CS General Info

Text originally borrowed from the Beatmania/IIDX/III FAQ on Bemanistyle, originally written by Kimcicle and updated by rmz.

Which style should I buy?

Every person has their own opinions about which style is the "best". Rather than point out a definitive list, I'll list the pros and cons of each style, and let you decide. It is easier, however, to get the newer styles. There is also a list of all CS songs and their appearances at Console Songs Guide.

beatmaniaIIDX 3rd Style

Total Songs: 81
Unique Songs: ~43

Pros

Huge songlist
Beginner friendly songs
Can be found cheap used
Actual music videos

Cons

Timing is bad on certain songs (gambol, overdoser).
No beginner's mode (but there are enough easy Light 7 songs that you can get away with it).
Interface is widely considered to be poor compared to later titles

beatmaniaIIDX 4th Style

Total Songs: 53
Unique Songs: 20

Pros

Good song selection, with few songs repeated on other styles.

Cons

Expensive to purchase.
Light 7 songlist is significantly harder than other styles.
No beginner mode.

beatmaniaIIDX 5th Style

Total Songs: 64
Unique Songs: 13

Pros

Has a beginner mode.

Cons

Slower hispeeds than found on other games.
Many complain about timing issues.
Lots of songs are repeated on later styles.

beatmaniaIIDX 6th Style

Total Songs: 69
Unique Songs: 20

Pros

Also has a beginner mode (covers all the songs in the game).
Lots of extras in the game. Tatsujin videos. Movie clip mode.
Added hispeed 4.
Decent balance between hard and easy songs.

Cons

Songlist is hit or miss for people.
Notecharts by this time were getting harder, and this style reflects it.

beatmaniaIIDX 7th Style

Total Songs: 90
Unique Songs: 25

Pros

Good beginner mode.
Decent balance between hard and easy songs.
Fairly easy to get now.

Cons

Only 2 unlockable songs (Murmur Twins and Abyss The Heaven's Remix) and the 2nd one is hard to unlock.
Some complain about the sound quality, and say the style has an "incomplete" or "rushed" feel to it.

beatmaniaIIDX 8th Style

Total Songs: 90
Unique Songs: 34

Pros

Easy to get.
New sort methods. Other info can be displayed while selecting the song.
Balance leans a little towards the harder side, but beginner's mode can cover for it.
Random+ is entertaining.

Cons

Beginner mode restricts you to a shorter playlist than all of the songs in the game.
Lack of regular record screen as from previous styles.
Scores achieved in Expert Mode do not get saved.

beatmaniaIIDX 9th Style

Total Songs: 87
Unique Songs: 55

Pros

New high-res graphics make the game extremely pretty.
Quite a few first-time repeats (songs that have not been repeated before, including a lot from 3rd and 4th Styles).
Lots of remixes of songs from previous styles.

Cons

Not many revival songs, only 19 total.
Lack of regular record screen as from previous styles.
Only one preview song (No.13 from 10th Style).

beatmaniaIIDX 10th Style

Total Songs: 88
Unique Songs: 58

Pros

Happy Sky-style Hi-Speed modifier allows for fine-grained mod control.
S-Random is more entertaining than Random+ - luckily, both are included.

Cons

Difficulty skews very high on 7-Key.
Lack of regular record screen as from previous styles.

beatmaniaIIDX 11 RED

Total Songs: 89
Unique Songs: 52

Pros

Displays in-game score graphs.
Can import up to 5 people's scores/data onto your memory card.
Hidden+ and Sudden+ from AC DistorteD are selectable mods.
Can change speed mods during a song.
Lots of unlockable interface items

Cons

No preview songs.

beatmania (American release)

Total Songs: 58
Unique Songs: 23

Pros

Easy to find
Comes with controller
Beginner friendly
Contains many 5Key songs, which have yet to appear in any of the IIDX CS releases
Ability to save replays of your performance

Cons

Grades are artificially inflated from Japanese and arcade releases
Some songs have changed notecharts
Total amount of songs is low compared to recent releases
Only 40 of the songs are actual IIDX 7Key songs
5Key songs only have one difficulty

beatmaniaIIDX 12 HAPPY SKY

Total Songs: 91
Unique Songs: 62

Pros

Displays in-game score graphs.
Large arcade Rival database.
Can import up to 5 people's scores/data onto your memory card.
Hidden+ and Sudden+ from AC Happy Sky are selectable mods.
Can change speed mods and Hidden/Sudden+ settings during a song.
Detailed statistics tracking
Lots of unlockable interface items

Cons

No preview songs.
Timing is notably late compared to other styles.

beatmaniaIIDX 13 DistorteD

Total Songs: 95
Unique Songs: 66

Pros

Displays in-game score graphs.
Can import up to 5 people's scores/data onto your memory card.
Detailed statistics tracking
Huge arcade Rival database.
Hidden+ and Sudden+ from AC Happy Sky are selectable mods.
Large amount of CS originals and the first Japanese style to include traditional 5-key beatmania songs.
Can change speed mods and Hidden/Sudden+ settings during a song.
Increased speed adjustment functions and REGUL-SPEED in Training Mode.
A, AA, and AAA Grade trackers.
Several unlockable interface items.

Cons

Only one preview song.
Lack of new GOLI pictures compared to other recent styles.
Rather small revival list with somewhat of an emphasis on certain artists.

beatmaniaIIDX 14 GOLD

Total Songs: 97
Unique Songs 67

Pros

Displays in-game score graphs.
Can import up to 5 people's scores/data onto your memory card.
Detailed statistics tracking, including progress charts for all songs.
Huge arcade Rival database.
Hidden+ and Sudden+ are selectable mods.
Large amount of CS originals and includes traditional 5-key beatmania songs.
Can change speed mods and Hidden/Sudden+ settings during a song.
Increased speed adjustment functions and REGUL-SPEED in Training Mode.
A, AA, and AAA Grade trackers.
Several unlockable interface items.

