Konami's
attachment to music and rhythm games is as strong as ever.
Their latest entries in the genre are Dancemania X, Keyboadmania,
Guitar Freaks 3rd Mix, Drummania 2nd Mix, Beatmania III,
Beatmania IIDX 3rd Style, Beatmania ClubM ix, Pop'n Music
4, Pop 'n' Stage EX, Pop 'n' Music Micky Tunes, Pop 'n'
Music Animero, and others [deep breath]. Most of the titles
are sequels, but they remain as popular as ever. Beside
music games, Konami showcased Punch Mania - Fist of the
North Star (based on the eponymous orgy of cranial disintegration),
which is about 80 % completed, and a shooting-gallery
title called Gunmania, in which you shoot real BB bullets.
Konami
has been keeping a tight lid on this new style dance game,
Dancemania X, which is 40% completed. The game system
is basically similar to Dance Dance Revolution, in which
you push buttons with your feet to moving icons synchronized
to music on the screen. Oddly, Dancemania X does not have
any buttons on the machine; instead, it comes with four
sensors on the four corners of the machine, and you interrupt
the beam emitted from the sensors to the icons displayed
according to music. This means your hands get involved,
rather than your feet, which should certainly make it
a hit with spectators.
The
sequel to Konami's exciting GTI Club is finally due. With
more detailed yet smooth graphics, it's inarguably one
of the best driving games on the way out now.