GAMEPLAY
A player is allowed to create a room or join a room. The “DJ” (the player who creates the room) is given power to choose the settings for the room: song, “chance,” and game mode. The song’s BPM (beats per minute) usually will determine the song’s difficulty and speed (with certain exceptions e.g. beat up mode). While the “DJ” has the power to kick people out of the room and close the dance floor off, he or she will generally not benefit from doing so. After all, the most appealing part of the game is its social aspect: playing alongside others whether for fun or competition.
The basic game is played by pressing the arrows displayed on the screen (with the exception of red “chance” arrows) and pressing the spacebar or the control key on every 4th beat of the song. The more accurately the spacebar or control key is pressed, the higher the score. A grade of “PERFECT” will provide players with the greatest score, a grade of “GREAT” and “COOL” will provide players with decent scores, a grade of “BAD” will provide players with very little score, and for “MISS” will provide players with no score for the turn. If a player receives a “MISS,” he will not get the chance to play for the next move.
The “Finish Move,” a special move during most gameplay modes, can be said the hardest move. If a person does not miss the move before the “Finish Move,” he has the option to do it. Finish moves issue a lot of points and can often be the key to success.
When a player does 2 or more PERFECTs consecutively, he will get bonus points for doing so. These PERFECT combos (or “Perfect chains”) enable players to interfere with the opposition. A blue circle indicates that you made a PERFECT in your move and acts as a shield. When a player performs a PERFECT X1 (or perfect X2 in some cases), he will make the players ahead of and behind him in score standings receive a yellow circle. Players with the yellow circle will not receive points if they do not achieve a PERFECT (in a Finish Move, it reduces score by a percentage rather than the whole score).
Players can increase their score by playing “chance.” “Chance” can be activated by pressing the delete key or the “.” key on the number pad whereby red keys appear and players have to press in the opposite direction of the red keys.
At the end of the dance battle, the person with the most points is the winner. The player will have his character presented at the front of the stage. Each player will receive experience points and Den/BEATS according to what position they finished in.
If a single/group game (not including NPC, One-Two Party and Beat Up modes) is full, a random event (also called a mission) may occur. Bonuses are given if you accomplish these challenges. Some of the challenges are, but are not limited to: getting a specific beat judgment (e.g. no COOLs or no BADs), getting perfect combos (e.g. PERFECT X3), or getting a standing (e.g. getting number 1). The music can be random, random(new), or random from any range of tempos.
Game Modes
Beat Rush – Where there are four ovals around the bottom of the screen with different keys. The user must press all of the keys at the precise beat in order to gain a “Perfect.” Pressing all the keys at the correct beat will gain a Great, whilst pressing all keys at a bad beat or pressing a moderate number of keys at the correct beat will gain a Cool. Bads and Misses can be earned be pressing the fewest keys with either at the correct beat or at the incorrect beat.
Beat Up – Where individual keys come in six keys divided two different sides. Players must press each individual key at the correct beat to get a higher score. At 100 Combos and 400 Combos, a bonus score multiplier will be given.
Block Beat – Where players team up and hit the three individual keys at the correct beat.
Boys & Girls – Where boys and girls team up 2v2 or 3v3 in their respective genders and play the normal key mode in order to battle.
Couple Mode – Where a boy and a girl must team up. Both characters will have the same move; however, their normal mode blue keys will be separated by random grey keys.
Couple Dance I/II/III – Where boys and girls team up to be couples for the game. I, II, and III each have their own unique quirks where players will generally provide each other with hearts, flowers, or gifts while switching between couple mode and normal mode.
Guitar Mode – Where players use the Z, X, C, V and the M, <, >, ? keys to play. The individual (Z/X/C/V) notes come down and you have to hit the notes with the respective keys. A user can also use the respective Audition Guitar Controller in order to play. The Guitar Controller can be bought from the Korean version or earned from events in the North American regions. However, the Guitar can be used throughout all servers. The Guitar Controller gives players an extra 20% EXP.
One-Two Party – This game mode features NPCs showing the players directions in tune to the music, then the players must imitate those moves along to the same rhythm to score points. In this mode, players have to listen to the numbers that they say or see the numbers that appear on the screen. For example, if they say “8,6,6,4,2” then you have to press 8,6,6,4,2 on the same rhythm that they said it. Sometimes at the end they will say “go” or “yeah”. When they say “go”, you have to press the spacebar or the Ctrl key, and when they say “yeah” you have to press insert, 0 or 5. A dance simulation will commence after a stage, where the moves of the dancer and the corresponding arrows will show up.
Story Mode – Story Mode is a game mode that consists of missions that are continued by stories. Players are given different tasks for each mission. By completing a mission, players will be awarded prizes (players are given the choice to choose whether to take the DEN/Beats or EXP reward) and will be able to continue the story they are on. Missions can be repeated. The first set of missions require you to play against NPC(s) and to meet certain requirements (ex. get a x4 perfect chain). Later on, some missions will require players to play in rooms with other people and also meet certain requirements (ex. be 2nd place).
Rhythm Holic – In this mode you are advised to practice listening to the rhythm of each song, which per its rhythm, will be represented by the sound. At first you will get the sound of woof and meow for starters. Where the Cat sound will represent the left button, and Dog’s voice will represent the right button.
