Pop'n music Glossary

A list of terms/modes in pop'n music. English name listed to the left, with the Japanese name to the right if applicable.

5-Button

First Game: pop'n music 5

The former lowest rated difficulty level in pop'n music. It uses the center 5 buttons exclusively, with notecounts typically having around 100-400 notes. 5-Buttons was removed in pop'n music Sunny Park and replaced by EASY. Most songs from pop'n music 5 through pop'n music 20 fantasia had a 5-Buttons chart, and songs present in pop'n music portable and its sequel also had 5-Button HYPER charts.

BAD

First Game: pop'n music

A note either hit too late, or not at all. Hitting notes when you're not supposed to can also get you BADs. You get no points for BADs.

BATTLE MODE

First Game: pop'n music 6

A mode where you and one other person play simplified charts of only three buttons each (the white, green, and yellow buttons on both sides of the controller), with the goal being to get the most points across three stages. Score enough points and you can unleash various OJAMAs at certain levels, with 4/MAX being the highest. Songs originally only had one set of Battle charts, but beginning with pop'n music 8, Battle HYPER charts were added. (Note that not all pop'n music songs, even in the latest games, have HYPER BATTLE charts.) This mode was not in pop'n music 6 CS, but it was present on all the PlayStation 2 installments save pop'n music Best Hits!. pop'n music 7 CS and pop'n music portable have only one set of Battle charts available. Battle charts do not appear in pop'n music portable 2, the LONG songs in pop'n music 9, or the URA charts in pop'n music 11. They were also absent from the licensed song AC版ディズニー ツムツムメドレー.

CHALLENGE MODE

First Game: pop'n music 5

An arcade mode where you can gather points determined by the difficulty level of the song (i.e. a Level 13 song cleared will earn you 13 points), as well as using mods called OJAMAs. Netting points was also the only way in the earlier pop'n music arcade games with CHALLENGE MODE that let you play EX charts (via EXtra Stage). From pop'n music 5 through 7, OJAMAs had to be set before you chose a song. (A maximum of two can be set.) Starting with pop'n music 8, though, OJAMAs are set after choosing a song. (This was also the first game to let you set a permanent OJAMA through the song, worth 1.5 times the usual amount.) In some (earlier) games, getting a certain amount of points unlocks the EXtra Stage or a special pic, though never both in the same round. It was combined with CHOU-CHALLENGE MODE in pop'n music 20 fantasia as NORMAL MODE.

CHOU-CHALLENGE (超CHALLENGE) MODE

First Game: pop'n music 13 カーニバル

An arcade mode that plays similar to CHALLENGE MODE, but has COOLs on the entire game. Certain OJAMAs can only be used in this mode, and the point requirements for an EXtra Stage are much, much higher. It was combined with CHALLENGE MODE in pop'n music 20 fantasia as NORMAL MODE, and COOLs were added to the core game across all modes except BATTLE MODE and EASY MODE.

Combo

First Game: pop'n music 3

How many GOODs/GREATs/COOLs you have going before you get a BAD or miss a note. From pop'n music 3 through 6, the combo was displayed in the top center of the screen. Starting with pop'n music 7, though, they are directly displayed above the border line of the individual note hit. Starting with pop'n music 9, the combo slowly fades out after a note is hit.

COOL

First Game: pop'n music 6

A note that registers more accurate than a GREAT. First introduced in courses, but later spun off into its own mode in pop'n music 13 カーニバル called CHOU-CHALLENGE (超CHALLENGE) MODE. COOLs can also be played in FREE MODE in pop'n music 14 FEVER! CS; scores with/without COOLs are stored separately. (pop'n music 13 カーニバル CS lets you play with COOLs on in FREE MODE, but doesn't display the scores in Records.) In pop'n music portable, its sequel, and pop'n music 20 fantasia onwards, COOLs are always on.

COURSE MODE

First Game: pop'n music 6

Courses are an arcade mode of play where you play four predetermined songs back to back on a single gauge. The gauge does not go up during play. An empty gauge results in your immediate disqualification, though you can still enter your name if you got a high enough score. In the pop'n music CS games 6 through 8, certain songs can only be played in GAME/FREE Mode by playing them in courses. Though dropped in pop'n music 18 せんごく列伝, courses were revived years later in pop'n music ラピストリア. They did not, however, return again in pop'n music éclale.

Prior to courses, there was a mode in pop'n music 3 which allowed you to play through three songs back-to-back with HYPER notecharts. This mode was never used again due to HYPER charts being added to the core game the following installment.

EASY

First Game: pop'n music Sunny Park

A new difficulty level introduced in pop'n music Sunny Park. This mode replaces the old 5-Buttons difficulty level and features simple charts that use 3 to 9 buttons. Not every song has an EASY chart, though every song introduced from pop'n music ラピストリア onward has one.

