Beatmania

About

Beatmania is a rhythm game where you tap keys and spin a turntable to match onscreen cues as they scroll down. The controller mimics a DJ setup with three white and two black keys plus a turntable. Each column of moving bars lines up with a specific input. Timing matters, hit the mark or you lose. Single player runs through the tracklist while split screen lets two players tackle the same song in head to head mode. This 1997 arcade title started Konami's longrunning BEMANI series. Despite just seven tracks it laid the groundwork for later hits. The hardware became a staple in arcades for years. Players still cite its hardware as a key factor in the series' success. Its stripped down song count feels almost quaint next to modern entries but the core mechanics remain sharp.