The Basic Guide on Groove Coaster's Gameplay and How to Adapt with Keyboards

Like the title says, this will be a beginners guide to Groove Coaster and how to play with keyboard. This guide will also take a deeper look at the history of Groove Coaster.

Introduction

Hello there, welcome to my guide on Groove Coaster for Steam. This guide will cover on how to play the game and is suitable for beginners and advance players.

Pictured above: Your future bae, Linka

What IS Groove Coaster

To put it simply, Groove Coaster is a rhythm game franchise based on Taito's Space Invader series. Released on 2011 as an IOS game, it's since has spawn numerous sequels and an arcade cabinet on 2013. Nicknamed [グルコス (GuruKosu/Glucose)] by the japanese community and also known as Rhythmvaders outside Japan.

Groove Coaster arcade cabinet

Mainline games

• Groove Coaster (2011)
  
• Groove Coaster Zero (IOS) (2012)
  
• Groove Coaster (Arcade ver.) (2013)
  
• Groove Coaster EX (Arcade) (2014)
  
• Groove Coaster 2: Heavenly Festival (Arcade) (2015)
  
• Groove Coaster 2: Original Style (Android/IOS) (2015)
  Note: This is the latest MOBILE Groove Coaster game on the market
  
• Groove Coaster 3: Link Fever (Arcade) (2016)
  
• Groove Coaster 3EX: Dream Party (Arcade) (2017)
  
• Groove Coaster 4: Starlight Road (Arcade) (2018)
  Note: This is the latest Groove Coaster arcade on the market
  
• Groove Coaster for Steam (PC) (2018)

What I need to know about the Steam version?

• The gameplay and interface are based on Groove Coaster 3: Link Fever
  
• Was promoted alongside Taito's Space Invaders Extreme
  
• Playable on keyboard, gamepad, and Steam controller (although the 2nd one requires a workaround in order to work FIX THIS, DAMMIT)

Do keep in mind that despite that the Steam version is the earliest, the mobile version (Groove Coaster 2: Original Style) is still as relevent as any other version with constant updates and easier controls.

The Controls (and How to Nail It) Part 1

How's the controls work?

Since this game is based on the arcade version, the controls on Steam version will mimic the ones on the arcade.

The arcade version has 2 knobs called 'Boosters'. Basically 2 joystics with button on top. The button is represented by 'spacebar', 'right control' and 'keypad 0' on the keyboard while the 'WASD' and the 'Directional Arrow' represents left and right 'Booster' respectively (and also 'keypad 8456' represents right 'Booster' as well). Also, using only 'WASD' and 'Directional Arrow' is just enough to play this game as a button from any of these are equal to a hit AND a swipe. Don't worry, the controls can be configured in the option menu.

As for the gamepad... let's leave that for another day...

The notes

The game itself has 2 gamemodes which is 'Casual' and 'Arcade'. Certain notes only appear in 'Arcade' mode which requires player to use both hand in contrast of 'Casual''s one hand gameplay.

Common notes

• Hit
  
  Self-explanatory. You just hit the button in time to the beat.
  
  
• Hold
  
  Same as 'Hit'. Just hold a button until it's coomplete. No need to release said button on the beat like any other rhythm games.
  
  
• Swipe
  
  Comes with 8 directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). Just tap the appropriate button to the direction shown. Sounds easy but you'll soon learn it the hard way.
  
  
• Scratch
  
  Like 'Hold' but with squiggly line instead. Just repeatedly tap 2 opposite buttons on the SAME booster. Example: repeatedly press 'A' and 'D' on the left booster.
  
  
• Beat
  
  Mimics the 'Hold' note but you have to repeatedly tap buttons instead. You need to repeatedly tap 2 buttons at DIFFERENT boosters. Example: press 'A' and 'Right Arrow' repeatedly on both boosters.

... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnddddddddd that's just the basics. It gets more complicated afterwards.

The Controls (and How to Nail It) Part 2

Continue from where we left of...

