Bust A Groove FAQ (Version 1.7)

Bust A Groove FAQ (Version 1.7)
By Matthew King ([email protected] or [email protected])
Written on April 22, 2000 (1.7)
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This FAQ: © 1999, 2000 Matthew King
(Bust A Groove is © 1998 989 Studios, Enix, Avex Trax, Metro, and Frame
Graphics; all other copyrighted material is a copyright of the respective
owners)

This FAQ can be found at:
GameFAQs (http://www.gamefaqs.com/)
Console Gamer (http://www.console-gamer.com/)
About.Com Guide to Video Game Strategies (http://vgstrategies.about.com/)

THIS FAQ IS PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW. ANY BREACH OF THIS
COPYRIGHT, ESPECIALLY PLAGIARISM, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. UPDATES
2. GAME MODES
a. One-Player
b. Two-Player
c. Practice
d. Dance View
3. HOW TO GROOVE
a. Button Functions
b. Following the Beat
4. CHARACTER BIOS
a. Heat
b. Frida
c. Strike
d. Hamm
e. Kelly
f. Shorty
g. Hiro (a.k.a. Hiro-kun)
h. Pinky Diamond
i. Gas-O
j. Kitty Nakajima
k. Capoeira
l. Robo-Z
m. Columbo
n. Burger Dog
5. GAME MECHANICS
a. The Enthusiasm Gauge
b. Solo Sections
c. Jammers
6. SECRETS
a. Secret Characters
b. High-Scoring Moves
c. Miscellaneous Secrets
7. CREDITS
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1. UPDATES

Version 1.7 (April 22, 2000): Added my alternate e-mail address.
Version 1.6 (January 8, 2000): Reformatted the text and added
miscellaneous information here and there.
Version 1.5 (July 18, 1999): Added minute information in "The Enthusiasm
Gauge," "Secret Characters," and in Burger Dog's Character Bio and
changed information in the Credits [don't worry, I didn't remove any
names, I just changed the information so it's less misleading.] :)
Version 1.4 (June 25, 1999): Edited Kelly's Character Bio and added new
information in "How To Groove."
Version 1.3 (June 14, 1999): Changed Heat's Character Bio information and
clarified which "style" I am referring to in the Character Bios.
Version 1.2 (June 11, 1999): Same updates as in Version 1.1.
Version 1.1 (June 8, 1999): Changed information in some of the Character
Bios, added information in "How to Groove."
Version 1.0 (May 30, 1999): First draft.
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2. GAME MODES

a. One-Player
In this mode, you are to beat 12 computer-controlled characters in an
all-out dance-off. Regardless of what character you use, the sixth
competitor will be Capoeira and the twelfth and final competitor is
Robo-Z.

b. Two-Player
This is the "versus mode", a feature popularized by fighting games. You
and your opponent choose your character, then the playing field, and then
you're off to dance.

c. Practice
You choose a character to practice with, and then you are taken to the
stage of that character to practice the dance movements. Every character
has the same movements, so you need not worry about which character you
choose.

d. Dance View
In this mode, you control the dance movements of any character you have
beaten the game with. The fun part is that you can watch the character
dance in all sorts of ways, so I predict this mode won't be boring
anytime soon. You must beat the game with a certain character (for
example, Heat) to unlock his or her dance view.
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3. HOW TO GROOVE

a. Button Functions

Directional Pad: used to perform dance movements
highlights different selections in menus
Square Button: used to dodge an attack
Triangle Button: used to attack
cancels selections in menus
X Button: used to perform dance movements
confirms selections in menus
Circle Button: used to perform dance movements
Start Button: pauses the game
confirms selections in menus
(All the other buttons have no function.)

b. Following the Beat
This is very basic: you press any directions BEFORE the fourth beat, and
you press the given button (X or Circle) ON the fourth beat.

If you need help keeping the beat, you can:
1. watch the faces in the corners of the screen (their tongues
will be fully extended on Beat 2 and their tongues will not
show on Beat 4.)
2. tap your foot on each beat of a measure
3. watch the command you are given (the arrows will flash on Beats
1, 2, and 3 and the button, X or Circle, will flash on Beat 4.)

When you perform a move successfully, you will be given another (set of)
move(s). In a set, the top move is easier, but worth less; the bottom
move is harder, but worth more. If you keep performing the moves
successfully, you will attain a better dancing status, ranging from "3
Combo!" all the way up to the best level, "Freeze!!" You can tell who is
groovin' better because the camera will be focused on him or her.
Whomever has the camera focused on him or her at the end wins!
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4. CHARACTER BIOS

a. HEAT
Age: 19
Dance Style: East Coast Hip-Hop
Jammer: a giant flame that comes down on the opponent
Info: He is the "poster boy" of this game. He used to be a racer, but
hasn't returned to the track because he was nearly incinerated when he
was involved in a terrible accident. Luckily, he made a total recovery
and now wants to use the Groovetron to manipulate fire.