EASY MODE

First Game: pop'n music 12 いろは

Formerly known as ENJOY MODE, this mode allowed new players to play simple 5 or 9 Button charts from a small selection of licensed and KONAMI original songs. It was renamed EASY MODE in pop'n music 20 fantasia, the last game featuring it.

EXCITE MODE

First Game: pop'n music

An early arcade mode where a CPU rival would throw at you certain mods/distractions throughout the song. EXCITE was removed in pop'n music 5, though some of its mods live on as OJAMAs.

EXtra (Stage)

First Game: pop'n music 5

EX is the name given to the fourth (and highest) difficulty level in the game, typically highlighted in red on the music select screen. EX(tra) stage is rewarded for passing three songs without fail & ranking a certain amount of points up in CHALLENGE MODE. Songs in this category tend to be much harder than their HYPER counterparts, ranging from Levels 29 to 50 (maximum). This mode was originally named because EX charts could only be played through EXtra Stage. Starting with pop'n music 8, EX charts can be played in the arcade on any level after being unlocked.

Note that until pop'n music 17 THE MOVIE, not every song introduced had an EX chart. Also, over the years older pop'n music songs prior to the EX chart's introduction have been given EX charts.

From pop'n music ラピストリア onwards, EXtra STAGE is PASELI-only. You need to clear five songs, each spelling a letter in the word EXTRA, to unlock it at the end of your round of play

Also, up until pop'n music 10 CS, all EX charts had to be unlocked one by one in CHALLENGE MODE in the CS games. From 10 CS onwards, though, they're all unlocked after you complete the unlocking system of the respective CS game. (Certain EX charts unlock after certain upgrades are reached in the arcade games as well.)

FREE MODE

First Game: pop'n music CS

A console-only mode where you can play any song on any difficulty level without stage number restrictions. Up until pop'n music 9 CS, songs had to be played in ARCADE MODE before being playable in FREE MODE (except for one or two default beginner songs that varied in each game).

FULL COMBO

First Game: n/a

Every note hit in a song was either a GOOD, GREAT, or (depending on the mode) COOL, with no additional missed notes. From pop'n music 13 カーニバル through 19 TUNE STREET, a message displaying "NO BAD!" appears at the end of a song for those who obtain a full combo. (Beginning with pop'n music 20 fantasia, it just says "FULL COMBO" like in beatmania IIDX.)

In current versions, a FULL COMBO on a song is indicated by a silver medal. In most of the earlier AC/CS games, a little mark with two crowns/onions/whatever are displayed next to the song with a FULL COMBO.

GOOD

First Game: pop'n music

A note that barely hits the lane. Prior to pop'n music ラピストリア, a GOOD was only worth 20% the amount a GREAT is without COOLs on, and only 1/10 the amount of a COOL with COOLs on. Currently, they're worth 40% the amount of a COOL.

GREAT

First Game: pop'n music

You hit the note perfectly/near perfectly, resulting in 100% possible score for that note without COOLs, and 50% with them on. As of pop'n music ラピストリア, GREATs are worth 70% the amount of a COOL.

GUIDE SE

First Game: pop'n music うさぎと猫と少年の夢

An option that makes a sound based on the judgement of notes hit during play. The better the judgement, the louder the hit sound will be. For all judgements except COOL, the hit sound is different depending on whether notes are hit FAST (above the judgement line) or SLOW (below the judgement line). FAST is represented by a brief sharp sound, while SLOW is represented by a softer sound.

If a note is not hit, it will not make a sound.

HELL

First Game: pop'n music 6

The name of a course in pop'n music (usually) containing the four hardest new songs in the game. It is often one of the final unlocks in any given pop'n music game. Since pop'n music 8, HELL courses have had exclusively EX charts in them. It is also the name of an OJAMA that punishes you severely for missing a note when activated. Courses, including HELL, were removed in pop'n music 18 せんごく列伝, but were revived in pop'n music ラピストリア.

HI-SPEED

First Game: pop'n music 2.

The rate a song's notes scroll - the higher the mod, the faster they descend. Originally only double speed was available, but speed mods were upgraded in pop'n music 6 with 3X and 4X, and in pop'n music 9 with the hidden 6X. (5X was eventually introduced in pop'n music 11, where it was also hidden. In addition, pop'n music 9 CS had 8X, the only PlayStation 2 pop'n music game to ever have that speed mod.) Starting with pop'n music 15 ADVENTURE, speed mods also come in increments of 0.5 up to 6X. In pop'n music ラピストリア, speed could be in increments of as little as 0.1, and now go up to HI-SPEED 10.

Note that OJAMAs set to a certain speed mod are compounded into the speed mod. For example, using a 2X OJAMA and turning on HI-SPEED 3 will result in a scrolling rate of 6X.

