The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
UNiSON: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance- the most cracked-up rhythm game you've never played
cj iwakura
The Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
The Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
Tecmo aren't really known for that many games.
The few products of theirs that have made to the US are known for one or more of the following things: ninjas, ghosts, death, dismemberment, and/or committing mass murder with hidden traps.
It's kind of surprising that one of the few games they localized that had nothing to do with any of the above was a music game.
Back when I was willing to give any game a shot that had anything even remotely to do with doing something to the beat of a song, Unison was always something I'd wanted to try out.
When I finally did, it stood out as being unique if nothing else.
At face value, Unison could easily be passed up as yet another game out to cash in on having anime designs and a soundtrack catering to the same fanbase.
And if you took it by the Japanese songlist, you'd probably be right:
Except what makes Unison especially off-the-walls in terms of craziness is the localization.
Tecmo not only licensed what might very well be the most eclectic songlist in a music game ever(none of which were covers), but they made them all work.
I originally bought it just because Stop The Rock was involved, and that level definitely doesn't disappoint.
Each of the songs added to the US version take place on the stages originally used for the Japanese songs, and somehow, the localization team re-choreographed the dances to make them work for the new US tracks.
Demonstration - Country Grammar
So not only did they somehow get a song about smoking and hood life in general into a quirky game originally focused on 60's retro and Jpop, but they even made it fun to play.
How does this crazy game work, anyway?
Gameplay Demo
Basically, before each stage, Doctor Dance offers a demo of how the dance to each track will play out.
After that, the player gets to try it themselves.
The choreography is handled entirely by the PS2 analog sticks.
Move the sticks to the rhythm of the track, and the girl in question dances accordingly.
The actual movements vary depending on which character you play as, which brings us to...
Characters
Trill
(Normal Difficulty)
Cela
(Hard)
And for the experts:
Chilly
(Very Hard)
And there's also these two, to name a couple of Unison's supporting cast:
Doctor Dance
And last, and definitely least, the 'antagonist', if you can call him that.
Ducker
So yeah, the game's story is fairly silly, but it's humorous enough to make it worth playing through.
Also, after you complete the game proper, you can play bonus songs that aren't part of the main game in 'Club Tecmo'(originally Club Afro).
Most of the game's hardest tracks are found here, though not really up to par of Unison's 'boss song', which hilariously enough, is 'We Are Family'. (It really is very difficult.)
A song of Para Para infamy is also found here, probably familiar to any Initial D or Bemani veterans:
Demonstration - Night of Fire
Unison's a very quirky game overall, and I don't think it was a success in any sense of the word, but it's definitely worth checking out if you like a unique challenge, and one crazy soundtrack.
The few products of theirs that have made to the US are known for one or more of the following things: ninjas, ghosts, death, dismemberment, and/or committing mass murder with hidden traps.
It's kind of surprising that one of the few games they localized that had nothing to do with any of the above was a music game.
Back when I was willing to give any game a shot that had anything even remotely to do with doing something to the beat of a song, Unison was always something I'd wanted to try out.
When I finally did, it stood out as being unique if nothing else.
Wikipedia wrote:The game's plot, taking place in the futuristic city of Twin Ships, centers around the exploits of three girls - Trill, Cela and Chilly - and mascot Friday as they struggle against the dictatorship of a man known only as Ducker, who can use his voice to exert a hypnotic influence over people and only allow them to experience his peculiar brands of fun, which has outlawed anything creative aside from his own music; dancing, in particular, is especially prohibited.
Gathered together by a man known as Doctor Dance - who happens to dress in what passes as stereotypical 1960s attire and possesses a large afro - the three girls form the musical dance group Unison, and set about putting on a series of performances over Twin Ships' airwaves to rally the public to their cause and bring dancing back to the people. In opposition of Unison are Ducker and his personal servants who routinely try to capture the girls.
At face value, Unison could easily be passed up as yet another game out to cash in on having anime designs and a soundtrack catering to the same fanbase.
