3/5 ★ – cha0sknightmare's review of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA is the first entry in the franchise, originally released as a Japanese exclusive on the PSP. Despite this, it became a popular import title, and over the years, fans have created localized versions of the ISO, which is how I was able to play the game. Project DIVA is a rhythm game where the titular Hatsune Miku performs songs (both singing and dancing) while the player must hit button prompts in time with the music. These prompts fly in from off-screen toward a target, and players must press the corresponding button as close to the target as possible. Maintaining a consistent combo increases the score multiplier, boosting the points for each consecutive hit. At the end of a song, players are graded based on accuracy, and if they achieve at least a passing score, they unlock the next song. My only gripe with the gameplay is that it doesn't take full advantage of the PSP's controls, all inputs are limited to the face buttons; Triangle, Circle, X, and Square.. it feels like a missed opportunity that the PSP's shoulder buttons, D-pad, or even the thumbstick weren’t incorporated, this could have added something extra to the experience. The game features a total of 50 songs, but only 36 are unlocked through the main gameplay. The remaining 14 are exclusive to the game's Edit Mode, a separate feature where players can select their own songs (or use existing ones) and create custom rhythm patterns and button combinations. The music selection here is varied, and while it all falls under the umbrella of super sickly J-pop, there's enough genre diversity to keep things fresh. You’ve got standard pop tracks, ballads, synthy club tracks, and even a few rock songs for good measure. Most songs feature FMVs that accompany the music, these feature decent choreographed dance routines and creative visuals, however can sometimes be a little questionable on the fan service side of things, considering Hatsune Miku looks pretty young. One thing you will find towards the back end of the game, is songs start to feature static pictures for backgrounds instead of the FMV's and this can feel a little cheap and tacky in comparison. You can complete all the songs in about 4–6 hours, after which the challenge shifts to beating your high scores and tackling the harder difficulties. Some of these get insanely hard though and will be reserved for only the hardest of hardcore ryhthm game fans. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA is a solid pick-up-and-play rhythm game, it's a good entry point for someone new to the genre and yet still packs enough punch with its higher difficulties to challenge veterans. If you like or can put up with the super sugar-sweet J-Pop style, and look past the sometimes questionable fan service, then this is a rhythm game worth your time.