Polaris Chord Rhythm Arcade Machine

This product comes from Highwaygames.com

Polaris Chord is a Rhythym Game themed about the player being an intern at a TV station called SHIBA TV, who works with the GABLYRIC's crew to recruit characters called "Contenters" to create video content.

The controller in the cabinet consists of a keyboard with 12 physical keys, and two faders behind the keyboard. There are two monitors: a touch panel monitor, and another monitor which is used to display music videos during gameplay, and reactions of the Contenters during the results. The cabinet also includes a headphone jack terminal on its left side.

Characters will play a major role in this new arcade rhythm game. The player will choose a Contenter as the main character and four Support Snap characters, whose skills will provide various assists during gameplay. Characters will gain experience and eventually level up as the player deploys them in gameplay stages. Contenters will also have an additional affection level that will gradually change their behaviors.

Game Modes

There are three separate game modes:

BEGINNER : only two songs, and can only play up to HARD difficulty. Can fail out.
BASIC : play three songs without rating restrictions. Requires KONAMI's digital currency service PASELI. Cannot fail out early.
TIMER : play with a set amount of time. Options are four, six, eight, and 12 minutes. Cannot fail out early.

Gameplay
Players have to form a unit using the Contenters that can be obtained through gacha, each one with different abilites that affect scores and the life gauge. During gameplay, press the keys while the scrolling notes, from the back to the front, reach the judgement line, located on the lower screen. However, players do not have to hit the specific key on the keyboard to match the note on the screen. Instead, hitting the key surrounding the scrolling note is sufficient.

Upon selecting a song, the player can select from one of five difficulties: EASY, NORMAL, HARD, INFLUENCE, and POLAR. Levels are rated from 1 (easiest) to 13 (hardest). INFLUENCE charts can be purchased using the in-game currency MIRA.

There are different types of notes:

Tap: A regular, orange note.
Tap/Flick: An orange note with a yellow "+>>>" or "<<<+" inside it. Slide your hand in the direction specified by the note.
Tap/Hold: A long orange note. After pressing the note at the right time, hold it until the end point. There is no judgment at the end point.
Tap/Slide: A Hold note that must be slided across several keys.
Tap/Release: Like Hold notes, but with a yellow "Λ" at the end of it. Release your hand at the end point. Unlike regular Hold notes, there is a judgment at the end point.
Honeycomb: Purple, connected notes that must be pressed by sliding them while holding down the buttons.
Fader: Move one of the faders in the direction of the arrow shown in the screen (as ">>>>" or "<<<<"). Upon releasing the fader, it automatically returns to the center position.
Fader/Hold: Long Fader notes which must be hold in the direction of the arrow shown in the screen.
Fader/Scratch: Fader notes with a "<<<◇>>>" design. Continuously slide left and right the fader of the corresponding color to the end point.

Polaris Chord uses a life gauge system. If the life gauge depletes, the game will continue, although the gauge cannot be risen.

Songs without a 2D or 3D music video use a generic background movie of SHIBA TV's studio instead.
Matching and Shop functions were added on July 24th, 2024

Polaris Chord had 49 songs available at launch. This list consists of licensed songs and range from anime theme songs like YOASOBI’s Oshi no Ko opening theme “Idol” to Vocaloid and Vtuber songs. The latter includes songs from Hololive Vtubers Minato Aqua and Tsunomaki Watame, as well as Houshou Marine and COOL&CREATE’s collaborative Touhou album #GENSOKYOholoism.

Song Lists include "KONAMI originals" titles, "BEMANI Crossover" titles, a wide range of Licensed Songs, several Licensed Covers, "Touhou Project Arrangements", and unlockable songs during Event Seasons that can be unlocked by purchasing them with unique items like Sparkler Points, Reimu's Ribbons, Ichika's Microphones, Ichika's Charms, Pastel-Kun Beads and Analyze Cubes in their respective event season shops. Each purchase will gave the player an Event Ticket.