Groove Coaster 3: Link Fever

The third iteration of the arcade port of Groove Coaster, which first released on iOS to critical acclaim back in 2011.

Instead of using a touchscreen like the mobile versions use, the arcade ports use two controllers on the left and right side called Boosters. Each Booster consists of a small knob with a button on top, but the Booster itself can also be tilted in any direction for directional inputs. With this setup, unlike the touchscreen controls, the button can be pressed while the Booster is tilted, a control scheme which a few of the harder levels either use or abuse, depending.

You play as a an animated 2D or 3D character or thing of your choosing, called an Avatar, and you automatically move along a rail-like line in a 3D environment with retro vector graphics, with an camera that moves automatically (whether focusing on your Avatar, staying still as your Avatar keeps on going, or moving asynchronously with the Avatar, sometimes all at once in any given level). On this line are things, called targets, which you need to respond to in time with the music. These include a small circle, "hit", where you must hit either button (see below for details on controls); a flashing line, "hold", where you must hold down either button until it ends; a string of diamonds, "beat", where you must rapidly button-mash on one or both Boosters until it ends, a single arrow, "slide", where you must tilt one of the controllers in the indicated direction; a line consisting of double helixes, "scratch", where you must rapidly tilt one of the Boosters left and right until it ends; a slide arrow with a line attached, "slide hold", where you must tilt and hold one of the Boosters in the indicated direction until it ends; an eight-pointed star, "critical", where you must hit both buttons at the same time; two flashing lines, "dual hold", where you must hold down both buttons simultaneously until it ends; and two arrows pointing in different directions, "dual slide", where you must tilt each Booster in the indicated directions simultaneously. In addition, hidden notes known as "ad-libs" are peppered throughout each level. These do not need to be hit in order to clear a level, but are mandatory if you are playing for a perfect score.

This release adds several new features, including a new red and white color scheme, an anime-style mascot ("Linka"), customizable in-game Booster and ad-lib sound effects, online multiplayer messages, a new rating for a perfect score, and of course, more songs!