___ ________ __ ________ __ _______
/ -00_ // __/_ / / /__ // __/_ / / / __ // / /
/ / / / / /_ / / / / / / | | / /
/__/ /__/ /__/\_\ /__/ /__/ /__/__|__| == _/__/ 00
B U S T A M O V E
d a n c e & r h y t h m a c t i o n : p r e m i u m d i s c
F A Q
BustAMove: Dance & Rhytm Action: Premium Disc FAQ
ver.0.01
by J.T.Kauffman
5.nov.99
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
00. Table of Contents.
01. Intro.
02. Contents.
``Disc.
``Package.
03. Differences.
``Cosmetic.
``Game.
04. Stats.
05. Outro.
``Notes.
``Version.
``Legal/Etc.
``Contact.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
01. Intro.
BustAMove: Dance & Rhythm Action is an action packed dancing game where
you and an opponent are staged in a one-on-one dance off. Titled
BustAGroove in North America, this Enix-made game is available in two
different packages in Japan: the first is the more common single-disc
(game only) version. The second is a lesser-known version which contains
two discs: the game disc and the Premium Disc. This document will take a
look at this Premium Disc version, and let you know what you're missing
(if anything) if you only own the game-only version.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
02. Contents.
``Disc Contents.
I must say that I was very disappointed by the contents of the 'Premium'
Disc. The disc contains four items, all movies. Unfortunately, three of
the movies are for other games. The star of the disc is a movie
featuring Hatsumi Morimaga, who is the artist responsible for singing
the theme of Kitty-N's stage. The movie starts off with a bit of the
song, then moves into an all-Japanese interview with the singer. From
there, we are treated to more of the song, including shots from the
studio while she is singing it. Interspaced in all of this is a fairly
odd live-action version of the game, with costumed Japanese dancers
taking the parts of the various characters (Kitty-N, Heat, and Kelly are
all included, amongst others). While an interesting watch the first time
through, there isn't enough content for the non-Japanese speaker to
really warrant another viewing.
The other three movies contained within the disc (accessable by
selecting the down arrow on the first screen) are all for other Enix
products, two of which were released in the U.S. The first is for a game
which North America did not see, and for good reasons. Titled
AstroNoori, this is an odd one. The movie starts out with gameplay, then
moves into an equally odd FMV. The second movie is for the SCEA-released
Star Ocean: Second Story. A fairly well done promo-movie, this file
contains a nice bit of FMV, as well as the usual gameplay sections. If
you don't own the full title, the bits of FMV are enjoyable to view...
Last is a title called Hello Charlie. Released in the U.S. by Altus
(what were they thinking?), and retitled 'Eggs of Steel', this game is
features Humpty-Dumpty as a... plumber? One of the oddest titles to ever
see the light of day in the U.S., this preview again contains a nice bit
of gameplay, as well as a fairly good chunk of FMV. If anything, the
last 15 seconds of the movie make the first few minutes worthwhile...
It's also worth noting that in order to access the above contents, you
have to have a memory card with a BAM save file on it - my save file had
the game cleared with all of the characters, although it may be that you
only need certain ones to watch the four movies (I'd say that a Kitty-N
clear is a pretty good bet...)
``Package Contents.
The full package should contain the following things:
1 BustAMove: Dance & Rhythm Action game disc (Disc 1, SLPS 01232)
1 BustAMove: Dance & Rhythm Action Premium disc (Disc 2, SLPS 01233)
1 BustAMove: Dance & Rhythm Action instruction manual
1 spine card
1 warrantee card
The game ships in a standard two-disc Playstation jewel case, and is
adorned with both front and back artwork.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
03. Differences.
``Cosmetic Differences.
The front cover artwork is identical to the single-disc version, as is
the back, although both are slightly bigger due to the slightly bigger
jewel case. The spine mentions nothing of the difference in version, as
it still simply reads 'Bust A Move Dance&RhythmAction' (or, if you want
to be picky, 'Basuto A Moobu Dansu&RizumuAkushon') in katakana (due to
the design of the jewel case, there is only one spine that can have
viewable contents).
