Groove Coaster
The Groove Coaster series is an iOS / Android and arcade rhythm game franchise developed by Matrix Software and published by Taito Corporation.
The first Groove Coaster was released for iOS on July 28, 2011.
Groove Coaster Zero is a free-to-play updated version of the game released on November 20, 2012.
The Groove Coaster arcade version was released on November 5, 2013, with the touchscreen replaced by two giant controllers called "BOOSTERs" with a white button on each.
Groove Coaster EX is an update of the arcade version released on May 26, 2014.
Groove Coaster 2: Heavenly Festival was released on January 22, 2015, in which the "LEVEL" system was removed and was replaced by a new system called the "GROOVE COIN" system, in which players can get "GROOVE COINs" according to their performance and use them as currency for virtual goods.
Groove Coaster 2: Original Style was released on iOS and Android on July 1, 2015. In this version, stage charts from arcade version are added for some tracks, which makes two-finger play available. A new input mode is introduced, in which players play the stages by making sound instead of touching the screen.
Groove Coaster 3: Link Fever was released on March 10, 2016, in which an online multiplayer system is added and the "MUSIC PANEL" system is removed. A fictional navigator, Linka, who will guide the player throughout the whole playthrough, is introduced as well.
Groove Coaster 3EX: Dream Party was released on March 16, 2017. In this version, the player is allowed to select the navigators. A new navigator, Yume is added as well. Also, Solo Event Mode, similar to the one until 2HF, returned in 3EXDP.
Groove Coaster 4: Starlight Road, was released on March 29, 2018, with a brand new "LEVEL" system, in which the Difficulty level range is re-arranged from 1 to 15, a new stage unlocking system, and various new functions online. A new navigator for 4SR, named Seine, is introduced as well.
Groove Coaster was released on Steam on July 16, 2018.
Groove Coaster: Wai Wai Party!!!! was released on Nintendo Switch on November 7, 2019.
Gameplay
When the avatar reaches the target, input the command that the target requires. After a target is hit, a judgment is received, from the highest to lowest: GREAT, COOL, GOOD and MISS, depending on the timing of hitting the target. GREAT, COOL and GOOD fill the GROOVE gauge on the top of the screen, while MISS depletes it. The player is required to fill up at least 70% of the GROOVE gauge to clear the stage when the song ends, otherwise fails it.As the player continuously hits the target successfully, the CHAIN count will increase. FEVER is activated when CHAIN count reaches 10, and CHAIN number acquired from each successful hit will be doubled in FEVER. In arcade version, TRANCE is activated when CHAIN count reaches 100, and CHAIN number acquired from each successful hit will be quadrupled in TRANCE. However, if the player misses a target, the CHAIN count will be reset and FEVER or TRANCE will end.
After the player finished a song, a RATING is given, from lowest to highest, E, D, C, B, A, and S, according to the performance.
The player selects the song first, then the mode to play. However, not all the modes are initially available.
- In 2OS, each song contains EASY, NORMAL, HARD, and for some songs that contains arcade mode stages, AC-EASY, AC-NORMAL, and AC-HARD. HARD, AC-EASY, AC-NORMAL can be unlocked by clearing NORMAL, while AC-HARD can be unlocked by clearing AC-NORMAL.
- In arcade version, each song contains SIMPLE, NORMAL and HARD. Some songs also contains EXTRA, which can be unlocked by getting S-Rank on SIMPLE, NORMAL, and HARD mode of the same song. Starting from 4SR, for the stage with the difficulty of 11 and above, the player need an S-Rank on either one of the stage that contains the difficulty that is lower by 1 than the target difficulty to unlock, making two locks on most of the EXTRA mode stages.
Target
; Tap
; Hold
; Beat
; Scratch
; Flick
; AD-LIB
In the arcade version, new targets are added.
; Dual Tap
; Dual Hold
; Dual Flick
; Slide Hold
In arcade version since 3LF, if the player managed to clear the stage with full score of 1,000,000, a special clear status, PERFECT, will be rewarded to the player for the stage.
Contents
Note: To unlock all the unlockable contents in arcade version, a NESiCA IC Card is necessary.The Unlock Key system is introduced in arcade version since ver. 4.02. After each play, the player receives 1 to 2 keys, depending on the mode they're playing. The player can receive one extra key each time they play the designated song, usually the one chosen for events. The keys can be used to unlock various contents.
;Songs
;Avatar
;Items
;Skin
;Title
;Trophy
;Sound effects
;Navigators
Installments
Mobile versions
Groove Coaster (iOS)
Launched on July 28, 2011, for $2.99.- There are 29 songs in this version, including downloadable songs. Difficulty is rated on a scale of 0–9.
- Original songs were all composed by Hirokazu Koshio and Shohei Tsuchiya of Zuntata.
- The game also includes songs from some of Taito's other games, including Arkanoid DS, Jet de Go! 2, SHOGUN DEFENSE, Space Invaders Infinity Gene, Music GunGun! and Darius Gaiden, among others.
