NOSTALGIA Glossary

Glossary of all the terms seen in the ノスタルジア series:

Amazing!

A message that appears upon clearing a song with an A or A+ rank, requiring a score between 850,000 to 949,999 points. This level is a minimum requirement for unlocking higher difficulty charts.

BASIC Mode

The default game mode in the series, mostly focused on basic gameplay. Prior to Op.2, BASIC was named as Normal mode.

Brilliant

A message that appears upon clearing a song with a B or B+ rank, requiring a score between 750,000 to 849,999 points.

Cute...

A message that appears upon clearing a song with a C rank, requiring a score between 700,000 to 749,999 points. This rank is the minimum requirement for clearing a song.

Don't Give Up...

A message that appears upon failing a stage with a score below 700,000, similar to the clearing condition in the jubeat series. Unlike most rhythm games whereas a stage failure may result in a premature game over, the player is guaranteed three stages, unless the player plays on EXAM mode. The splash screen at the end of the song will display "Finish", and there is no clear rank.

ENSEMBLE COMBO

A different combo count that counts the total combo for all players playing during LOCAL MATCHING, which also award players with additional bonuses to Steps or Stardusts.

EXAM Mode

A course-mode equivalent in many rhythm games, where players play a set of three predetermined songs with a set condition to accomplish to clear the course. EXAM Mode are categorized as either Grade (Class mode-esque courses) or Event (courses which unlock hidden songs). Much like jubeat series, a course can be failed early if the set condition becomes impossible to achieve, and none of the stages are guaranteed, unlike Basic or Recital mode.

Expert

The third difficulty tier and is the highest difficulty for most of the songs. Expert charts are not available by default and they require clearing their respective Hard charts with an A grade or better. Expert charts are typically rated between 9 to 12, with the lowest Level going down to 5.

FORTE

A start mode where Expert/Real charts are unlocked by default and in-game items are obtainable more easily. Either PASELI or more coins (for machines without PASELI support) must be paid to select this mode.

Full Combo!

The splash screen at the end of the song that indicate the song is cleared with a Full Combo, without any MISSes.

GLISSANDO

Glissando is a note that requires sliding across keys. Most Real charts do not have this type of note.

GOOD

A judgement indicate that a note is hit slightly off-beat. This score awards no more than half of a flashing JUST for different kind of notes (50% normal notes, 25% for a Tenuto, and 20% for a Trill). Prior to the September 6th, 2017 update, GOOD judgements breaks combo.

GRADE

Also abbreviated as Grd., the grade is a skill level that dictates the player’s overall skill level based on the best scores. Higher Grades can access higher EXAM courses more easily, and Grades for BASIC and RECITAL modes are separate.

HAND

A hand used to hit the notes, usually colored between Blue/Red (or white, can be changed in options) to indicate a recommended hand to hit it. It is also an AUTO-modifier where the hand that was not selected will be played automatically, but doing so will disqualify the player from a FULL COMBO and unlocking charts.

Hard

The second difficulty tier based on intermediate players. Hard charts are usually rated between Levels 7 to 10, with the lowest Level being 3, and the highest peaking at 11.

It's Fantastic!

The splash screen at the end of the song that indicate the stage is cleared.

JUST

A judgement indicating perfect accuracy of hitting notes. JUST have two kinds of judgements, a flashing JUST and a regular JUST (70% of a flashing JUST)

MISS

A judgement indicating that the note is missed entirely. No points are awarded for a MISS judgement and breaks any combo. If NEAR judgement is disabled, getting a NEAR judgement is now considered as a MISS.

MISSION BINGO

An unlock event in which players are given a bingo card and stamps can be obtained for clearing specific conditions. A song is unlocked once the player completed a specific number of bingo lines.

NEAR

Introduced in FORTE. A judgement that indicates that a note is nearly missed, hit either too early or later. No points are awarded for a NEAR judgement, but combo can still be incremented. NEAR judgement can be disabled in the option menu.

Normal

The first difficulty tier targeted for beginners. Normal charts are usually rated between Levels 1 to 4, with the highest Level being 8.

nos

Introduced in Op.2, nos is the in-game currency that can be used to spend them for Recital mode and playing or unlocking Real charts. In the location tests, it was called GOLD.

Pianist

A perfect full combo-equivalent clear in most rhythm games, having a maximum score of 1,000,000. The alternate name for this clear is Pianistic!. The splash screen at the end of the song will display "Perfect Performance".

Real

Introduced in Op.2, Real is the fourth, hardest difficulty level, with more complex charts than Expert. Like Expert, Real charts requires a clear with an A rank of their respective Expert charts and to have enough nos to purchase it. Unlike Expert, the unlock can be either temporary for a single play, or permanently, which usually costs around 20 to 30 times of a temporary play to purchase, though some Real charts are made available for free for a limited time period. Also unlike the first three difficulties, not all songs have a Real chart, and charts instead rated in diamonds (from 1 to 3), though songs also have levels internally counted for MISSION BINGO unlocks and Grade counting purposes, with ◆1 rated between Levels 9 and 11, ◆2 rated Level 12 or 12.5, and ◆3 rated Level 13 or 13.5.

RECITAL Mode

Introduced in Op.2, RECITAL mode is an advanced game mode which focused on the skills of an actual pianist. In addition to the regular play, the player is assessed on its parameters such as the keystroke strength and extra notes, and higher scores award more nos. Selected halls and grades are also factored to the total nos obtained in a session. Beginning in Op.3, RECITAL mode can now be freely switched.

RHYTHM GUIDE

A modifier option on producing beats as measurement of a song's tempo, as ノスタルジア lacked the BPM display on a song's interface. A metronome, which produced or mutes the song's tempo, also appear on the bottom right of the screen during gameplay and can be toggled freely.

STANDARD

A start option with basic features, which can be spent on either credits or PASELI.

Superb!

A message that appears upon clearing a song with a S rank, requiring a score between 950,000 to 999,999 points. This level is usually the minimum requirement for clearing Exam courses.

TENUTO

Tenuto is a long note, an equivalent of a hold note in many rhythm games.

TRAJECTORY

A modifier option on how the note lanes are moved. There are four different types, namely Splash (the default option with notes traveling via an outward curve-like direction), Approach (notes traveling diagonally, similar to SOUND VOLTEX), Slope (notes traveling in a slope/inward curve-like direction) and Vertical (notes traveling vertically similar to most other BEMANI games).

TRILL

Trill is a note whereas requiring hitting two adjacent keys on a quick succession.

WIDTH

Width is a note measurement that shows how many keys are spread across, between 2 to 5 keys. Higher difficulties have notes with lower widths, though it can be slightly adjusted in the option menu.