I like to think I’m not that bad when it comes to rhythm games, yet I find myself quickly overwhelmed whenever I play one. Was I always this bad? Am I just getting old? I’ve come to the conclusion that rhythm game skills are something you need to keep polished. When you play a rhythm game for hours or days on end, you hit that sweet spot where you feel unbeatable. However, if you don’t play them too often, your skills become somewhat tarnished. That’s where I found myself when I played Hatsune Miku Project Diva Megamix+, in definite need of a bit of polish.
Hatsune Miku Project Diva Megamix+ is an expanded version of Project DIVA Mega Mix launched for Nintendo Switch in 2020. Understandably, the Mix Mode that took advantage of the Joy-Con’s motion controls is gone, but let’s face it, this was a worthwhile sacrifice to have the series finally debut on PC.
This new version improves on the original by boasting over 170 songs in the base game and has also expanded the range of unlockable cosmetic items to over 500 hairstyles, modules, and accessories. Are you even playing this right if you’re not having fun dressing up Hatsune Miku and her friends in stunningly beautiful or atrociously ridiculous outfits? However, I’m not sure if I was impressed or just in stunned confusion by the extensive range of cowlicks on offer.
The T-shirt Editor is back, and though I can’t say it works as well on PC without the touch screen making it easier for you to unleash your artistic side, I still had plenty of fun creating terribly designed outfits that no self-respecting idol would ever truly wear. Sorry, Hatsune Miku.
If you want to fork out extra cash to get the VIP Bundle, you can get even more songs and immediately unlock all cosmetic items. Still, I think the base game has more than enough to offer for most players and having to earn items gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Fortunately for me and my failure to feel the rhythm, the game is well equipped to deal with both beginners and hardcore divas alike, offering various difficulty levels and the option to enable the ‘No Fail Mode’. You can even trial songs in Practice Mode to give yourself a better feel for them before you fully commit.
The great thing about having such an extensive catalog of songs available is that if you find yourself getting stuck in a rut on the same music video, you can easily switch it up and try something new for a change of pace. All songs are numbered by difficulty, so if you’re beating yourself up over not completing one of the harder ones, treat yourself to a lower difficulty track. Undoubtedly, you’ll likely find at least a few favourites and will probably end up rinsing and repeating them just to hear the belting tunes repeatedly, but you know, those slow, easy songs are there if you want them.
You can also tweak button inputs, change icon appearance, and enable assist/help modes in the config menu to finetune the gameplay to suit your needs. Then, once you’ve found your rhythm and raised the difficulty level, you can set various modifiers to challenge yourself further, such as changing the speed or visibility of the melody and target icons.
Considering I struggled with songs on Hard Mode, I should have realised I would be in for a world of hurt on Extreme. Don’t even get me started on Ex Extreme, which was just a way to challenge myself on how quickly I could crap out on a song. I’m sure plenty of you will revel in the flying icon chaos of these heavier-duty difficulties, but they were not for me.
Whether you want pop, punk, dance, or a ballad, Project Diva Megamix+ manages to cover more genres than Cher, with a range of characters singing different tracks, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. You can kick back and just enjoy the music videos if you want, and you can even create custom playlists of all your faves.
It’s always a little daunting when a game gets ported from handheld to PC, as it runs the risk of not living up to the standards of PC graphics. Project Diva Megamix+ doesn’t have groundbreakingly detailed graphics, but it looks nice and clean. Additionally, there’s the option to toggle between the Mega Mix and Future Tone graphic styles, so you can choose whether you want your best girl to have that glossier look.
Hatsune Miku Project Diva Megamix+ is the perfect introduction to the series for PC. It’s easily accessible to newcomers and more experienced players alike and offers an extensive catalog of songs and customisation items that will keep you busy for hours. The joy of arcade games like this is that they’re easy to pick up and play whenever the feeling takes you.
Score: 4/5. A review code for PC was provided by Sega.
Hatsune Miku Project Diva Megamix+
Hatsune Miku Project Diva Megamix+ is a rhythm game that stars everybody's favourite virtual pop idol, and features a colossal catalogue of over 170 tracks. Players can also fully customize Miku. from outfit to hairstyles and accessories, and even design custom t-shirts.