Groove Coaster Zero (iOS)
- There were more than 150 songs in this version, including in-app purchases and those as part of limited-time events.
- A difficulty rating of 10 was added.
- Copyrighted songs, including Vocaloid songs, were added. Copyrighted songs with no artist have been placed under the category J-POP.
- The ability to sort tracks has been added, making song selection much easier.
- A login bonus was introduced, awarding either FOLLOW, FLICK CHANGE, or VISIBLE items whenever a player starts the game for the first time on any given day with an internet connection.
- The UPGRADE option from the previous version has been renamed SHOP, which now sells tracks in dedicated packs of four each as well as selected individual tracks from those packs at a discounted price.
- Every 24 hours, an event called RECOMMEND occurs, in which you can play, for one time only, a track which you have not yet obtained, on the EASY difficulty.
- When the 2,000,000 downloads campaign started, the maximum level players can reach has been raised from 100 to 200.
Groove Coaster 2: Original Style (iOS/Android)
On iOS, this app replaces Groove Coaster Zero in the form of an update, and as a result it is impossible to have Zero and 2OS on the same device.
On Android, this is the first Groove Coaster title to be released for the platform.
A 3,000,000 downloads campaign started in August.
- The ability to use multiple fingers has been added, as opposed to allowing just one finger at a time, as was the case in all previous versions. Faster touch gestures are now easier to pull off.
- * To correspond with this, most songs now have Arcade Mode added, bringing three additional difficulties made to be played with two fingers. Songs with a grayed-out AC label lack Arcade Mode, but may have it in the future. Songs with a blue AC label have Arcade Mode.
- * In Arcade Mode, the highest difficulty rating has been raised to 20.
- * If a song pack that now has Arcade Mode has been purchased in Groove Coaster Zero, Arcade Mode will become available to play after a $0.99 in-app purchase.
- ** In addition, any songs earned through leveling up or the new Mission screen will have Arcade Mode for free.
- * Calculation for the final score of any given track in Arcade Mode now copies the arcade version scoring.
- Original Style has been added, which allows players to use their device's microphone input to make sounds to play the game. As all targets are converted to Taps in this mode, your score will not be recorded, but still allows you to level up after playing.
- Some new items were added from the arcade versions on top of the already existing FOLLOW, FLICK CHANGE, and VISIBLE items, making for 10 types of items total.
- Titles were added from the arcade versions. These are displayed on your status page, friend list, and leaderboards, primarily for bragging rights.
- By meeting set conditions while playing, items, titles, avatars, and even new tracks can be obtained as rewards through the Mission screen.
- 2D avatars are now in full color.
- Setting certain options are now possible, including:
- * Performance
- * Lag adjustment for sound and visuals
- * Lag adjustment for correct gesture judgement and input
- * Microphone sensitivity adjustment for Original Style
- When the 3,000,000 downloads campaign started, the maximum level players can reach has been raised yet again, this time from 200 to 300.
Arcade versions
Groove Coaster
Launched on November 5, 2013. The machine is a dedicated housing with a 55-inch liquid crystal monitor.- Taito's arcade save data service, NESiCA, can save players' play records and track data. The app version is incompatible with the arcade version.
- Titles have been introduced, which are displayed in the leaderboards for bragging rights.
- Unlike on mobile devices, the arcade version is controlled by two controllers called Boosters. The Boosters themselves have one button at the top of each of them, and they are also made to be tilted, similar to a joystick, with the whole hand. This reproduces the Taps or Flicks from the mobile versions. In addition the names of targets have been changed from Tap to Hit and from Flick to Slide. Both Boosters are able to be used at the same time.
- A headphone jack and volume control dial can be found between the Boosters.
- Just before a track starts, instructions on how use the Boosters for each target type in that track are displayed.
- Upon reaching a Chain of 100, the FEVER status from previous versions will become TRANCE, increasing the Chain by four for every target successfully.
- Score calculation has been overhauled. The new scoring systems works as follows:
- * The PLAY SCORE encompasses the player's main score in the level before the results screen. In a playthrough with all GREATs and a FULL CHAIN, this score will max out at 850,000 points.
- * The CHAIN SCORE is based on how much of the FULL CHAIN is completed during the track. As such, a FULL CHAIN will make this score max out at 100,000 points.
- * Lastly, a 50,000 point CLEAR BONUS is earned for simply clearing the track.
- * All of these will add up to 1,000,000 points, a perfect score. Ranks of E, D, C, B, A, or S are awarded based on this score.
- One credit would allow two tracks to be played. Failing tracks does not result in a game over.
- * On January 10, 2014, one credit would allow three tracks to be played.
- Multiplayer with up to 4 players is supported. Score is not the determining factor in whether players win or lose, but rather by stars earned by meeting certain criteria during the track.
- Songs are sorted into five genres: J-POP, VOCALOID, GAME, VARIETY, and ORIGINAL.
