Bust a Groove 2

Bust a Groove 2 is a 1999 hybrid music fighting video game developed by Metro and published by Enix for the Sony PlayStation and is the sequel to Bust a Groove. The game was originally released in Japan as Bust a Move 2: Dance Tengoku Mix (バスト ア ムーブ2 ダンス天国MIX, Basuto a Mūbu 2: Dansu Tengoku Mix), and was never released in Europe.

Bust a Groove 2
Developer(s)Metro
Publisher(s)Enix
Namco (arcade)
Artist(s)Hideyuki Tanaka
Platform(s)PlayStation, Arcade
Release
  • JP: April 15, 1999
  • NA: August 22, 2000
[1]
Genre(s)Music/Fighting game
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

The game takes place one year after the previous installment and shares the same overall gameplay. It combines dance moves and special abilities designed to damage the opponent. It also features new songs, new characters and updated costumes for the returning characters retained from the previous game. A third game in the series, Dance Summit 2001 was only released in Japan on the PlayStation 2.

Gameplay
Main article: Bust a Groove Gameplay

Bust a Groove 2's gameplay is still the same from the previous title. However, backgrounds have become crazier; if a player attains high scores, background stages will sport crazy effects and changes (see Fever Time).

"The single-player game has changed - it now features branching paths in the single-player game that move you up to more difficult opponents depending on how well you're dancing. The popularity meter has been axed; now your character has a small border around his or her name that changes in color depending on how well you're dancing. Also, a new meter sits in the middle of the screen that tracks every "Cool, Chillin', and Freeze" event and moves up accordingly. When all three bars are filled to capacity, your points are doubled for every dance move made during that time. In Bust a Groove 2 there is a standard two-player versus mode, a practice mode to help you get accustomed to timing the fourth beat, and a dance-view mode that allows you to cycle through each dancer's individual moves and string them together to make your own dances."

The game also included 2 new commands aside the somersault and "Jammer" (attack) moves. This time, the player could now do a 'reflect move' and guard attacks.[2]

Fever Time

If a player obtains a high score by completing a stage with very few mistakes or missed actions, a special dance solo starring the winner of the round takes place immediately after the round ends. This is known as Fever Time.

In some cases, both the winner and loser may dance together during a special Fever Time. This occurs if both players were able to finish the stage with close high scores.

Characters

The initial characters Heat, Hiro, Kelly, Kitty-N, Shorty,Strike and Capoeira were retained from the original Bust a Groove and removed several of the original game's characters which includes Pinky, Hamm, Frida, Gas-O and the secret character Burger Dog (but makes a cameo in Comet's stage). These were replaced by several new characters: Comet, Bi-O, and Tsutomu.

Some new hidden characters were also introduced into the game, and could be unlocked after completing certain tasks. Pander (also a new addition to the cast) and Robo-Z Gold are the only hidden characters that have a unique dance style, other hidden characters merely mimicked other characters' dance moves.[2]

Main
Name Age Dance Style Jammer Info
Bi-O[2] 47 Zombie Using the axe lodged in his head, he removes his head and throws it at the opponent. He is the father to Gas-O of Bust a Groove. In a fight, Gas-O turned him into a zombie with poison gas and an axe to the head. Gas-O is now in prison.
Capoeira Unknown Capoeira A mysterious satellite appears above the opponent producing rays of light that shrink the opponent causing them to shrink with oversized bobble heads The partner aliens Kiki and Lala who came from the planet Capoeira continue their journey in search of every billboard they come across on Earth.
Comet[2] 16 Rollerblade Dance Using a wand, Comet magically turns the opponent into food or small animals. A waitress working in Sushi Planet who dances on Rollerblades. She has magic powers which allow her to change anyone into any kind of food she wishes. She is Frida's sister from the original Bust A Groove who discovered her powers after being kidnapped and nearly killed after their captors did not receive their demands.

It is possible that she is based in Cosmic Baton Girl Cometto-san which is an old tokusatsu series made by Toho Animation during the 1960s. The Comet character from Cosmic Baton Girl Cometto-san from 2001 has a striking resemblance with Comet.

