The FedEx tracking says it was just delivered. I fully plan on sneaking into an unused meeting room and trying it out. OUENDAN IS IN THE BUILDING!

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I guess I'm one of the lucky DSfanboy readers with Ouendan 2 already in my hands :) So here are my first impressions: in general menus and all that are much more polished. For example the map where you choose songs is more tridimensional now, like the map in EBA, and it even has some movement: cars going along streets, trains stopping by the train station, etc.

The second thing that impressed me is that now there are two teams of male cheerleaders: the ones dressed in black we all know so far and another group dressed in blue. Each song "belongs" to one or another team, so once completed you'll see either the black team's or the blue team's flag on the map marking the song as finished (kind of fun rhythm battle between both groups).

Stories take some characters of the first Ouendan, but I find them harder to follow because they display more text now (Ouendan 1 was more graphic-based). Anyway it's not that important. As for the songs, I have listened to 4 or 5 of them so far and they follow the same style as Ouendan 1: fresh, fun Japanese pop-rock. So far I like all of them.

By the way, there's also new features learnt from EBA, like the ability to skip the first part of the song which is really nice to have, specially when you're repeating a song over and over.

Summing up, Ouendan 2 is as good as the the first Ouendan... or even better!! :) Hope this helps relieving your hunger for Ouendan first impressions!

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I still can't get Ouendan 1 OR Elite Beat Agents, let alone the new one!

Cursed PAL territories.

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How did you get you guys get your copy already????

I ordered mine from play-asai and probably won't get it for another week. I can't wait to play it. But at least I have Pokemon to hold me over for another week as I build up my Pokemon to beat the Elite 5.

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@3 Saphion:
Have you tried ordering from www.play-asia.com ?
They ship internationally, and they (naturally) carry Japaneese games like Ouendan (and they carry EBA also)
Or, you could do what I do and buy the stuff off eBay

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I stopped by LiMB here in Okayama to pick up a copy, but they were sold out. Funny thing, though, they actually had a bunch of DS Lites, which seem to be a hot commodity.

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I tried Play-Asia earlier on in the year for Pheonix Wright 2 and Final Fantasy III, I should've gotten Ouendan and Elite Beat Agents too but at the time I knew nothing about them!

Too be honest I'd forgotten all about it.

I shall order them posthaste!

*zoom*

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There are certain games/books/movies/etc where I get overnight shipping. I don't do it that often, but when there's a title like Ouendan 2 I go ahead and spend the extra money.
I had ordered Rhythm Tengoku and Daigasso Band-Brothers last week and they got here today as well (how's THAT for timing!)

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I was just playing it, in comparison to the first american elite beat agents, it's a LOT easier, but they ran with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", thankfullly. I've played about 10 stages, and all the songs are nice, even though i never really listen to japanese music. i give it 2 thumbs up, can't wait for elite beat agents 2.

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Trivia: There is a Mario Bros. refrence about halfway in the game.

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Gameplay:
Essentially the same as the first game. I'd kinda hoped there would be something new, but I'm not really disappointed because it's still good. It seems to be a tad on the easy side, but that can be remedied by just playing your way through to the harder modes.

Music:
I think this selection of music is better than both the first Ouendan and EBA. One of the songs (I don't know the title) doesn't seem synchronized properly to the numbers that you have to tap on that song, but other than that I have no complaints. I'll be looking for the soundtrack to this game eventually. Furthermore, "Monkey Magic" may very well be the best song ever written, and its inclusion makes me happy.

Story:
Many of the individual stories aren't quite as interesting as either Ouendan 1 or EBA, but the addition of sort of a "non-violent gang wars" theme between the two teams of ouendan seems to make up for that.

All things considered, I'd say this game is definitely better than either Ouendan or EBA, but if you were hoping for anything new other than a different song selection you're out of luck. Much like the Donkey Konga or DDR sequals, however, the lack of major changes isn't really a problem, as what worked well before still works.

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I got it yesterday morning...
and yes it is teh awesomeness!!!11!

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I've gone through all the normal stage songs, as with the first one it doesn't take much time to complete at first, especially if you already finished one of the previous two titles in very hard mode, you'll probably never fail a song.
It feels like Ouendan 1 on Elite Beat Agents engine, which is good. Plays exactly like the previous games, nothing new really 'cept for some menu polishing and extras (able rewatch endings and intermission cutscenes along with a few others i still have to explore).
As for the songs choice I must say that I still like Ouendan 1 tracklist morem but maybe it's a matter of affection, I guess I'll come to like these songs as well as I play through the harder modes even though a few play like mediocre jpop songs, a consistent number of others do actually stand out. The beat patterns are great and much more varied than Ouendan 1 so it looks like slightly more fun to me on that perspective.
I think I'll love this game just as much as I loved the first one.

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Game is really fun. Beat Easy, Normal, Hard, and I'm on the final song in Insane mode and just can't beat it. :( I must say it's quite good and I'll be playing this lots as well as still playing lots of the first game, EBA, and Jam with the Band. :D

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