And if you took it by the Japanese songlist, you'd probably be right:
Y.M.C.A. - The Village People
Neraiuchi (Take Aim and Shoot) - Linda Yamamoto
First Love - Utada Hikaru
Love Machine - Morning Musume
Seraa Fuku wo Nu ga Sanaide (Don't Make It Take Off Sailors) - Oyanko Club
Yosaku (Honor and Virtue) - well-known enka song
Boys & Girls - Ayumi Hamasaki
Night of Fire - Niko
Dschinghis Khan - Dschinghis Khan
Hajimete no Chuu (First Kiss) - Anshin Papa
UFO - Pink Lady
Synchronized Love Millennium - Joe Rinoie
Except what makes Unison especially off-the-walls in terms of craziness is the localization.
Tecmo not only licensed what might very well be the most eclectic songlist in a music game ever(none of which were covers), but they made them all work.
Y.M.C.A. - The Village People
Country Grammar - Nelly
We Are Family - Sister Sledge
Stop the Rock - Apollo 440
Barbie Girl - Aqua
Yosaku (Honor and Virtue) - well-known enka song
That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band
Night of Fire - Niko
Nowhere - Faze4
O.P.P. - Naughty By Nature
Everybody Dance - Chic
Synchronized Love Millennium - Joe Rinoie
I originally bought it just because Stop The Rock was involved, and that level definitely doesn't disappoint.
Each of the songs added to the US version take place on the stages originally used for the Japanese songs, and somehow, the localization team re-choreographed the dances to make them work for the new US tracks.
Demonstration - Country Grammar
So not only did they somehow get a song about smoking and hood life in general into a quirky game originally focused on 60's retro and Jpop, but they even made it fun to play.
How does this crazy game work, anyway?
Gameplay Demo
Basically, before each stage, Doctor Dance offers a demo of how the dance to each track will play out.
After that, the player gets to try it themselves.
The choreography is handled entirely by the PS2 analog sticks.
Move the sticks to the rhythm of the track, and the girl in question dances accordingly.
The actual movements vary depending on which character you play as, which brings us to...
Characters
Trill
(Normal Difficulty)
Unison's lead vocalist and dancer, she plays the role of the stereotypical ditzy blonde. Easily excited and eager to do the right thing.
Cela
(Hard)
A quiet green-haired girl who seems to have a history with Ducker, and the most logical minded of the trio.
And for the experts:
Chilly
(Very Hard)
A tomboy who practices Unison's most demanding dance moves.
And there's also these two, to name a couple of Unison's supporting cast:
Doctor Dance
The organizer of Unison and the mastermind of their plan to reintroduce the citizens of Twin Ships to dancing. Friday frequently tries to chew on his hair.
And last, and definitely least, the 'antagonist', if you can call him that.
Ducker
The evil leader of Twin Ships, who is often seen literally riding in an oversized rubber ducky.
So yeah, the game's story is fairly silly, but it's humorous enough to make it worth playing through.
Also, after you complete the game proper, you can play bonus songs that aren't part of the main game in 'Club Tecmo'(originally Club Afro).
Most of the game's hardest tracks are found here, though not really up to par of Unison's 'boss song', which hilariously enough, is 'We Are Family'. (It really is very difficult.)
A song of Para Para infamy is also found here, probably familiar to any Initial D or Bemani veterans:
Demonstration - Night of Fire
Unison's a very quirky game overall, and I don't think it was a success in any sense of the word, but it's definitely worth checking out if you like a unique challenge, and one crazy soundtrack.
cj iwakura on
0
Posts
Color me intrigued.
I guess that's one way of putting it, but the dances are controlled in real-time. You get to practice it as many times as you want before the actual stage, then you have to perform it with the character, then the final performance, which is ridiculously strict. If you don't have it down, it's pretty much game over.
Added a gameplay demo to the OP. There's not that much media available for Unison at all.
Is this one hard to find in US?
Sooooooo in unison you have to memorize the whole song and play it by memory? Crazy.
I believe that you have forgotten boobs.
That's the hardest part about it.
It's the first I've heard of it, but it wouldn't surprise me. I didn't know anything about the original OST until now, but hopefully the finale's more adequate than 'We Are Family'.
Yosaku's one of the few songs from the original campaign that survived the localization, and probably because the routine is a traditional kimono one.