Heat 20 Break Dancing with floor moves[3] A giant flame comes down on the opponent in the shape of a dragon The poster boy of the game and also a pro-race car driver who gained the ability to produce flames after a racing accident. Traumatized, he turned to the dance floor.
Hiro 21 Traditional Disco with robotic and acrobatic influences[3] An autographed picture of himself crashes is thrown at the opponent A vain computer geek who loves computers and himself. At the disco he transforms into a playboy, but is actually shy with women.
Kelly 24 Soul bump and grind[3] Kelly reveals a megaphone and screams towards her opponent knocking them out An investment banker/secretary who used to have a fetish for infantile objects. Her cross-dressing boss(who she had a crush on) barraged her with his hypocritical distaste for her fetish, driving her away, embarrassed and silent. Tired of being everyone's doormat, she changed her baby outfit, and wore a police officer's uniform that gives her the self-confidence and rush of liberation and power to become the queen of underground dance.
Kitty-N 17 Techno Jazz, Funk[3] A giant crane appears above the opponent and picks them up, later dropping them back down onto the ground Former member of the group Miracle 5. She was in love with her dance instructor Michael Doi, but he is gay. Now Kitty-N is on mission for love.
Shorty 13 Funkadelic with a twist of jazz[3] A giant cake falls and flattens the opponent The daughter of a diplomat father and a supermodel mother, she was lonely until her parents gave her Columbo, a mouse that eats anything in his sights. Now she and Columbo dance all day for fun.
Strike 22 Hip Hop[3] Strike takes out his machine gun and starts shooting; the screen "shatters" if the attack connects. After the events of the first Bust-A-Groove, Strike soon turned over a new leaf while in the state penitentiary for a crime he didn't commit. Upon his release due to good behavior, he and his friends from prison formed the super popular rap group Notorious, sweeping the nation and critics alike with authenticity and hard hitting lyrics. Satisfied with the respect, wealth, and fame that comes from his talents, Strike soon makes his way to the world of dancing to show what he's made of.[3]
Tsutomu[2] 11 Tap Dance / House dance blend A door appears in front of the opponent, opens and a heavy object drops onto the opponent; a crowd laughs if the attack connects. A boy whose father is a professional baseball player and mother is a government official. He is unliked at school because of his mature personality. He has a quick temper, and wets himself when angered. The only person who is kind to him is his teacher, Miss Monroe. He has a crush on her and wants to marry her when he turns 18.

Hidden
Name Age Dance Style Jammer Info and unlocking them
ChiChi & Sally Unknown Capoeira's style Same as Capoeira's Two cute alien siblings who like to stick out their tongues. They can be seen appearing and disappearing in the background of Capoeira's stage. Play with Capoeira and can be on any command or level to get ChiChi & Sally
Columbo Unknown Shorty's style Similar to Shorty's attack but a pudding falls instead of a cake Columbo returns with Shorty. He can also be seen sitting on Shorty's head. Shorty received Columbo as a gift from her parents to keep her company while they are away. Play with Shorty. Can be on any command or level.
Hustle Kong Unknown Hiro's style Same as Hiro's but instead of Hiro being in the picture, it's Hustle Kong Either a large gorilla with boxing gloves or a man in a gorilla costume. In Hiro's stage Hustle Kong can be seen when the level intensifies. Get "Fever Time" on at least the first 4 battles. The way you know what path Hustle Kong is on, is by looking at the first character you battle. And the first character in this path is Strike.
McLoad Unknown Kelly's style Same as Kelly's but he breathes fire instead of shouting in a megaphone Either a human sized kaiju dragon, or a man in a kaiju dragon costume. He can also be found in Shorty's stage. Get "Fever Time" on at least the first 4 battles. The way you know what path McLoad is on, is by looking at the first character you battle. And the first character in this path is Comet.
Michael Doi 34 Kitty-N's style Same as Kitty-N's except the hook Kitty-N uses is blue while Michael's is purple/pink and says "Doi" on it with a heart in place of the o. A stereotypical homosexual male and Kitty-N's dance instructor. Get "Fever Time" on at least the first 4 battles. The way you know what path Michael Doi is on, is by looking at the first character you battle. And the first character in this path is Hiro.
Sushi Boy Unknown Comet's style Same as Comet's A miniature tin-man wearing in-line skates. He is the mascot for Sushi Planet and is seen on the 'Sushi Planet' sign to the restaurant in Comet's stage. Get "Fever Time" on at least the first 4 battles. The way you know what path Sushi Boy is on,

is by looking at the first character you battle. And the first character in this path is Kitty-N.

Hidden boss
Name Age Dance Style Jammer Info and unlocking them
Robo-Z Gold Unknown Vogue and African dance Robo-Z Gold locks onto the opponent and fires a missile A revived Robo-Z, this time with a shining suit of golden metal armor and wings. Play with 10 characters. 2 of them have to be Columbo and Chichi & Sally.
Pander 31 (151⁄2) Butoh Hands appear and flips the screen. The true boss of the game, Pander is very unusual looking and has the most unusual and bizarre level. He appears as a miniature panda at first then transforms into a human-like figure with black tights on his arms and legs and white skin which looks like make-up, one brown loafer, and a pair of white men's briefs with a panda tail painted on. Play with ALL characters or have FEVER in all first 8 stages.