b. FRIDA
Age: 17
Dance Style: California Hip-Hop
Jammer: a wolf's head that she paints, then bites the opponent
Info: She is an artist who lives in a shack. Her ambition is to use the
Groovetron to give life to her paintings. In my opinion, she should sell
her paintings so she can buy a residence that doesn't blow away every
time a storm comes.

c. STRIKE
Age: 21
Dance Style: Gangsta
Jammer: shooting the opponent with his two guns
Info: He is from a notorious street gang, and managed to do something bad
to get in the state penitentiary. He is gathering his fellow prisoners
to form a dance team, called "The Ball and Chain Revue." Strike's
favorite word is "freedom." (I guess he's trying to use his dance team
to get free of the penitentiary.)

d. HAMM
Age: 30
Dance Style: Detroit Modern
Jammer: a giant hamburger that squishes the opponent
Info: He used to be a great dancer, but his love for junk food has left
him somewhat chubby. He became a hamburger joint employee to satisfy his
craving for junk food. He wants to use the Groovetron to help him diet.

e. KELLY
Age: 23
Dance Style: Modern Jazz
Jammer: a burst of energy gathered in her rattle
Info: She is a secretary who has a fetish with everything infantile
(related to babies), and needs (and wants) to find a man. She bought her
rubber suit to dress in when she is a guest at secret parties. She seems
worried about her new rubber suit; this may be due to its cost.

f. SHORTY
Age: 12
Dance Style: Candy Hip-Hop
Jammer: giant pieces of candy that fall on her opponent
Info: She is the daughter of a DJ father and a supermodel mother.
Obviously, Shorty lives in a rich family with nothing better to do than
dance with Columbo, her pet mouse. Her love for outdated music drives
her to madness at a flea market, where she frantically searches for 8-
track tapes.

g. HIRO (a.k.a. Hiro-Kun)
Age: 20
Dance Style: Classic 70's Disco
Jammer: an autographed picture of himself
Info: Hiro is the narcissistic disco-loving character. He lives in a
tiny apartment where he works with his computer (probably typing up a FAQ
for disco), until Saturday night, where his playboy antics really take
off. Don't even begin to try to match his Saturday night standards--he
is truly one of a kind. (If you play as or go against him, you will see
that he has MANY fans that yell "Hiro-Kun!" at him. Maybe that's what
the pictures are for!)

h. PINKY DIAMOND
Age: unknown
Dance Style: Classic 70's Motown
Jammer: giant tarot cards that curse the opponent
Info: She is a stripper, fortune-teller, and professional contract
killer. It's no wonder she's so weird. She has the power to see into
your lover's heart (very handy to see if your lover is cheating on you)
and claims to know you better than you know yourself. Your secrets are
nowhere being close to safe near her!

i. GAS-O
Age: 15
Dance Style: Techno
Jammer: trapping the opponent in a gas chamber
Info: Gas-O first became interested in becoming a scientist when he was
eight. Now at 15, he has accomplished several outstanding tasks,
including consulting for NASA, logging time on a particle accelerator,
and studies the gaseous elements in his laboratory. Gas-O hopes to use
the Groovetron to develop the ultimate gas.

j. KITTY NAKAJIMA
Age: 16
Dance Style: Vogue Club
Jammer: a burst of energy she throws at her opponent
Info: This lovable TV star is on break from the hit TV show "Litterbox
Warriors 5." She wants to use the Groovetron's power to make her the
ultimate TV star. She has bought out the top floor of some building and
converted it into her private dancing studio, just for the purposes of
attracting more people.

k. CAPOEIRA
Age: Unknown
Dance Style: Updated African Tribal
Jammer: a wall of energy that dazes the opponent
Info: Capoeira, individually known as Kiki and Lala, have come to Earth
to collect Japanese billboards to construct a giant fan. (Why would
anyone, or anything, need a giant fan?) They are also here to display
the power of the Groovetron, their special "dancing energy" invention.

l. ROBO-Z
Age: Unknown
Dance Style: Techno Beat
Jammer: a blast of shock-inducing waves
Info: Robo-Z was constructed by a tyrannical organization only known as
"Secret X." It was built for the sole purpose of harnessing total power
of the Groovetron. It is 50 feet tall on the final level, but on other
stages, it is very short. I believe this robot has a gender-confusion
problem because it dances like a female, yet it has an extremely deep,
masculine voice!

m. COLUMBO
Age: Unknown
Dance Style: Candy Hip-Hop
Jammer: giant pieces of candy that fall on his opponent
Info: Columbo is Shorty's pet mouse. It's quite obvious that Columbo
takes after Shorty because of the way he dances. I think it is cool to
have a dancing mouse in this game--something you don't see every day
(unless you're a Bust A Groove addict like me!)

n. BURGER DOG
Age: Unknown
Dance Style: Detroit Modern
Jammer: a giant hamburger that squishes the opponent
Info: Burger Dog is the dog that runs the restaurant in Hamm's stage.
Like Columbo, he takes after his respective owner (in this case, Hamm)
because of the way Burger Dog dances. I tend to think of Burger Dog as
an exciting treat for the experienced, like Columbo. It's fun to watch
him dance and win, like Columbo. (Hmm...notice any similarity?)
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5. GAME MECHANICS

a. The Enthusiasm Gauge
This is a very important mechanic because it determines what moves you
can perform. It will start out being little and dark green. As you
dance successfully, it will fill and turn lighter shades of green. When
it is completely full, it will turn yellow and red.