Cons

No preview songs.
Some videos were removed from songs to meet Japanese rating standards.

beatmaniaIIDX 15 DJ TROOPERS

Total Songs: 96
Unique Songs: 78

Pros

Displays in-game score graphs.
Can import up to 5 people's scores/data onto your memory card.
Detailed statistics tracking, including progress charts for all songs.
Huge arcade Rival database.
Hidden+ and Sudden+ are selectable mods.
Large amount of CS originals and includes traditional 5-key beatmania songs.
Includes crossovers from other Bemani series.
Added more difficult note charts for some songs.
Can change speed mods and Hidden/Sudden+ settings during a song.
Increased speed adjustment functions and REGUL-SPEED in Training Mode.
A, AA, and AAA Grade trackers.
Several unlockable interface items.

Cons

Only one preview song.
Small revival list.
Some videos were edited to meet Japanese rating standards.
One of the AC originals (I'm In Love Again -DJ YOSHITAKA REMIX-) is not in the game, the first non-license since 3rd not to be.
Some songs (i.e. VOX UP) have annoying unlocking requirements.

beatmaniaIIDX 16 EMPRESS

Total Songs: 198
Unique Songs: 67

Pros

Contains the most songs of any CS style.
Displays in-game score graphs.
Can import up to 5 people's scores/data onto your memory card.
Detailed statistics tracking, including progress charts for all songs.
Huge arcade Rival database.
Hidden+ and Sudden+ are selectable mods.
Large amount of CS originals.
Added more difficult note charts for some songs.
Can change speed mods and Hidden/Sudden+ settings during a song.
Increased speed adjustment functions and REGUL-SPEED in Training Mode.
A, AA, and AAA Grade trackers.
Several unlockable interface items.
REGUL-SPEED is usable in-game.
Two preview songs.
Archives mode where previous style pictures can be unlocked

Cons

No 5-key beatmania revivals.
Only one bemani crossover.
Some videos and images were edited to meet Japanese rating standards.
Only 40 pictures in Gallery mode.
All CS originals have generic movies.
2 disc system may be cumbersome for some players.
Some songs (i.e. Bad Maniacs) have annoying unlocking requirements.

Which controller should I buy? I can't afford a controller right now, should I just play on a Dualshock?

Personally, I would wait to have the cash to buy one game and the controller at the same time. However, if you are -that- pressed for cash, I'm not stopping you from playing on a Dualshock. You won't get the same experience, however, and playing on a Dualshock is confusing as hell.

As far as buying controllers, there are a few options:

Konami Controller - An official controller by Konami, runs for about $90 from most online retailers. The keys are spaced correctly, but the turntable is smaller and closer to the keys. The keys are switchable so that you can emulate both the first and second player sides. People have problems with sticky keys, but you can mod your controller using cardboard to get around these problems.

American Controller - Also made by Konami, this controller comes bundled with the American beatmania, which these days usually costs $40 or so for the game and controller, depending on the retailer. It has some slight differences from the Japanese controller mentioned above; most are cosmetic, but it is worth noting that the buttons are significantly redesigned and the traditional "plunger" design has been completely replaced, and are therefore much less prone to sticking. This controller is leaps and bounds better than an unmodded KOC, though KOCs can more easily be modded to a player's exact preference in terms of key travel distance by adding or removing layers of cardboard. Though it comes bundled with the American beatmania, this controller is fully compatible with the Japanese versions of IIDX.

Rave Discman - Don't buy one. The price is attractive, but frankly, it's not all that great. For one, the keys are the wrong shape and are not spaced correctly. It's better to hold out for a Konami controller. It's possible to use a Rave Discman as a base for your own ASC, which some people on the forums have done. Take note this controller also has some voltage issues which could fry PS2->USB convertors that you might use.

Konami ASC - The official arcade-style controller by Konami. It's huge, it's pricey, and for some, it's worth it. The price tag is quite hefty, but with arcade perfect dimensions, clicking keys, and switchable from first player to 2nd player, lots of people have purchased them. Expect to pay around $350-400 when all is said and done.

Third-Party US ASC - two US controller makers well-known in the Pop'n Music community have both started producing ASC-like controllers for IIDX. These manufacturers are known for having long production times, good playability, and reasonable prices. Note: As of 2008, DA is not accepting new orders, and Ransai is only accepting replacements from people selling their place in the order queue.

Third-Party DJ Dao ASC - A Chinese manufacturer of various Bemani controllers sells several editions of IIDX controllers. High quality arcade feel controllers that are customizable to be arcade perfect. As of 2008, the product line consists of: A smaller controller, resembling a larger KOC with lights and arcade feel ($300 shipped), A larger controller, resembling a KASC with lights and arcade feel ($400 shipped), and an enormous arcade-perfect doubles deck ($1000 shipped). Independent overseas seller makes some people nervous, shipping is brutal, wait is about a month, quality is excellent.

DJ Dao Bemani ASC

There's a port on the side of my beatmania IIDX controller and I can't fit my finger in there? What is it for?

The port is meant for a foot pedal for beatmania III, but no home versions of beatmania III have been made. You can plug in a pedal from the drummania home controller into it, and triggering the pedal acts as a scratch. Cool, but mostly pointless.