Overview
Aiolos is a driving orchestral-electronic composition by xi, introduced to maimai during the ORANGE PLUS era as part of the JOYPOLIS-linked "3 month BOSS RUSH" event series. The track is widely recognized by the community as a spiritual successor to xi's earlier maimai original Halcyon, a connection the composer and video artist yama_ko have both acknowledged directly. The title refers to Aiolos (Aeolus), the Greek mythological keeper of the winds, who in myth is also the father of Alcyone (Halcyon), reinforcing the thematic link between the two songs.
At 205 BPM, Aiolos delivers a relentless surge of rapid piano runs, layered synth leads, and dramatic key changes that escalate through its two-minute runtime. The MASTER chart, designed by the charter known as 某S氏, clocks in at 1,100 notes and served as one of the qualifying-round songs for the second Tenkaichi Otogesai (天下一音ゲ祭) event. Its dense streams, wide-spanning patterns, and a particularly taxing piano-solo section that demands precise left-right coordination have cemented its reputation as a demanding high-level boss chart. The video, produced by yama_ko, provides a fittingly mythological visual atmosphere. Aiolos also appears in CHUNITHM SUN PLUS and the GROOVE COASTER WAI WAI PARTY!!!! crossover pack, extending its reach beyond maimai.
Videos
Charts
STD
BASIC
6(6)
298 notesDesigner: -|Tap 273Hold 6Slide 9Break 10
ADVANCED
8+(8.6)
402 notesDesigner: -|Tap 348Hold 22Slide 22Break 10
EXPERT
12+(12.7)
727 notesDesigner: mai-Star|Tap 638Hold 23Slide 48Break 18
MASTER
14(14.3)
1100 notesDesigner: 某S氏|Tap 989Hold 20Slide 61Break 30
Trivia
- Aiolos is considered the sequel to Halcyon, another xi composition in maimai. The connection was confirmed by video artist yama_ko via Twitter (now X), who noted the shared Greek mythology lineage: in myth, Aiolos (Aeolus) is the father of Alcyone (Halcyon).
- The song was the second entry in the '3 month BOSS RUSH' series, a monthly rollout of JOYPOLIS-exclusive songs for maimai.
- Aiolos was first unlockable on October 15, 2015, as the maimai series' qualifying-round song for the second Tenkaichi Otogesai event. It required 400 music tickets at AOU arcades, and was not available at all venues until February 22, 2016.
- The MASTER chart contains 1,100 total notes, making it one of the densest charts in maimai at the time of its release. Its piano-solo section is notorious for a pattern where the right hand shifts one button position away from the left, creating an unusual physical stretch.
- xi included a long version and a remastered short version titled 'Aiolos (2022 Remaster)' on his sixth solo album, Storm and Impulse, alongside his other maimai original Heavenly Blast.
- The MASTER chart was designed by 某S氏 (Bou S shi), a charter known for demanding high-level patterns. The EXPERT chart was designed by mai-Star.
- Aiolos has undergone multiple level revisions across maimai versions: the MASTER chart has moved from level 12 (ORANGE PLUS) up to 14 in the DX era, reflecting both community skill inflation and re-evaluation by the developers.
- The song also appears in CHUNITHM SUN PLUS (unlockable via National Matching in July 2023) and in the GROOVE COASTER WAI WAI PARTY!!!! crossover pack as part of the maimai DX + ONGEKI content bundle.
- xi himself has referenced the Greek mythological origin of the title, noting that Aiolos is known as the Keeper of the Winds.
- There is no Re:Master chart for Aiolos across any maimai version, the MASTER chart remains the highest difficulty.
FAQ
- Who composed Aiolos?
- Aiolos was composed and arranged by xi (Yusuke Ishiwata), a prominent figure in the doujin and rhythm-game music scene known for countless contributions to maimai, CHUNITHM, SOUND VOLTEX, and other arcade rhythm games.
- What version of maimai added Aiolos?
- Aiolos was added in maimai ORANGE PLUS, releasing on October 15, 2015, as part of the JOYPOLIS-linked '3 month BOSS RUSH' event series.
- Is Aiolos related to Halcyon?
- Yes, Aiolos is widely regarded as a thematic sequel to Halcyon. The link runs through Greek mythology: Halcyon refers to Alcyone, while Aiolos (Aeolus) is her father in the original myths. Video artist yama_ko and composer xi have both affirmed the connection.
- What is the difficulty of the Aiolos MASTER chart?
- The MASTER chart is rated level 14 with a constant of 14.3. It contains 1,100 notes (989 Tap, 20 Hold, 61 Slide, 30 Break) and was designed by the charter 某S氏. It was originally a level 12 song on release and has been re-evaluated upward across multiple maimai versions.
- Are there lyrics to Aiolos?
- No, Aiolos is an instrumental track with no lyrics. The musical narrative is conveyed entirely through xi's composition and yama_ko's video production.
- Does Aiolos appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes. Aiolos was added to CHUNITHM SUN PLUS in 2023, unlockable via National Matching. It also appears in GROOVE COASTER WAI WAI PARTY!!!! as part of the maimai DX + ONGEKI crossover song pack.
External Links
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