Overview
グラーヴェ (Grave) is a Vocaloid track by producer niki, featuring Hatsune Miku, that originated as the character theme of Gustav Heydrich, a playable hero in the competitive real-time team battle smartphone game #COMPASS (#コンパス). The song made its rhythm-game debut in CHUNITHM STAR PLUS before arriving in maimai でらっくす PLUS on March 6, 2020.
The title draws from the Italian musical term grave, meaning slow and solemn, a deliberate counterpoint to the track's driving 185 BPM electronic-rock arrangement. niki, who handled composition, lyrics, and arrangement, builds a dense soundscape of pulsing synth lines and processed vocals. Lyrically, the song circles themes of emotional exhaustion, monochrome stagnation, and the compulsion to accelerate through isolation, imagery reinforced in the music video by illustrator and animator りゅうせー (Ryusei).
In maimai, both the EXPERT and MASTER charts were designed by はっぴー (Happy), a prolific notes designer for the DX series. The MASTER chart debuted at level 12 and was elevated to 12+ starting from maimai でらっくす Splash, reflecting its dense, slide-heavy patterning. The BASIC chart was later reduced from level 4 to 3 from maimai でらっくす UNiVERSE PLUS onward.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
3(3)
129 notesDesigner: -|Tap 101Hold 15Slide 5Touch 6Break 2
ADVANCED
7(7)
229 notesDesigner: -|Tap 148Hold 29Slide 11Touch 39Break 2
EXPERT
9+(9.6)
452 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 338Hold 40Slide 38Touch 24Break 12
MASTER
12+(12.8)
678 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 500Hold 31Slide 93Touch 48Break 6
Trivia
- グラーヴェ serves as the character theme of Gustav Heydrich, a hero from the smartphone game #COMPASS (#コンパス), a competitive real-time team-battle title developed by NHN PlayArt and DWANGO.
- The song first appeared in a rhythm game within CHUNITHM STAR PLUS (March–May 2018 as part of a #COMPASS collaboration MAP event) before arriving in maimai でらっくす PLUS roughly two years later.
- The title derives from the Italian musical term grave, indicating a slow, solemn tempo, an ironic contrast with the song's actual 185 BPM.
- All lyrics, composition, and arrangement were handled by niki, a Vocaloid producer known for other works such as 'WAVELESS' and 'Error.'
- The music video was created by りゅうせー (Ryusei), an illustrator and animator who has produced visuals for numerous Vocaloid and doujin music circle releases.
- In maimai, the MASTER chart was originally rated level 12 at launch in でらっくす PLUS. It was upgraded to 12+ from でらっくす Splash onward, while the BASIC chart was lowered from level 4 to level 3 from UNiVERSE PLUS onward.
- Both the EXPERT and MASTER maimai charts were designed by はっぴー (Happy), a notes designer who has contributed many high-difficulty charts across the DX series.
- Regional release dates differed: the Asian version of maimai DX added the song on September 10, 2020, and the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2021) followed on May 20, 2021.
FAQ
- Who composed the song グラーヴェ (Grave)?
- The song was composed, arranged, and written by the Vocaloid producer niki, with vocals provided by Hatsune Miku.
- What does グラーヴェ mean?
- The title comes from the Italian musical term grave, which means slow, solemn, and weighty, a name that contrasts with the song's actual 185 BPM tempo.
- What is グラーヴェ's connection to #COMPASS?
- グラーヴェ is the character theme of Gustav Heydrich, a hero from the smartphone game #COMPASS (#コンパス), a competitive real-time team-battle title.
- When was グラーヴェ added to maimai?
- It was added to maimai でらっくす PLUS on March 6, 2020, for the Japanese version. The Asian version followed on September 10, 2020, and the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2021) on May 20, 2021.
- Who designed the maimai charts for グラーヴェ?
- Both the EXPERT and MASTER charts were designed by the notes designer はっぴー (Happy). The BASIC and Advanced charts have no credited designer.
- What difficulty level is グラーヴェ's MASTER chart in maimai?
- The MASTER chart is rated level 12+ with a difficulty constant of 12.8. It originally launched at level 12 and was upgraded to 12+ starting from maimai でらっくす Splash.
- Does グラーヴェ appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes, the song first appeared in CHUNITHM STAR PLUS and later returned in CHUNITHM SUPER STAR PLUS, in addition to its maimai appearance.
