the quality of some video clips, an aspect that we do not understand why it has worsened compared to the Sony desktop considering that the technical requirement is not one of its cover letters. This time, luckily, the themes that were included via DLC are here, so the set feels complete, well finished, with a cel shading that looks good in both desktop (TV) and portable mode, although with less definition and tonal gradualness in its colors. It does not shine so much in sight. In all honesty, we’ve played on both a Nintendo Switch (2017) and a Nintendo Switch Lite model, and the feel is just as nice; Although the visual quality falls if we choose to play from the screen of the console itself. Also, the NS Lite spider is somewhat small; Sometimes it can fail if we do not pay the maximum attention, but it is appreciated that the loading times are tiny, less than those of the original version.
Another element that should not go unnoticed is sound. We were afraid that the Nintendo Switch speakers would prevent us from listening with guarantees to some of the most electric songs, those that have more nuances or a more strident instrumentalization. Luckily, both with headphones (most recommended option) and with the speakers themselves, the sound is remarkable. Nothing to object to. Finally, we remember that it is in full English: it is not localized to Spanish. It does not prevent enjoying the title, it does not affect the experience, but we believe it is necessary to point it out.
We have carried out this Reviews through a code supplied by the publisher on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite.
CONCLUSION
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix is a celebration for the saga. Packed with content, perfectly adapted to the Nintendo Switch button scheme and respectful of both the series and the characters and spirit that always exudes. A careful product, with 101 varied themes, well selected, without leaving out anything we already saw in the original PS4 game. It is a pity that the video clips – especially in portable mode – are of very low quality. Fortunately, this favors that the loading times are very short, but it is not ideal. For the rest, a complete delivery, full of options to adapt to all kinds of audiences and the realization that this character can perfectly celebrate another ten years without giving a feeling of wear.
THE BEST
- The playable formula works perfectly; Not old fashioned
- Amount of content: songs, cosmetics …
- Different difficulty options and Practice Mode
WORST
- Motion control is not precise
- Video clips visual quality: lower than expected
- Despite being a compilation, we have a DLC of 29.99 euros
Good
It meets the expectations of what is a good game, it has quality and does not have serious flaws, although it lacks elements that could have taken it to higher levels.
