Pop'n Music 7 still smells of the series' early PS2 days. Shorter setlist, lovable mascots and the gameplay already nailed. A nice way to discover the original Pop'n spirit.
Your verdict
Category
Rhythm2 players3+
Description
A Konami rhythm game released in 2002 in Japan, the seventh PS2 entry in Pop'n Music. The first arcade Pop'n Music port on the second PlayStation, with an official 9 button controller, classic Pop'n Music mascots and a setlist of around 60 tracks. A founding stone of the PS2 branch of the franchise.
Pop'n Music 7 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Motley and joyful, the selection draws on J-pop, anime and a thousand genres to have you tap coloured buttons in time. Each track has its own tempo and personality, rewarding precision with a sparkling energy. This musical melting pot, a pillar of Konami's rhythm games, remains irresistibly rousing.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Laying the foundations of nine-button play opens a learning curve that extends well beyond the first tracks. Refining your accuracy, climbing the difficulties and aiming for better clears keeps calling you back. That foundational depth, with no real end, establishes from the outset the longevity that will make the series' name.
