Oh boy, the arcade days. It feels like only yesterday that we used to trek to the local arcade to throw our quarters (or tokens depending on where you went) down, and spend hours trying to level up in those rhythm games. Most tend to be quite straight forward and require just a few weeks of practice to really refine your skills, but there’s always been one rhythm game that belongs in the upper echelon of them all: DJMax. DJMax Technika was the title that when you walked into the arcade, there was only one person always playing the game and that person was a total god at it. Their masterful ways of sliding their fingers across the touch screen with impeccable timing was a treat to see, and observing their S tier score made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up in amazement. Well, now all of that excitement from the beloved arcade scene has now made its triumphant return back to the console, and this time it’s DJMax Respect for the PlayStation 4. We’ve had our fair share of DJMax titles for various platforms such as the PlayStation Vita and Windows, but now fans of the franchise can test their skills on Sony’s current console. So what’s to expect in the new version? Let’s take a look!

Coined as the “Dark Souls of rhythm games”, DJMax Respect takes everything you’ve loved from its previous titles and revamped everything for the current times. It’s a culmination of every past DJMAX release, including every single song from the series as DLC available after launch. The base game comes packed with an unprecedented number of songs to play: 147 in total with 40 brand new songs created exclusively for DJMax RESPECT. Every song has been remastered and refined to play at a smooth 60fps without skipping a beat, along with giving players the chance to finally take their talents online to battle against other players. This is a first in the series so expect a lot of players to be bringing their A-game once you login. If you want to take on your friends locally just like the good old days then the local play option is also available, giving you multiple ways to play! The achievement system, leaderboards, and collections are more robust than ever with three unique ways to track your progress among players worldwide. This is arguably the most complete DJMax package that you’ll ever find on the market and so, if you’re hungry for some rhythm game fun then don’t hesitate to jump on this one.

Coined as the “Dark Souls of rhythm games”, DJMax Respect takes everything you’ve loved from its previous titles and revamped everything for the current times. It’s a culmination of every past DJMAX release, including every single song from the series as DLC available after launch. The base game comes packed with an unprecedented number of songs to play: 147 in total with 40 brand new songs created exclusively for DJMax RESPECT. Every song has been remastered and refined to play at a smooth 60fps without skipping a beat, along with giving players the chance to finally take their talents online to battle against other players. This is a first in the series so expect a lot of players to be bringing their A-game once you login. If you want to take on your friends locally just like the good old days then the local play option is also available, giving you multiple ways to play! The achievement system, leaderboards, and collections are more robust than ever with three unique ways to track your progress among players worldwide. This is arguably the most complete DJMax package that you’ll ever find on the market and so, if you’re hungry for some rhythm game fun then don’t hesitate to jump on this one.

To give newcomers a brief explanation on what rhythm games are all about, they’re games which place heavy emphasis on the player having to listen to the music while matching the corresponding buttons on screen. Every melody you hear will be different and so understanding the flow of the music will better assist you in ensuring that every note is hit at the perfect time. Some rhythm games have you touch the screen and swipe the notes that pop up on screen but with DJMax RESPECT, you’ll need to make sure you press the correct buttons on the controller. For beginners it’s best to start off with the 4-button tracks because they’re the easiest to play, and generally don’t give you much of a hard time.

They still provide a great deal of challenge along with keen hand-eye coordination but when compared to the 5-button tracks, they won’t cramp you up too much. As mentioned earlier, there are a plethora of tracks to choose from, all of which are different in sound, tempo and overall flow. If you love a more slow paced jazzy track then there’s some, or perhaps you love the more fast paced techno sounds well that’s there too.

Anyone who’s a fan of music will surely find the game to be an entertaining one, but it’s the rhythm game aficionado's who’ll be salivating over the experience because unlike the other titles where you had no online leaderboards to compete on, DJMax RESPECT has it all covered. One great aspect about DJMax RESPECT is that it doesn’t shy away from really testing your abilities and isn’t afraid of making you frustrated. Of course, it’s in a good way because you’re constantly striving to hit every note on time, while making sure to utilize your MAX Boost to double your score. Normal mode truly puts you to the test to see if you’re capable of even moving onto the harder modes, and boy does it really burn you. We’re quite the rhythm game freaks and even while playing on normal mode our ego had to take a back seat because the game just outdid us everytime. We had to fight and truly work for our high score all the while sacrificing our fingers in the process, but ultimately it was all worth it. We still love the genuine feel of walking into an arcade and becoming immersed within the environment, but DJMax RESPECT still gives you a rush of excitement every time you master a song that had been giving you trouble for some time. Luckily, you won’t need to throw away a cup of 100 yen to enjoy yourself since everything now is in the comfort of your own bedroom.

DJMax RESPECT certainly lives up to its name and you truly do need to put some respect on it. It’s a game that brings out the best and worst in you but ultimately provides this rewarding feeling once you’re able to overcome your rhythm game demons. Each song presents its own challenge and in a way is like a boss battle you’d encounter in your favorite RPG, only this time there’s over 100 bosses to deal with and only your reaction time along with coordination are your only weapons. Hours can fly by rather quickly as each song lasts roughly between 2-4 minutes on average, with the more lengthier ones lasting a bit more. With so much to choose from along with the option to play online and compete for the best score, DJMax RESPECT is the complete package for any rhythm game junkie who’s looking for a fresh new experience on the PlayStation 4. It’s not a groundbreaking title by any means but it sure helps you to break a sweat especially when the pressure starts to build and the notes start to move faster on screen. Are you able to handle it? Or will you fall prey to the musical beast and lose control?

DJMax RESPECT is every rhythm game fans dream come to life on the PlayStation 4, and there should be no reason to avoid picking this up on the PlayStation Network. For only $49.99, you’re getting a complete package with all the online features needed to keep you coming back for more, and there’s just too many good tracks to bob your head to that’s truly an experience one can’t ignore. If you enjoyed our review then be sure to show some love and retweet it on Twitter or even better, leave your comments below and chat about it with the community! Be sure to follow us on Twitch to see us live and play some of your favorite titles!

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