Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)-A dancing simulation game, four arrows rise from the bottom of the monitor. When it reaches the top, the player steps on the matching arrow on the dance stage to rack up points. The more accurate the timing, the higher the score. Advanced players have the option of choosing more challenging levels of play. The higher the difficulty, the more arrows there are, with more complex rhythm and higher physical demand. DDR Videos are available for download at Govern's site from the movies section.
Beatmania (BM)-My favorite of the Bemani series, Beatmania is a DJ simulation game where bars, representing sound effects, drop down from the top of the monitor. When it reaches the bottom, the player hits a button or turns a turntable to create the sound effects for a particular song playing. While beatmania isn't physically demanding, it requires a lot of hand-eye coordination and is mentally challenging. In my opinion, Beatmania has the best songs of all the Bemani games.
Keyboard Mania (KBM)-Features a two-octave keyboard. Sorry, music majors, no sheet music style gameplay for you! Its orientation is much like Beatmania's, where bars drop down from the top of the monitor. There isn't much of a song selection for this game, so i'm waiting for the arrival of the sequel, KBM2.
DanceManiaX (DMX)-Laser sensors!! Another dance simulation, there are four sensors that the player needs to trigger as small rings rise to the top of the monitor. The player waves hands over or under the block thing that stands about three feet above the ground (sorry for the crappy terminology, hehe). Since i can't explain too well, visit Govern's site, check out the movies section and download Saiko's DMX videos (my bro, yay!). The video will do a better job at explaining itself than i did.
ParaParaParadise (PPP)-Another dance simulation dealing with laser sensors. Five sensors located around the front of the machine correspond with five arrows that rise from the bottom of the playing screen. Once the arrows reach the top, the player triggers these sensors by waving a hand, arm, foot, knee, head, buttcheek, whatever, through them. This game allows for more creative freedom than DMX, because the player stands inside a booth-like thingymajig, and can use different body parts, among other things, to trigger the sensors. Watching people play with different styles on PPP gets rather interesting.
PopN'Music (PNM)-NINE buttons. Cute little happy icons drop down from the top of the play screen, and the player hits the buttons when they reach the bottom. But that's not it. Sometimes these icons shrink to a tiny size.. sometimes they're huge. Sometimes they decide to switch places at the last second. Sometimes they ghost or multiply. The one thing about this game that i really like, is that three people can play at the same time, and it can still be challenging.
Guitar Freaks (GF)-Three buttons and a plastic strum thingy on a plastic guitar. Yep, that's about it, you hold a guitar and push a color down as the bars come up to the top of the screen and press down on the plastic strumming bar, which is supposed to represent guitar strings. Sorry if i don't sound too enthused about this one, i'm not too good at it, and i don't really like the music much, so i don't play this one. -_-;
Drum Mania (DM)-Five (or four?) drum pads and a foot pedal are the main features of this drumming simulator. Using actual drum sticks, the player hits the pads as bars fall from the top of the play screen. This game is pretty realistic, it can get very difficult in the "expert real" mode, and i suppose the songs are okay, but i don't really play this one too much either.
PunchMania, GunMania, JumpMania, and ConductorMania are also games in the Bemani series. (Okay, so i'm stretching it a bit by saying ConductorMania is a game. I just threw it in there because of a rumor that the game was 'in the works')... anyway, i haven't played these games yet, so I can't really comment much, but i think these games are pretty self explanatory. (NO, conductormania is not a game where you conduct electricity and shock people.)
