Page updated: 18 May 2025
It used to be the case where I always played console/mobile games and never arcade games, but ever since late 2024 this has pretty much been flipped around.
I live in Ontario, Canada (near the Toronto area), and for the longest time there were extremely slim pickings for arcade rhythm games. My main spots used to be ITG2 at the Yonge-Eglinton Cineplex (my beloved) and DDR A20 at D&B Vaughan (which is a horrendous location btw). However, in I think October 2024, my desire to play Project Diva Arcade once and for all was finally satiated: Yume opened downtown Toronto, and my life hasn't been the same since.
Additionally, I also went to Las Vegas in March 2025 and got to try a bunch of new stuff there, as they have a nice variety of arcades (two Round1 locations alongside a handful of independent arcades). My personal favourite was Red Note, they're fuckin awesome. I think we spent about 3/5 days of our trip there?
Anyway! On to the game sections:
Wacca
W+ name: 961
My main game!
So this is one I never would've tried on my own, but I had this recommended to me and god DAMN was the person who said I'd like it correct. It's essentially just a dedicated Hardcore Tano*C rhythm game and that's BASED AS HELL.
Wacca is probably the game I'm the best at and have practiced the most, with my current main difficulty range being 12+ to 13. I'm currently nearing 2000 for my rating, and I looove having a good challenge in this game.
This game is actually singlehandedly the reason I became obsessed with USAO's music, and the dude has since skyrocketed to being not only my favourite Tano*C artist, but one of my favourite artists in general, almost rivalling Chaa in play counts now.
Favourite songs:
Sound Voltex
Konasute ID: SV-5952-5669
Nageki ID: 5481-6514
I know this one has a reputation for being a "gooner game" and I was initially skeptical as a result, but hnnnnngggg I fuckin love Sound Voltex.
In addition to the arcade version, I also play Konasute and USC! I have a Pocket SDVX Pico v5 and I love that little thing ='w'= I'd love to get a bigger arcade-sized controller at some point, but my apartment is small and my current budget after the trip and everything is smaller... OTL
Project Diva
箱入り.NET rival code: Y5W86ORLRP
After Vocaloid first blew up in 2007, it wasn't long before someone decided "hm, we should make games about this!" And that someone was SEGA, who announced Project Diva for the first time in 2008.
The first game came out for PSP in 2009, and was soon followed by the sequel and an arcade game in 2010. The game had almost yearly releases of some sort until 2016, though it's kinda sat dormant and untouched ever since (aside from a few ports of Arcade Future Tone, anyway).
And boy oh boy. When I was younger I actually used to hate rhythm games, I never had a sense for them and I thought they were dumb (so yeah, I also never had a childhood with DDR or anything). However, this all changed when my 15 year old self who loved Vocaloid a bit too much (and I still do, if you couldn't already tell) discovered that... they made Hatsune Miku games?!?!?!
So for the first time ever I was invested in a rhythm game, and this began the start of a long, dark descent for me.
This is a weird one where actually the bulk of my play time is on console as for the longest time I didn't have access to any arcade cabs, however I have since become a semi-regular Arcade player, and it's now my preferred way to play.
Some of my favourite original songs:
- 崩壊歌姫 -disruptive diva-
- Absolunote
- VOiCE -DIVA MIX-
- どうしてこうなった
- ナイトメア☆パーティーナイト
- ネガポジ*コンティニューズ
- システマティックラヴ
In The Groove 2
The OG arcade game I got into playing, I have such a soft spot for this one.
This is specifically the cab at Yonge-Eglinton Centre Cineplex. The CRT is a little funny and I have never gotten USB to work (not sure if it's just my stick), but it's my favourite machine nonetheless. Love the song selection and also the fact that I never see another soul when I go (usually midday on a Monday).
UPDATE May 2024: To whoever is maintaining this thing: I love you? I noticed a few months back the right speaker was not working, but as of my last visit (May 2024) it's fine again. BLESS🙏
UPDATE July 2024: The left speaker is now... gone. And the pad is covered in weird gunk that I just slip on, yay -_-
Favourite songs:
Side note: I got to try Stepmaniax while I was in Vegas, and god I wish we had it here. Stepmaniax actually includes some of my favourite ITG2 songs and charts, and the team charts are super fun!! Maybe one day...
Dance Dance Revolution
A20 Plus DDR code: 61669992
The classic. I actually unironically prefer ITG2, possibly due to coping and stockholm syndrome, but DDR is fine too. It's a got a massive song list with a history of very iconic songs, and the gameplay is classic. You can't go wrong with DDR.
I've only played World a handful of times at Round1 in the US, and otherwise most of my time spent is on A20 Plus (specifically the Vaughan cab).
Favourite songs:
Come on, do I really need any other songs? Eternal is forever~
Other games
Ones I enjoy and play enough, but don't have much to say about:
Other ones I've played and am completely neural or even meh on: