Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X (初音ミク -Project DIVA- X) is a 2016 rhythm game created by Sega and Crypton Future Media, released on March 24, 2016 for the PlayStation Vita in Japan. A PlayStation 4 version known in Japan as Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X HD (初音ミク -Project DIVA- X HD) was released on August 25, 2016.^[1] A North American release has been announced for both digital and physical versions of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, slated for August 30, 2016.^[2] The title reflects the game being the 10th entry in the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA series (including the Dreamy Theatre games and both versions of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F). The game takes a new approach to play style, focusing around the theme of "Live and Produce".

Development

The game was publicly announced on August 31, 2015 via a video preview.^[3]

The character modules are designed by Tokichi, Akiakane, Tama, iXima, Hachi, Hoshima, Amemura, PinocchioP, Awashima, Gagame, 456, Suzunosuke, Saine, Nagimiso, toi8, and Rella. The full original cast from the previous game is set to be present in Project DIVA X with KAITO and MEIKO now taking on appearances from their Vocaloid 3 boxart.

Gameplay

The core gameplay is of a similar play style to Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, removing the double star notes and link stars introduced in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd. The game also introduces "rush notes", for which the player is to rapidly press the corresponding button in order to increase their score. A new "Live Quest" mode takes center focus over the traditional free play mode.^[4] The game now centers around the "home" menu, which is an adapted version of earlier titles "diva room", where the player can interact with the Vocaloids.^[5] "Home" also replaces the traditional main menu.

Live Quest Mode involves the player completing quests by playing songs. In between missions, short interactions and visual novel style dialogues may play out between the player and Vocaloids. The mode consists of two main types of quests - Area Quests and Event Quests.^[4] Area quests simply require a song to be completed while gaining a certain score. Later quests throw in other challenges (such as the "cool" pop up randomly changing to "miss" and "sad"). Event quests have special requirements such as requiring the player to play a "special live" consisting of 3 songs in a row. The game also features new "medley" songs, which are fully playable compilations of popular returning and new tracks. The full versions of the songs comprising the medleys cannot be played in full.

In Live Quest Mode, modules (costumes), accessories and songs are assigned an element, either Classic, Cool, Cute, Elegant, or Quirky. These elements also correspond to the 5 "areas" the songs are sorted within. By matching songs with a module and accessories of the same element, the initial "voltage" is increased. Modules are also assigned skills, for example, increasing the voltage for every 20 notes hit.^[6] The voltage increases the score gained for each successful note. The "Diva Points" used in previous entries have been removed, as modules are now acquired through a new feature called "Module Drop". Module Drop is triggered by the success of chance time,^[7] causing a random module to be dropped. Certain modules are classified as "rare" and may only drop during certain quests. If the conditions of the quest are cleared, the player acquires the module and is then able to freely use it in both Live Quest and Free Play modes. Previously obtained modules may still drop during quests.

In Free Play mode, the player is able to customise the modules, stage and module dropped. Elements and skills are absent in this mode.^[1] Free Play mode follows the traditional scoring system of previous Project Diva games where the player must build up Grade Points to acquire a ranking of Standard, Great, Excellent or Perfect, as opposed to reaching a voltage goal alike to the Live Quest mode. Certain extra DLC characters may only be used in Free Play mode.^[8] Other modes include "Concert Editor" in which the player is able to customise camera angles and effects of full versions of the songs included in the game.^[9] The game does not feature a traditional edit mode and custom song edits cannot be made. "Portrait" mode returns from Project Diva F 2nd, allowing the player to take pictures of the Vocaloids.^[5]

Song list

The base PS Vita game contains a total of 30 playable songs (not including Ievan Polkka as the tutorial), 6 of which are medleys, and 2 which return from previous entries in the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA or Project Mirai series. The game also has 2 DLC songs released post launch that are available for purchase on the PlayStation Store^[10]

Reception

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X received mixed to positive reviews. Critics praise the game for its Live Quest story mode and visuals but criticized the game's "lack of content"; being its song selection (without DLC.), lack of a in-game shop, and having to play the game's story mode repeatably to unlock modules via Module Drop sequences.

The game received a 78% score on Metacritic. GameXplain gave the game a "Meh" rating due to the lack of content, and what they described as "being imbalenced overall."

References

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Official website (English)