The instruction book is nearly identical to the single-disc version,
with the only real difference being the different product number (SLPS
01232~3) on the back (there may be minor formatting changes to the back
cover, but they are not big enough for me to really notice without
having the single-disc version to compare to). The inner contents of the
book are identical to the single-disc version. Also included in the
package is a warantee card, which I cannot compare to the single-disc
version as my single-disc copy was purchased second-hand and did not
have the warantee card inside.
The game disc is again, nearly identical, with the only real differences
being the different product number (SLPS 01232) and the addition of the
words 'Disc 1'.
The largest difference is the spine card, and even then, it is only a
minor cosmetic difference. There is a large red box with white type
proclaiming the addition of a Premium CD-ROM. The actual spine part of
the spine card has the normal title in katakana, and the back has an ad
for Hatsumi Morimaga single from the game.
``Game Differences.
As for the game disc, there are no real differences at all with the
single-disc Japanese version.
Regarding differences with the US version of the game, there are many,
with the main ones being Hiro's cigarette (he has one in the Japanese
version), Heat's drink (in Japan it's a whiskey flask), Japanese menus
and song lyrics (for certain songs), and the original Kitty-N song. Of
course, the title of the game is also different due to another US game
being named Bust-A-Move.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
04. Stats.
Title: BustAMove: Dance & Rhythm Action
Company: Enix
System: PSX
Format: 2 NTSC/J CD-ROMs
Product#: SLPS 01232~3
Retail Price: JY5800 (without tax)
Release: unknown
Region: Japan
Barcode: T4988601003070
`````````````````````````````````````````````````
05. Outro.
``Notes.
This FAQ is not supposed to be a guide to the game disc of BAM - there
are many out there on the net, and there is nothing that I could add
that hasn't already been typed up by someone else. What I haven't found
is info on this version, and the premium disc. That is the sole reason
that this document exists. It will not ever contain gameplay
hints/moves/etc. If you're looking for something of that nature, I
suggest that you try
http://www.gamefaqs.com and do a search for
BustAMove/Groove.
Something that I would like to try, but currently cannot, is putting the
premium disc in a computer to see what, if anything, is accessable.
Unfortunately, my computer doesn't like PSX discs, so I won't be able to
do this for a while...
Regarding whether or not the premium version is worth it, it is worth it
if you are a) a BAM completist, or b) do not own the Japanese version of
the game yet. If you already have the Japanese version, it's not really
worth your money for the small amount that the Premium disc has on it.
If you only own the US version (BustAGroove), and are a big fan of it, I
do recommend that you pick up either this version or the single-disc
version - the difference in the songs is not huge, but it's enjoyable to
have both versions to play.
Save files from the game-only BAM _are_ compatible with this version.
There is no Premium disc version for BAM2, although there are two
different covers (a green Shorty cover and a red Strike cover, each with
a tinted jewel case. The Strike version is the rarer of the two.)
The going price for this version of the game in Japan is between JY1900
(what I paid) and JY3800. The standalone goes for between JY1900 and
JY3480.
``Version.
ver.0.01: 5nov99
Wrote the entire document in one sitting. Everything added.
``Legal/Etc.
BustAMove: Dance & Rhythm Action, Heat and Hiro, are
copyright/trademarked by Enix. Playstation and PSX are copyright Sony
Computer Entertainment International. All other copyrights are
properties of their respective owners.
This document is copyright J.T.Kauffman 1999 and cannot be reproduced
for profit in any form. It can be freely distributed over the internet
as long as it is unaltered and is only distributed on free (i.e. non-
subscription) sites. If you do choose to post this document on your
site, please email me to let me know.
``Contact.
jt.kauffman
[email protected]
from 5nov99,
Shibata, Miyagi, Japan.
jtk.
