Last year the developers of the hit arcade game EZ2DJ decided to take their knowledge of the rhythm game genre and apply it to an online phenomenon known as DJ Max. 100,000 users later they decided to port the title to cell phones and now to the PSP. If you thought Beatmania was easy and are looking for a new rhythm challenge DJ Max is right up your alley.

Beatmania, the game DJ Max is based on.

When you power up your PSP with DJ Max Portable in it for the first time you’ll be greeted with an extremely high quality Korean anime intro that sets the mood for the game. When the main menu appears you’ll have the option to jump into the main game, listen to the game’s huge soundtrack which includes around 58 songs in OST mode, or watch an anime music video for many of the songs in MV mode. My first thought was that these two extra modes were just fluff additions but boy was I wrong. OST mode lets you control the entire soundtrack like it was two CDs of music in a CD player. It has controls to randomize, repeat, and swap disks. Then if you’re looking for a little visual stimulation while not actually playing the game you can head over to MV mode where 39 amazing anime music videos inspired by the songs on the soundtrack are available to play. Both of these relaxing modes are great after you’ve had your rear handed to you several times in the main game.

DJ Max Portable in action.

The gameplay in DJ Max Portable is nearly identical to Beatmania. Bars fall in a Tetris like rectangle box. Each bar falls in a specific column which is assigned to a certain button. When the falling bar crosses the red line at the bottom of the screen you must push the corresponding button. Every time you press the right button in time you get points and add on to your combo. You also add to the song’s instrumentals to make it feel like you’re actually playing the song. What sets DJ Max apart, besides being Korean, is that it’s much harder than any other rhythm game I’ve ever played. Easy mode has you using 4 buttons, Pro uses 6, and Master throws in the shoulder buttons for 8 total buttons. Personally I have never completed any of the 8 button levels, that’s how hard it is, but Beatmania fans shouldn’t have as much trouble as I’m a sort of DJ game virgin.