CS General Info
Text borrowed from the Beatmania/IIDX/III FAQ on Bemanistyle, originally written by Kimcicle and updated by rmz.
Q. Which style should I buy? Every person has their own opinions about which style is the "best". Rather than point out a definative list, I'll list the pros and cons of each style, and let you decide. It is easier, however, to get the newer styles.
beatmaniaIIDX 3rd Style 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).
beatmaniaIIDX 4th Style 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 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 Pros: + Also has a beginner mode. + 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 Pros: + Good beginner mode (covers all the songs in the game). + 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 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 Pros: + The newest IIDX home version. + New high-res graphics make the game prettier than ever. + Quite a few first-time repeats (songs that have not been repeated before, including a lot from 3rd and 4th Styles).
Cons: - Not many revival songs, only 19 total. - Only one preview song (No.13 from 10th Style).
Q. 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 to get around these problems.
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.
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. The only way to get one was to order through Konami's website and have a Japanese address, so your best bet it to go through a Japan auction website. Expect to pay around $450 when all is said and done.
A couple of forum members have also announced home made ASCs.
Q. 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.