When the Enthusiasm Gauge is dark green, you can only do basic moves
(such as Up, Down, X, and Up, Right, Circle). As it turns lighter shades
of green, you will be given sets of moves (7 different sets of moves to
be precise, with a set being 8 moves) that are harder to execute. Only
when the Enthusiasm Gauge is yellow and red is when you can execute the
hardest moves and get the most points.
(For an explanation on moves, see Section B under "How to Groove.")

b. Solo Sections
These sections are your chance to shine without interruption from the
opponent. You will always be given a set of moves at the first part of
your solo. You will be given only one move for each part of your solo
based on which part of the set you executed. You and your opponent
cannot attack each other during this time. During these sections, you
can use secret moves called High-Scoring Moves.
(See Section B under "Secrets" for an explanation of High-Scoring Moves.)

c. Jammers
These special Groovetron-generated powers are designed to totally screw
up your opponent's groove and enhance yours. I have listed each dancer's
attack with their Character Bio. To attack, you press the Triangle
Button on the fourth beat. However, if you are about to be attacked, you
can dodge the attack by pressing the Square Button on the fourth beat.
If you dodge an attack successfully, you will be awarded with a higher
Enthusiasm Gauge status.

A good time to attack is two measures before an opponent's solo. (Why
two measures? You need to start there because it takes one measure, or
four beats, to launch an attack.) If the attack is successful, your
opponent will not be able to perform the first two measures of his or her
solo, which means he or she will not get full credit for the solo. Then
you can use your High-Scoring Move to totally blow them out of the water!
^_^

Unfortunately, the Attack 2 in the Dance View cannot be used in
competition play. They are only for show.
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6. SECRETS

a. Secret Characters
In this section, I will explain how to get the four secret characters:
Capoeira, Robo-Z, Columbo, and Burger Dog.

CAPOEIRA: Beat the game on Normal with any character.
ROBO-Z: Unlock Capoeira, then beat the game on Normal with any character.
COLUMBO: Unlock Robo-Z, then beat the game on Normal with Shorty.
BURGER DOG: Unlock Robo-Z, then beat the game on Normal with Hamm.

b. High-Scoring Moves
In this section, I will give you the starter move to the chain of High-
Scoring Moves. (The reason for me giving you only the starter move is
that it makes typing this FAQ easier.) These starters will unlock the
rest of the chain. Remember that you can only perform these moves during
your solo section. Moreover, a little reminder: if you and your opponent
are tied when going into a solo, whoever performs more of their High-
Scoring Move chain successfully will win the tie.

HEAT: Up, Down, Up, Circle
FRIDA: Up, Down, Up, Circle
STRIKE: Up, Up, Left, Circle
HAMM: Down, Right, Up, Circle
KELLY: Right, Left, Right, Circle
SHORTY: Down, Down, Down, Circle
HIRO: Right, Up, Down, Circle
PINKY DIAMOND: Up, Left, Up, Circle
GAS-O: Left, Down, Right, Up, Circle
KITTY NAKAJIMA: Down, Down, Right, Circle
CAPOEIRA: Right, Up, Right, X
ROBO-Z: Up, Down, Left, Right, Circle
COLUMBO: Down, Down, Down, Circle
BURGER DOG: Down, Right, Up, Circle

c. Miscellaneous Secrets
These are the rest of the secrets that don't fit in the first two
sections.

ACTIVATE DANCE VIEW: Beat the game on Easy with the character you want
the Dance View for.

ALTERNATE COSTUME: When selecting a character, hold the Select Button and
press X.

WINNING POSE CLOSE-UP: When you win a stage, hold the Circle Button.

LEVEL SKIP: Anytime during a song, hold the L2 Button and press Select.
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7. CREDITS
I would like to credit the following people for information found in my
Bust A Groove FAQ:

Henry LaPierre: for the High-Scoring Move chain starters

Kao Megura: The Legendary King of FAQs; my FAQ format is based on his.

Jennifer Reitz: for the Character Bio and the Dance Style information for
each character

enigmaopoeia: for miscellaneous information; go read the Bust A Groove
"Did You Notice?" Guide she has prepared

GameWinners Web Site: for information in the Secrets Section except for
the High-Scoring Moves (see the Credits
for Henry LaPierre)

989 Studios Bust A Groove Web Site: for additional information on
the characters

IF I HAVE NEGLECTED TO CREDIT ANYONE, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT
[email protected] OR [email protected] AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU
GET THE CREDIT YOU DESERVE.
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Hey, party people, that's the end of my FAQ! Now it's time to get your
groove on and BUST A GROOVE!!!