Konami's Bemani series of body-driven rhythm-action games have spun off in quite a few directions, but none of them strode ahead with such globe-stomping force as the Dance Dance Revolution games. Sure, you looked a bit retarded playing the game, but once you got into it, it didn't really matter.

This is more or less the same for the rest of the Bemani series, which includes singing, playing drums, picking a guitar and, perhaps most quizzically of all, mixing almost piano-like taps with a DJ-like quasi-turntable with Beatmania, a game that's arguably the toughest of all of them to get into.

Which is probably why it took so long to bring over here to the States, we're thinking. Most arcades that have the game stocked enjoy a ghost town-like avoidance of the game or the occasional how-the-hell-did-he-get-that-good-level player that just scares the piss out of anyone who would dare attempt it, with very little in between.

Luckily, you'll soon be able to go the route of the freakishly coordinated guy that bellies up to the cabinet without having to shell out the hundreds of bucks he probably did to import the game and play it at home so he could get good enough to incite that gaping mouthed reaction you had when you saw him playing in the arcades. Yes, kids, beatmania is coming, and it doesn't give a damn if you think it should bring a capital B along with it.

"Just like DDR and Karaoke Revolution, we expect that beatmania will develop a strong core following and take off as another ‘must-have’ party game for people of all ages," beamed Jason Enos, Product Manager and all-around pimp at Konami Digital Entertainment – America. "Never before has there been a game that combines so many different and distinct music elements into a completely interactive DJ style experience."

We'll have more on the game and the custom controller it warrants as soon as we have a chance to play with a build.