REVIEW

Hatsune Miku Project Diva X Review

by Rob Pritchard, September 29th, 2016

The vocaloid persona known as Hatsune Miku was first released back in 2007, with several forms of spin off media including manga serials, collectable figurines and an anime series. In 2009, the virtual singer made her console debut with the Project Diva franchise, a rhythm based action game which has appeared on PlayStation consoles and the Nintendo 3DS, and has now arrived on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita with a brand new instalment named Project Diva X. While there are a few minor problems, Hatsune Miku’s latest song collection provides

In the virtual world where Hatsune Miku resides with her fellow vocaloids, the mysterious Cloud Prisms which keep the energy of the digitised singers sustained have lost their power. In order to prevent their home and memories from disappearing, Hatsune Miku must perform a series of dance routines that have remained dormant inside each Cloud Prism, and restore them back to their full strength. While the overall plot does feel slightly stretched to add a story mode to a rhythm action title, the interactions between the vocaloids during cut scenes are enjoyable, retaining the feel good vibes that the Project Diva franchise has become known for.

Hatsune Miku Project Diva X contains several different game types, each providing a different take on the musical button matching experience. The main aim of each song is to match the symbols, using a combination of designated controller or touch screen input. While this sounds simple in concept, it can become complex when you will need to hold down buttons, whilst pressing several others at once. Each game mode brings new elements to the series, whilst drawing inspiration from previous iterations of the franchise. In Live Quest Mode, each song is given a set of missions depending on the difficulty that you chose. If you decide to opt for the Easy mode, you will require less score, or voltage as it is referred to in game to proceed and the routines will not be as complex. In Normal mode, the stakes often considerably higher, and you will often need to have razor sharp reflexes to get the highest score. When you clear the objectives, you will restore a small amount of energy to the corresponding Cloud Prism.

The challenges on offer provide a fun way to play through the thirty songs available to play, and if you want to take a different approach, the Free Play mode allows you to play any song you have currently unlocked without any of the objectives. Whichever mode you want to choose, a small setback takes place during the early stages of Project Diva X which may frustrate some players. If you do not clear the objectives laid out in the first songs after the tutorial in Live Quest Mode, you cannot access any of the other options in the game, such as the Gallery and Records screens, with the settings menu proving to be the only exception.

During each mode, you are given the option to choose a selection of accessories such as cat ears and sunglasses to customise your vocaloid. Activating these during Live Quest Mode will each provide a set of bonuses such as increasing your score multiplier. If you choose to wear it during a specific song. In combination with the modules that offer a unique visual and vocal configuration for your singer, the amount of customisable options for each character in Project Diva X can provide several hours of entertainment before you step out on the stage. One of the best features about Project Diva X is that you can transfer your save from the PlayStation Vita to the PlayStation 4 version, and the same thing can be done in reverse. If you only want to buy one version of the game, the Vita release is also compatible with the PlayStation TV micro-console.

Standing from a visual standpoint, Project Diva X retains the same cel shaded graphical style that has used in previous games, but the character models have been altered slightly due to the design changes that have been implemented to the characters. Although the Vita version lacks the HD shine that is present on the PlayStation 4 version, it still looks fantastic on both the portable Vita screen and your television screen, and the frame rate remains smooth through the entire experience. The JPop soundtrack that is the lifeblood of Project Diva series makes a triumphant return, with eight medleys of previous content joining the twenty two new songs that have been created for this release.

From soft melodies that could rock you to sleep, to pounding disco style tracks that will have you dancing long after the track has finished, the variety on offer in Project Diva X will keep music fans with all tastes satisfied. This list is slightly smaller than the set list we have seen in the older instalments, but the quality of each song more than makes up for the lack of quantity. One of the particular highlights is the Beginning Medley Primary Colours, which is unlocked at the end of the first Cloud Prism.

Overall Hatsune Miku Project Diva X is an entertaining rhythm action game that retains the energy and passion of the earlier titles in the series, and the new options such as the Live Quest mode will please existing fans and newcomers alike. If you are looking for something new, or are a fan of games such as Parappa the Rapper and Dancing Stage, then the new Project Diva is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Despite the smaller soundtrack and the minor issues that takes place during the beginning of the game, Project Diva X is one of the best entries in the series to date, and one that any vocaloid fan should add to their collection.