HYPER

First Game: pop'n music CS

A level of difficulty higher than NORMAL, but less than EX. They are highlighted in yellow on most games' music select screens. Songs in this level range between 10 to the high 30's. (The highest to date is Concertare, a 48.) Originally a CS exclusive level of play, HYPER charts weren't introduced in the arcade until pop'n music 3, and even then they were only playable in HYPER mode (a course consisting of HYPER-only notecharts). HYPER notecharts became available for normal arcade play in pop'n music 4. Since pop'n music 6, all new AC/CS songs (except for a few licenses in pop'n music 10) have had HYPER charts.

Over the years some older songs have been given HYPER charts as well.

LONG songs

First Game: pop'n music 9

Longer versions of pre-existing pop'n music songs, ranging from 3 to 5 minutes long. Due to their length, a LONG song takes up two stages, except for the long version of Homesick Pt.2&3. All other LONG songs were removed in pop'n music 16 PARTY♪. LONG songs do not have Battle charts.

MAX COMBO

First Game: pop'n music 3

The longest line of COOLs/GREATs/GOODs in a song before you break your combo with a MISS or BAD.

Note that up to pop'n music 16 PARTY♪, the highest combo you could gain was the total notes of a song minus 1. Since pop'n music 17 THE MOVIE, though, this has been dropped, and the highest combo you can get in the song is the exact amount of notes in a song.

Mini

A term used by players for the small pop'n music controllers (sometimes derogatorily) for the PlayStation/Dreamcast/PlayStation 2 games, originally black. The controller was completely redesigned (and re-colored white) for the release of pop'n music 10 CS. Minis are also fully compatible with the beatmania IIDX CS games, even the U.S. version; the two farthest left buttons are used for the turntable (the top being used for upwards, and the bottom for downwards).

NAVIGATE MODE

First Game: pop'n music 20 fantasia

NAVIGATE MODE is a mode exclusive to pop'n music 20 fantasia that lets you create a course based on a list of preferences (such as artist, level, genre and the mood of the song).

Net Taisen Mode (NET対戦)

First Game: pop'n music 12 いろは

An arcade mode where you play against two other players online, challenging each other for the highest scores in a song. Certain OJAMAs can be unlocked for play in this mode depending on your performance. In the PlayStation 2 installments, TAISEN MODE is only playable against two CPU opponents, as the PlayStation 2 pop'n music games cannot go online.

NORMAL

First Game: pop'n music

Occasionally known as 9-Button / 9-Line / 9KEY, it is the lowest level default chart that uses all 9 buttons on the controller. It is usually highlighted in green in the games' song select screens. Difficulty levels range from 9 (monde des songe) up to 37 (Mychronicle). All songs in pop'n music have a NORMAL chart.

NORMAL MODE

First Game: pop'n music 20 fantasia

The regular game mode in the arcade pop'n music series since fantasia's removal of both CHALLENGE and CHOU-CHALLENGE MODEs. Like the latter, it always has COOLs enabled.

PARTY

First Game: pop'n music

An arcade mode in which certain mods would be forced upon you if you hit one in a song. This mode was removed in pop'n music 6.

PERFECT(!)

First Game: n/a

Every note hit was a GREAT, earning you a perfect score of 100,000 (or GREAT and COOL if COOLs are on). Starting with pop'n music 13 カーニバル, a message displaying "PERFECT!!" appears for those who do this at the end of a song, along with the result screen announcer congratulating you by saying "Marvelous!"

In current versions, a PERFECT on a song is indicated by a Gold star. In most of the earlier AC/CS games, a little mark with three crowns/onions/whatever are displayed next to a song with a FULL COMBO.

pop-kun

First Game: pop'n music

The official name of the multi-colored notes that drop from above in a song.

RGB Mode

First Game: pop'n music 6

A mode exclusive to pop'n music 6 where players can add additional red, green, and blue buttons to NORMAL and HYPER charts to make them more difficult. This mode is not present in the CS counterpart of pop'n music 6.

Spicy Gauge (辛ゲージ)

First Game: n/a

An unofficial term used by players to refer to the life gauge used in songs with 1537 or more notes, which is way harder than normal to increase and obtain a full gauge.

UPPER

First game: pop'n music peace

UPPER charts (denoted by an "UPPER" stamp on their banners) are alternate charts for songs, much like pop'n music 11's URA charts (see below). Until the release of pop'n music UniLab, UPPER charts did not retain their original backgrounds.

URA

First Game: pop'n music 11

Debuting in pop'n music 11, URA songs are old pop'n music songs with brand-new charts and color palettes for the characters in the songs. Most of them are more difficult, but a few songs are slightly easier due to more modern flowing charts. Some of the URA charts were added to their regular counterparts as HYPER/EX charts (i.e. 777★★★ and STAR TREK.)

After being absent since their debut game, URA charts were revived in pop'n music peace, where they were given a Battle NORMAL chart (as they did not have any Battle charts in pop'n music 11 or its CS counterpart).