DJ Max Fever
Encyclopedia
DJ Max Fever is a music game for the PlayStation Portable
developed by Pentavision
and PM Studios. It was released in North America on January 27, 2009. Although the franchise has made several appearances in Asia, DJ Max Fever is the first DJMax
released in the United States and Europe. The game is a compilation of DJMax Portable and DJMax Portable 2 along with additional features. By decision of PM Studios, it is the only title in the DJMax series with a space between words "DJ" and "Max".
In December 2009, it was announced that PM Studios would publish the game on the PlayStation Network in Europe and North America in January 2010.
In terms of gameplay, DJ Max Fever is similar to other music games like Beatmania
. When the notes are pressed in time, the combo counter will increase, missing the note will cause the combo counter to "break" which will reset the combo. As that combo count climbs, a Fever Gauge will fill. When the Fever bar is full, tapping X will double the combo and score, then triple if it is maintained properly and will continue to increase. On the right side of the screen is the healthbar. Once it's depleted, the game is over. There are 50 songs to go through and there are many varieties of songs to choose from, ranging from Techno to Pop, Rock to Hip-Hop, and more.
Since this is the first DJMax game released in Northern America there was no need for "the Link Disc" function and was removed for the Fever. The game is also toned down to be generally easier to play than most of the other DJMax games. Most mission songs have been changed, and the requirements have been toned down. Also the level cap of 30 for Easy difficulty has been removed and the score penalty for Easy difficulty has been reduced.
Soundtrack of the game is a selected combination of song from DJMax Portable and DJMax Portable 2. There is DJ Max Fever exclusive song called "Hip Hop Rescue" by "D.O" which uses the same music video as "Let Go". "MV" mode now has more videos, and some descriptions have been changed. "Album" has been removed from "Collection". Videos called "GET ON TOP ~No Cut Version~" and "DJMax Portable 2 ~Credits~" have been removed from the "Media" section of "Collection".
Like DJMax Clazziquai Edition and Black Square, DJ Max Fever prevents the transfer of save files, by associating the saved data with the MAC address of the PSP. If a save file is transferred to a PSP either by swapping memory sticks or downloading, the game recognizes the mismatch and refuses to load the game data. This can be circumvented using a MAC address spoofer. However, if the player puts the save file on a different Memory Stick, and uses the Memory Stick on the same PSP the Save File is created on, the data will still load.
30 limited edition versions were available to those who won the DJ Max Fever Contest hosted by Joystiq
on March 16, 2009. Each set contained a copy of the game, soundtrack, art book, puzzle, post cards, and mask. On April 9, 2009 a second limited edition called DJ Max Fever -the crew edition- was available for pre-order by Bemanistyle. DJ Max Fever Crew Edition contained the same as the original along with Technika Playing Cards. Only 125 copies were made but were sold out before being released.
On January 20, 2010, DJ Max Fever was re-released on Playstation Network. The Playstation Network version fixed many of the bugs found in the original UMD version. PM Studios is currently considering what to do with the issue of UMD owners who want the bugfixes, considering that a save file can't be transferred between a UMD game and a downloadable one.
ranked DJ Max Fever 8 out of 10 stating "it isn't perfect, but it is fun." Matt Mirkovich of Gaming Nexus gave it a B- praising the visuals but criticizing the technical issues within the game.
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
developed by Pentavision
Pentavision
Pentavision is a South Korean video game developer. It developed S4 League, DuelGate and the DJMAX series. It is a division of Neowiz Games....
and PM Studios. It was released in North America on January 27, 2009. Although the franchise has made several appearances in Asia, DJ Max Fever is the first DJMax
DJMAX
DJMax is an action-rhythm video game series created by the South Korean company Pentavision Entertainment which belongs to Neowiz holdings. Games feature mostly experimental music and visual art from Korean DJs, artists and composers...
released in the United States and Europe. The game is a compilation of DJMax Portable and DJMax Portable 2 along with additional features. By decision of PM Studios, it is the only title in the DJMax series with a space between words "DJ" and "Max".