Songs
Song Artist[4][5][6] Character Notes
ZOMBIE HOPPER Kaname Bi-O
ALLEGRETTO BREAK Junichi Tanaka Capoeira/ChiChi & Salli
Magic Tower Tetsutaro Sakurai & Reiko Oda Comet/Sushi Boy
Magic Tower Tetsutaro Sakurai & Lala Moore Comet/Sushi Boy American release
The Heat is On Aaron G. Heat
Let The Music Take Control (Hiro's Groove) Stellar All Stars Hiro/Hustle Kong
Moon Light Party ~ Clap Your Hands DJ Hasebe & Emiko Kelly/McLoad
Moon Light Party DJ Hasebe & Robbie Danzie Kelly/McLoad American release
Hello! Kitty-N Anji Kitty-N/Michael Doi
Hello Kitty Lala Moore Kitty-N/Michael Doi American release
Hizashi no oku no happīhāto (ひざしの奥のハッピーハート)

(Happy Heart Behind Your Knees)

 Aie Shorty/Columbo
Happy Heart In The Sunshine Robbie Danzie Shorty/Columbo American release
Here Comes Trouble Masters Of Funk Strike
Got To Be Happy Yukihiro Fukutomi & Momoko Suzuki Tsutomu
Acid Line Joujouka Robo-Z Gold
Enka 1 Parts of Console & Michiko Kawai Pander

The game also features an opening theme called "High Voltage (Theme Of Bust A Move 2)" by "Stellar All Stars" and an ending theme named "Bust A Groove" by "Black Bottom Brass Band".

Changes

The following are several in-game changes made with the English version of the game. Most noticeable is the change of Hiro's symbol due to the age rating concerns.

  • Aside from changing the language the characters speak to English, several announcer voice overs were still changed though they're already in English (e.g. the voice over in the Mode Select screen). Most likely because of the mentioning of "Bust A Move" which is the Japanese title.
  • The 2 Player Mode (VS) loading screen was changed.
  • The arrows appear to be in different colors while the Japanese only bears yellow arrows.
  • Hiro's character symbol is a cigarette in the Japanese version but instead, was changed into I♥ME for the US version.
  • The TV Show-esque epilogue, "Dancing Heroes", which shows CG endings of the characters and is hosted by a minor character named "James Suneoka" was entirely removed and instead, only the credits are shown. This may be due to the fact that the endings were already in English and featured numerous inappropriate and sometimes offensive jokes. Prior to the endings, James would say jokes such as needing three more bullets to reunite the Beatles or would get Bi-o's axe stuck in his head with blood squirting out.[2]

Development

The game was in development as early as April 1998.[7]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Bust a Groove 2 on their September 1, 1999 issue as being the eleventh most-successful arcade game of the month.[14]

Next Generation reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "Honestly, the whole game just feels like a retread of a past hit with developers who didn't do anything other than milk the success of the last title. The game is definitely fun for a while, but it's really not the evolution of the series we'd hoped for."[13]

Bust a Groove 2, along with its predecessor, is one of the more valuable PlayStation games on the secondary market. For example, complete, used copies sell for more than $100[15] which is more than the original MSRP of $35.99.

References
  1. "Bust A Groove 2 - IGN". IGN. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  2. Ben Stahl. Bust a Groove 2 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2009-03-03
  3. "The Official SQUARE ENIX Website".
  4. Various - Bust A Move 2 Original Soundtrack, 15 April 1999, retrieved 2023-06-25
  5. Bust -A- Groove, the uncredited artists, retrieved 2023-06-25
  6. "Bust -A- Groove, the uncredited artists". Bust -A- Groove. 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  7. Johnston, Chris (April 20, 1998). "Enix Moves Ahead on Bust A Move 2". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 13, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  8. "Bust A Groove 2 for PlayStation". GameRankings. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  9. "Bust A Groove 2 (psx) reviews at Metacritic.com". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  10. プレイステーション - バスト ア ムーブ2 ~ダンス天国MIX~. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.20. 30 June 2006.
  11. "Bust-a-Groove 2". GamePro. November 24, 2000. Archived from the original on 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  12. Smith, David (2000-08-25). "Bust A Groove 2 Review". IGN. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  13. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 55. Imagine Media. July 1999. p. 95.
  14. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 594. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 September 1999. p. 17.
  15. "VideoGamePriceCharts.com". Retrieved 2008-04-08.
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