In Japan, you don’t need to be a human being to garner popularity and accolade to become a music star. For those of you out there that are essentially extensions of a computer program, you can make it big here without ever setting foot on stage. That is exactly how Hatsune Miku, the digital, turquoise-haired, 16-year-old star, gained fame in the Land of the Rising Sun. Hatsune Miku has several rhythm titles under her belt on the PSP, PlayStation 3, Vita and Nintendo 3DS. Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 is the next big release for the Nintendo handheld and was at Tokyo Game Show this year in playable form delivering a fun, rhythmical experience.

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 features two different controls schemes and is very accessible and simple to play. For both modes, as the music starts, a circle appears and moves along a track-like line. For the button-based mode, as the circle moves, buttons corresponding to the four face buttons appear and need to be hit in rhythm with the music. Players are awarded more points the closer they are to hitting the button precisely as the circle runs over them. At the same time, the four buttons are represented on the touch screen in different colors. The touch mode replaces buttons presses with simple taps on the touch screen. Both modes are completely functional, fun, and easy to get the hang of.

Project MIrai 2 sports a bright, cheery look and a chibi-fied version of Miku that is very fitting for the 3DS platform. For some, the thought of an anime-synthesized 16-year-old girl being the main star of a game might be a turn off (I’m in that crowd), but the series on the 3DS has a charm that focuses on this cute, accessible aesthetic that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 has yet to be announced for the west, but Sega has already released a title in the series on the PS3 through the PlayStation Network in North America and Europe. Sure, vocaloid might not be for everyone, but fans of rhythm games should keep an eye out for this game if it ever makes it out of Japan.