Groove Coaster EX
Groove Coaster 2: Heavenly Festival
Groove Coaster 3: Link Fever
Groove Coaster 4: Starlight Road
Multiplayer Matching (Arcade version only)
In the arcade version, multiplayer matches are separated into two types — Local Matching and Online Matching.Local Matching (Multiplayer Mode)
The player can start the play in multiplayer mode. Once a player starts recruiting, a 90-second countdown will start. Other players can join the match before the countdown ends. The recruiting player can also end the recruitment by pressing the BOOSTER button.Stage selecting is almost the same, only with a little difference. Any player can decide the song that will be played in the match, and each player selects his/her own modes, items, or skins. However, EXTRA mode selecting goes in a very different way. If the songs that contains EXTRA mode were selected by the player that has already unlocked the mode, then all the player can select EXTRA mode. If not, then only the player who has already unlocked the mode can select it.
Online Matching (Event Play)
The system will recruit players from all over the world. Usually, the match begins when the 4th player is recruited. However, a 3-player or a 2-player match will also be triggered when the system cannot find enough players in a period of time.Each player selects the song he/she wants to play in this tune in a set list. When all players finished selecting, the system will start a roulette. The song chosen by the player hit by the roulette will be the one play in this tune. The player then select their own mode, items, and skins. One thing to be mentioned is that the EXTRA mode will be unavailable if the player has not yet unlocked it.
Gameplay
In the stage, the player's own avatar will shown on the course line, while other players will shown beside it. Also, the player's own rank will be shown right below the avatar. As the stage goes, the relative position of the players' avatars will differ, depending on their own play score.When the stage ends, a match result screen will be shown. From 2, the player competes with each other with total number of stars earned from 3 tunes. The player with most stars wins the match.
In 3LF, for some rewards, the star given to players will increase in later Tunes, making the game easier to be reversed if any mistake is made. Also the number of ☆s the player gets in Online Matching will become Battle Point reward, which can be used to compete with others in the Event.
The reward is shown below.
Playing in multiplayer mode lets the player receive bonus EXP reward and one extra "MUSIC PANEL".
Critical reception
The game has a Metacritic rating of 87% based on 21 critic reviews.SlideToPlay said " We don't know what Space Invaders are doing in a rhythm game, but we like it. " IGN wrote " Nearly perfect. The music is great. The visuals are great. The rhythm action itself feels tight and perfectly matches each tune. Best of all, this is an experience that would be very hard to replicate on a traditional platform – this is a game built from the ground-up for iPhone, and it shows. " The AV Club said " Its elegance surpasses some of its antecedents, like Osu! Tatke! Ouendan! " AppSafari wrote " The bigger screen is nice, but the levels scales so well, you won't miss out by using a smaller one. " GamePro said " Groove Coaster is a textbook example of how to make an iOS game correctly. Simple one-finger controls and quick play sessions belie a game with a considerable amount of depth and replay value. " DaGameboyz wrote " It's definitely one of the "must plays" of the iOS, and at only $2.99 on the App Store, you should go grab it right now! " PocketGamerUK said " Gorgeous, challenging and thrillingly different, Groove Coaster is a treat for the eyes, the ears, and the soul. " Gamezebo said " The only real complaint to be had with Groove Coaster is that there isn't more of it. " 148Apps said " Just as crazy-awesome a game as one would expect to get from the people who brought us Space Invaders-Infinity Gene. " Multiplayer.it said " Groove Coaster is another little masterpiece by Reisuke Ishida; a great rhythm game that fits perfectly on the Apple devices and that any lover of the genre should check out. "
Eurogamer said " Groove Coaster still lacks enough of a challenge to be interesting, and it's only when you play each song on hard that the game's potential reveals itself. Even then, it's unlikely that hardcore rhythm action fiends will care much for its casual approach. " MetroCentral said " One of the best marriages of gameplay, graphics and music ever seen on a portable and a triumphant return to the roots of rhythm action. " Modojo wrote " A wonderful fusion of stimulating graphics, music and touch based play, making it an essential download for iPhone and iPad users. Great job, Taito. " VideoGamer said " Groove Coaster isn't as ambitious a project as Space Invaders Infinity Gene, but it's certainly more fun while it lasts. Whether it's flying along at juddering right angles, or gently cruising around a relaxing curve, Groove Coaster is a consistently enjoyable audiovisual experience. " TouchArcdae said "Groove Coaster is a good game with a fundamental flaw. It also has a few nit-picky problems, too, like its spectacularly abrupt ending and horrible "How To," but the strength of its presentation, music, and RPG-lite systems make up for anything that could sour the experience. " AppSpy said " While it's not the first time we've seen this blending of visual style and rhythm-based gameplay, Groove Coaster is none-the-less a unique experience that constantly rewards players for delving in again and again. " TouchGen wrote " It doesn't quite offer the same originality in gameplay as Bit Trip beat, but its attack on your senses will knock your socks off, and more than makes up for it. Beautiful! "