In December 2009, it was announced that PM Studios would publish the game on the PlayStation Network in Europe and North America in January 2010.
Gameplay
A player chooses a song, a video will start to play in the background, and the gear screen will display falling notes. As the notes cross the line in the gear, player must hit the corresponding button, to score points. The objective of the game is to earn a high score and ranks in order to unlock more items such as avatars, songs, gears and more.In terms of gameplay, DJ Max Fever is similar to other music games like Beatmania
Beatmania
is a rhythm video game developed and distributed by Japanese game developer Konami and first released in 1997. It contributed largely to the boom of music games in 1998, and the series expanded not only with arcade sequels, but also moved to home consoles and other portable devices, achieving a...
. When the notes are pressed in time, the combo counter will increase, missing the note will cause the combo counter to "break" which will reset the combo. As that combo count climbs, a Fever Gauge will fill. When the Fever bar is full, tapping X will double the combo and score, then triple if it is maintained properly and will continue to increase. On the right side of the screen is the healthbar. Once it's depleted, the game is over. There are 50 songs to go through and there are many varieties of songs to choose from, ranging from Techno to Pop, Rock to Hip-Hop, and more.
Features
The game is mostly based on DJMax Portable 2 but uses the DJMax Portable Black Square Entire Control System, meaning the green notes that appear will stop the music track if missed. There is the auto-correct function, as for example if you hit the ◄ with ▲, your hit will be auto corrected deducting however 20% of the score the note would normally get. 8B mode loading screens don't show the name of the song unlike in DJMax Portable 2. Also some of the "achievement discs" have been changed.Since this is the first DJMax game released in Northern America there was no need for "the Link Disc" function and was removed for the Fever. The game is also toned down to be generally easier to play than most of the other DJMax games. Most mission songs have been changed, and the requirements have been toned down. Also the level cap of 30 for Easy difficulty has been removed and the score penalty for Easy difficulty has been reduced.
Soundtrack of the game is a selected combination of song from DJMax Portable and DJMax Portable 2. There is DJ Max Fever exclusive song called "Hip Hop Rescue" by "D.O" which uses the same music video as "Let Go". "MV" mode now has more videos, and some descriptions have been changed. "Album" has been removed from "Collection". Videos called "GET ON TOP ~No Cut Version~" and "DJMax Portable 2 ~Credits~" have been removed from the "Media" section of "Collection".
Like DJMax Clazziquai Edition and Black Square, DJ Max Fever prevents the transfer of save files, by associating the saved data with the MAC address of the PSP. If a save file is transferred to a PSP either by swapping memory sticks or downloading, the game recognizes the mismatch and refuses to load the game data. This can be circumvented using a MAC address spoofer. However, if the player puts the save file on a different Memory Stick, and uses the Memory Stick on the same PSP the Save File is created on, the data will still load.
Releases
The game was initially set to be released at November 11, 2008 but was delayed to January 27, 2009 due to adding additional features and a new engine called "BS" to be compatible with the PSP-3000.30 limited edition versions were available to those who won the DJ Max Fever Contest hosted by Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
on March 16, 2009. Each set contained a copy of the game, soundtrack, art book, puzzle, post cards, and mask. On April 9, 2009 a second limited edition called DJ Max Fever -the crew edition- was available for pre-order by Bemanistyle. DJ Max Fever Crew Edition contained the same as the original along with Technika Playing Cards. Only 125 copies were made but were sold out before being released.
On January 20, 2010, DJ Max Fever was re-released on Playstation Network. The Playstation Network version fixed many of the bugs found in the original UMD version. PM Studios is currently considering what to do with the issue of UMD owners who want the bugfixes, considering that a save file can't be transferred between a UMD game and a downloadable one.
Reception
Greg Miller of IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ranked DJ Max Fever 8 out of 10 stating "it isn't perfect, but it is fun." Matt Mirkovich of Gaming Nexus gave it a B- praising the visuals but criticizing the technical issues within the game.
See also
- DJMax Portable Hot Tunes - A similar compilation version marketed towards Japan