We've been playing a lot of Elite Beat Agents lately and the comparisons between it and its Japanese counterpart Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! are unavoidable. We can't really say which we think is superior, as they both have their own distinct charm, but our mind floats back to when we first tried Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! in a very inebriated state, in our hotel room, during E3 2005.As we tried to follow the visual clues on-screen and tap in-time with the beat, we found that such an experience had to be a figment of our imagination. We visualized those cartoons of old, where a thirsty traveler searches the dunes for some sign of water, only to find a mirage and soon snap out of their delusion to find that they have nothing in their mouth but sand. We wondered how much we drank. We then remember how much it was and pretty much settled on it being a drunken fantasy.
But no, the next morning we played it again and it was as good as that first play, if not better. But, more appropriately, it caused us much debate at Fanboy HQ today. We wondered about Elite Beat Agents, and if it was good enough to cause some to import the Japanese game? We then wondered which version people preferred? We wonder a lot.
Do us a favor? Let us know! Did you import Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! after playing Elite Beat Agents (and having it rock your world, natch)? Did you dislike Elite Beat Agents? Did you love EBA, but found the Japanese charm of Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! to be anything but?
Bueller?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-25-2007 @ 10:19AM
Kenny said...
No. I didn't like EBA. Tapping the glass the glass to the beat of bad songs was not fun for me.
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4-25-2007 @ 10:31AM
kian said...
I loved EBA at first I didn't because of the song selection. But it grew on me. I've already ordered Ouendan 2 and I'm hopinmg it's as good or better than Ouendan.
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4-25-2007 @ 10:37AM
Ethan Duffy said...
I loved Ouendan but the cover of 'Walkie talkie Man' one EBA was criminal. Basically, one had good songs, one didn't.
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4-25-2007 @ 10:58AM
Badaro said...
The opposite, actually. Ouendan was so damn good it convinced me to buy EBA (and Ouendan 2, when it's released).
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4-25-2007 @ 11:02AM
Frip said...
I got Ouendan first, and almost didn't get EBA because of the song choices. When I did, I found it to be a much better game than Ouendan anyway. Ouendan 2 will probably trump them both. This is an excellent series. EBA's songs eventually grew on me. Most of them really work well for the game.
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4-25-2007 @ 11:51AM
itsMeMario said...
I got EBA and thought about importing Ouendan, but haven't because I can't read Japanese. Half of the fun of the game is the comics, and I feel like something is lost without a proper translation of the text. Or I could just get off my lazy ass and continue learning Japanese.
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4-25-2007 @ 11:59AM
shaoron said...
err.. let's just say i played both..
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4-25-2007 @ 12:08PM
Melenas said...
When I first saw Ouendan I though "what a stupid thing". Then I started playing and got really hooked on it :) I was looking forward to EBA and bought it as soon as it came out, though I must say it disappointed me a little bit, don't know exactly why: song selection, general gameplay.... The Japanese one just looked and felt better. Now I'm really LOOKING FORWARD to importing Ouendan 2!!!! No doubt about it :)
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4-25-2007 @ 12:19PM
jonesey said...
I imported Ouendan first, then got EBA. I just couldn't get into EBA though. I still play Ouendan, and can't wait for the sequel.
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4-25-2007 @ 12:24PM
phanboy_iv said...
I actually have played both, and I much prefer EBA. It's a bit more polished, and is more varied/eclectic than Ouedan. Ouedan is alright if you want nothing but JPop, but it's really no better than EBA. I think the major draw of Ouedan over EBA for stateside players is it's Japanese exoticism. Because really, EBA is a lot groovier. Yeah.
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4-25-2007 @ 1:02PM
hvnlysoldr said...
I love EBA. The songs grew on me. As demonstrated in Fanboys strip:
http://fanboys-online.com/comic.php?cid=171
I'm interested in importing the sequel but not the first Ouendan.
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4-25-2007 @ 1:06PM
Abscissa said...
I normally love music games, and I normally love Nintendo games, but IMO Nintendo's music games have always been huge disappointments.
EBA'a song selection is nearly as bad as Donkey Konga's, and despite my liking a lot of JPop and JRock, I didn't like the Ouedan songs any better. I also didn't like the storylines, either. And then there's the gameplay, which, after actually playing, I found to be about as compelling as Simon Says or Cooking Mama (ie, not at all). Style is about all either have going for them.
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4-25-2007 @ 2:44PM
wukong said...
I first played EBA. I got completely hooked on it. I knew about Ouendan so I picked up EBA. After I beat most of it, I imported Ouendan. I will import Ouendan 2 but haven't pre-ordered it yet (lack of money).
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4-25-2007 @ 4:28PM
JJ said...
It was as a matter of fact. I was disappointed by Ouendan because the lack of the skip future and EVEN WORSE Japanese soundtrack. That and I paid twice as much for it. I'll still get Ouendan 2 if I come across the money. :) This and Guitar Hero are the only fun rhythm games at the moment.
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4-25-2007 @ 5:48PM
eightcell said...
I imported Ouendan before Elite beat agents made it stateside. I picked up EBA when it came out here in the US but I have to say I prefer Ouendan to EBA, and I'll be importing the sequel.
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4-25-2007 @ 7:52PM
T. Holbrook Walker said...
Played Ouendan and then bought EBA. There are merits to each (Ouendan having the better music selection and saner rhythms, while EBA has more polish and tighter tap controls), and I believe both have enough life in them for one more sequel.
But why is the Guitar Hero series the only rhythm game series in the states with a consistently good soundtrack?
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4-25-2007 @ 9:00PM
Rich said...
I imported Ouendan after reading so much about it. After I got it, I thought it was overrated. Then I got into the harder modes and got addicted to it. I eagerly awaited EBA despite its playlist. I find most of the songs really work in the game (with the exception of Skater Boy and I Was Born To Love You). I agree with phanboy in that EBA is much more polished and just has various improvements that make the experience more enjoyable (skipping intro, replay saves, alternate endings). Plus, Jumpin Jack Flash kills Ready Steady Go (gameplay wise).
I also agree that Ouendan 2 should reign supreme. I will get that once it's out.
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4-25-2007 @ 10:44PM
genghisbunny said...
I'm a big fan of both, but as others have hinted at, the lack of a skip feature in OTE is borderline criminal on the later stages, where you have to replay over and over again to beat them.
I love the different visual styles of the two games, and the quirky storylines are great. After the spit and polish of EBA, I'm really looking forward to OTE2, as I think it will build on the very strong foundations of the two previous games.
For the record, I played OTE first, but ended up getting EBA as well shortly thereafter, so I was playing through them both simultaneously. They ruled my life for weeks.
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4-25-2007 @ 11:16PM
Tredanse said...
It was good enough for me to download Ouendan.
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4-26-2007 @ 12:24AM
Buu said...
I imported Ouendan when I saw a friend play it. This game (and Phoenix Wright) convinced me once and for all to get a DS.
Functionality-wise, EBA beats out Ouendan with a single-cart MP mode available for peeps who don't have the game, more penalizing attacks in multiplayer, and the glorious SKIP function. No more excessive loading time a la Ready, Steady, Go! The dancing animations were hilarious, but some of the song choices were terrible and unmemorable. The scenarios were ridiculous and cheesy as it should be, but I found that some of the levels suffered from the song choices.
I've pre-ordered Ouendan 2, and I'll play an EBA sequel but I won't be expecting much as I'm bias to manly, hot-blooded passion!
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