• Ad-Libs
  
  A hidden notes that lurks within the music. These Ad-Libs are just 'Hit' notes so just hit any part where there's no notes appear. This is much more complicated than it seems as some songs has tricky Ad-Lib placements which can cost you your perfect run. Also, 100% Ad-Lib is usually a REQUIREMENT to get 'S++' rank (most of the times)
  
  To help you with Ad-Libs, I've linked a Reddit post regarding to it if you need a further explaination on it.
  https://www.reddit.com/r/GrooveCoaster/comments/3wqdul/the_basics_how_to_find_adlibs/
  
  
• Critical
  
  Same as 'Hit' but you need to hit both button on both boosters at the same time.
  
  
• Critical Hold
  
  Same as 'Hold' but combine that with 'Critical'. Tap and hold both buttons on both boosters until it's complete.
  
  
• Dual Swipe
  
  This is 'Swipe' and 'Critical' notes combined. There are 3 variations of these;
  
  • Linear Dual Swipe (West and East)
    
  • 90* Dual Swipe (North and West)
    
  • One Way Dual Swipe (South and South)
  This one requires a bit of muscle training to nail this note. You need to assign one hand to one direction while the other hand to the other direction.
  Example: 90* Dual Swipe (North West and North East)
  Left Booster will go to North West while Right Booster will go North East.
  
  
• Swipe Hold
  
  Just 'Swipe' + 'Hold'. Swipe and hold the note in the appropriate direction until it is complete.

And that's that. Before you ask anything, NO! There's no such thing as 'Dual Swipe' + 'Swipe Hold', that would be a nightmare.

Anything Else That I Need to Know? (Possible FAQ)

The songs here sucks!!!

1. Try it before you hate it.
2. More songs are available within the in-game shop
3. DLC will be coming soon. Touhou music is expected to be released as an August DLC.

HELP!!! I can't hit a thing

There's a calibration option in the menu. Not the best solution but it does its job. Also, adjust your internal timing too.

How on earth you managed to press these notes quickly?

Depends on what pattern you're trying to nail, really... Practice is always the obvious answer but the other trick is to try to move your arm instead of hands or fingers. This is an arcade game, get physical.

What is the best/most optimal way to play the game?

• Play it in vertical mode
  
• Reassign the keys to suit your playstyle
  
• Change to a better controller if you have one.

Videos

Here is where I dump my gameplay

Link Link Fever!!! [AC-HARD]

Shiva [AC-HARD]

End Section

Thank you for reading this guide. I hope it will be very helpful for beginners and pro players alike. If you would like to add something to the guide, just comment in this guide and I'll add if possible.

Happy playing

[Nugget]

How are you even supposed to hear the music over the stupid cymbal that makes my ears bleed every time I do any input, its so distracting, and any time there are more than like 5 notes in a row on a song that I dont have memorized its impossible to keep track of what noise is you and what is the song.

Not to mention it just ruins the song =\

[Shushuyuku]

I'm having trouble with the dual sliders the north and west ones. i can hit most of them but when they are spread apart each way i can't figure out which buttons to press. If anyone could help i'd appreciate it ^^

[Ｈｅｎｋｅ３７]

There is no need to hit buttons on multiple boosters for the beat marker.

[BOYS MADE OF TAR]

I have played thrash beat 1 billion times and I still hate the song lololol

[Patastrophic]

After trying this on a Steam controller last night, I did OK on Simple but awful on Normal. The conclusion I came to is that I'm never going to be quick enough for certain actions with my thumbs. After reading & watching here, and looking at the real controllers, I'm thinking I need to set the pad down and use my fingers. Am I on the right track?

[くいる]

i hope i could be better playing this...

[ShimaKi]

can you explain about calibration setting? i'm a little bit confused..

[gozieson, #FixTF2!!]

Hey there, thanks for linking my reddit post about finding AD-LIBs on your Guide.

BTW, I'm looking to improve on that guide and bring a fresh one onto Steam. If it is ok to ask you, can you tell me what I could improve with the AD-LIB finding guide, I think the stuff on it is a bit outdated, and could use some sprucing up.

Thanks again.

[Enlix]

Thanks for the link. At the time i found this thread there was no item thread so i commented on this thread XD

[Axel]

@Enlix https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1445138593