Uta Macross Sma-Pho De-Culture (歌マクロス スマホDeカルチャー) was a rhythm game developed by DeNA for smartphones. The game was released on August 3, 2017 ended service June 28, 2022.
Gameplay[]
Uta Macross is the first true rhythm game for the Macross series. Macross games were previously mostly 2D and 3D shooters, with music as a side element to the gameplay. Uta Macross utilized 3D models of various diva / idol singers that sing and dance onscreen through a mode called "Simulation Live." Basic gameplay during this mode involves tapping the screen in accordance to four rows of rhythm notes falling from the back of the screen, while backgrounds feature scenes from the series animation, along with choreographed dances of characters and dialogue of characters encouraging the player.
Each diva / idol and Valkyrie grants special bonuses during gameplay and help build up the player's "Bio Fold Wave" in order to defeat the Stage Bosses and access Diva / Super Diva mode. New divas / idols, plates, costumes and songs are unlocked via achieving a high rank during Missions, "Ticket Events" and various other game modes. Players can also upgrade their divas/idols via increasing their "diva level," which would unlock Soul, Voice, Charm, Life, Support and Fold Wave as well as unlock SNS chats that reward song crystals.[1] A "gacha" mechanic is available to randomize loot drops where players can unlock unique items such as "Plates." Meanwhile, special items can also be purchased via the Chaos store using in-game currency.
Rhythm Game Mechanics[]
Uta Macross utilize rhythm game mechanics that are very similar to other rhythm games on smartphone and tablet systems. Circular notes will drop from the top in accordance to the beat, instrumentals, or vocals of the song and players must time the proper inputs depending on the note type on the area the note will eventually drop down to. As players improve, the game becomes more centered around consistent performance and properly timing inputs as they will inevitably lead to higher scores and better rewards.
There are four main types of notes that may appear in a live performance:
- Regular notes - White circles that simply require players to properly time and tap.
- Long notes - Blue circles with a trailing line that to another connecting blue circle. Players must time, tap, and hold down their finger on the first blue circle until the other circle reaches the tapping zone in which players must release their finger. The timing of both the initial press and the release are important with maintaining the players' combo count.
- Sliding notes - With the addition of six lane beat maps, players will encounter a new type of long note that requires them to hold down and shift left and/or right to the next connecting circle.
- Flick notes - Pink circles with an arrow attached to it. Players must produce a flicking motion starting with the area the note is expected to fall and flicking towards the direction designated by the arrow.
- Double notes - A combination of two of any above types of nodes connected with a line. Players must perform the actions designated by the notes at the same time at the expected areas of input. These notes either emphasize patterns in lower difficulties or attempt to throw off players in higher difficulties by giving unexpected note pairings.[2]
Divas[]
Cameo Only[]
The following characters replaces or accompany the center diva but do not have their own stats and are unique to one song
- VF-31J Siegfried (Rune ga Pika tto Hikattara during April Fools' 2018)
- Sharon Apple (INFORMATION HIGH and Voices if unit equipped with YF-19, YF-21 or VF-19EF/A)
- Ōsanshōō-san (Ranka and Brand New Peach during Aprils Fools' 2019)
Plates[]
Live[]
SNS[]
Gacha[]
- New Player Gacha
- Stones Gacha
- Free Gacha
Mecha[]
Super Dimension Fortress Macross[]
- VF-1J Valkyrie VF-1S Valkyrie VF-1D Valkyrie (Hikaru Ichijo Custom)
- VF-1J Valkyrie (Maximilian Jenius Custom)
- VF-1J Valkyrie (Milia Fallyna Jenius Custom)
Macross Plus[]
Macross 7[]
- VF-19 Excalibur Custom VF-19S Excalibur VF-19P Excalibur (Basara Nekki)
- VF-11MAXL Thunderbolt Custom (Mylene Flare Jenius)
- VF-17D Nightmare (Gamurin Kizaki)
Macross Frontier[]
- VF-25F Messiah YF-29 Durandal VF-25 Messiah VF-25F Super Messiah VF-171 Nightmare Plus (Alto Saotome)
- VF-25G Messiah VF-25G Super Messiah (Michael Blanc)
- RVF-25 Messiah VF-171 Nightmare Plus (Luca Angelloni)
- VF-25S Messiah VF-25S Super Messiah (Ozma Lee)
- VF-27γ Lucifer (Brera Sterne)
- VF-19EF/A (Isamu Alva Dyson)
Macross Delta[]
Development[]
歌マクロス スマホDeカルチャー PV【歌マクロス公式】
DeNA officially announced the game's development on On March 21, 2016. A teaser was released on August 28, 2016 during broadcast. The commercial featured a dancing CG Freyja Wion and Minori Suzuki narrating what songs will be featured in the game. The trailer also featured several new artwork of classic Macross characters, along with sample gameplay footage.[3] A playable demo was released for attendees of Walküre's 2nd Live "Walküre ga Tomaranai" (Can't Stop Walküre) at Yokohama Arena (Yokohama, Japan) on January 28th, 29th, 2017. The game was delayed from an original release of Spring 2017 to Summer 2017.[4]
Release[]
The game received a closed beta testing from June 22 through June 29, 2017. It was officially released on August 3, 2017 for Android and iOS smartphones, and could be accessed via Japanese Play Stores. [5] By August 22, 2017, the game had reached one million downloads. Special login bonuses, along with an exclusive AXIAのFLASH event featuring Kaname Buccaneer were available until September 4, 2017 for players to commemorate its success.[6] On March 2, 2018, the game achieved another milestone of two million downloads. Players could access the exclusive Niji-iro Kuma Kuma event to acquire Ranka Lee's "Twinkle Magic" costume to commemorate the milestone.[7]
Gallery[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- A beta version of the game was released on June 22, 2017, although it was only available for Android smartphones.
- Having certain idols / divas perform perform certain songs will allow them to perform unique dance moves, such as Basara Nekki doing Ranka Lee's signature "deculture" hand signal.
- Mylene Flare Jenius' original dialogue voice actress, Tomo Sakurai, retired before Mylene was introduced to the game. As a result, she is voiced by Aya Hirano in the non-singing parts of the game.
- The voice actor who played Guld Goa Bowman, Unshō Ishizuka, was replaced after his death at age 67 on August 2018.[8]
- The game holds login bonuses during special events, such as the theatrical premiere of Macross Δ: Passionate Walküre and live concerts.
- Macross Plus' Sharon Apple appears during INFORMATION HIGH, but is not actually playable.
References[]
- ↑ Uta Macross Diva Unlocks Tutorial
- ↑ Uta Macross Basics
- ↑ Famitsu App Debut of Walküre and Minmay singing (August 29, 2016)
- ↑ [1]Animate Times - Distribution delayed to Summer 2017, five CG models released to the public!
- ↑ Uta Macross Officially Released!
- ↑ 4Gamer - Uta Macross achieves 1 million downloads!
- ↑ 4Gamer - Uta Macross reaches 2 million downloads!
- ↑ Unshō Ishizuka passed away at age 67
External links[]
- Uta Macross Official Website
- Uta Macross Official Twitter
- Uta Macross Wiki on Gamematome.jp (Japanese)
- Uta Macross Wiki (English)