The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars for PS4 is a new installment of The Idolmaster, a popular Japanese series that mixes the elements of a manager, visual novel, and a rhythm game. The series was developed by Bandai Namco, with the Platinum Stars being the first installment of the series dedicated solely to PS4, while the game itself was slated for release in 2016 to honor the tenth anniversary of the series.
Plot
As always, we assume the role of a music producer working for 765 Production agency. Our task is spearhead the career of thirteen young idols. The group is sent to a training camp that is supposed to improve their morale and individual abilities. Our task is to get to know the girls better and help them with various problems. All story segments were realized in a manner seen in visual novels – the player answers the questions asked by the heroines. The answers often influence their achievements during the concerts and the amount of gathered fans.
Mechanics
Similarly to The Idolmaster: One For All, the game does not utilize any time constrictions. We begin the game by choosing the leader from the group, while the gameplay is divided into a number of varying segments. The players can send the girls to singing lessons, auditions, or, after completing certain pre-requisites, organize a concert or an event. Moreover, we can get to know each participant through further story chapters.
The heroines are described by a number of statistics (voice, dance abilities, presence/charisma) which can be improved by sending them to lessons that take form of three rhythm minigames. The end result can be viewed on concerts and auditions that see us perform a chosen song. Aside from voice, the heroines can don costumes that improve their skill level and presence, further increasing the amount of garnered fans.
Technical Aspects
The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars for PS4 offers completely refreshed graphics running in native 1080p. The authors introduced completely new three-dimensional cel-shaded character models and fluent animations based on motion capture sessions. The soundtrack contains brand new songs as well as thirty tracks known from the previous installments of the series.
