Overview
Now or Never is a driving rock original contributed to maimai DX by the Japanese rock band MintJam. Composed and arranged by guitarist a2c with lyrics and vocals by TERRA, the song charges forward at 202 BPM with a martial, arena-ready energy, fitting its lyrical theme of stepping onto a final battle stage and breaking through negative forces.
The track was MintJam's second commission for the maimai series, following Justified, and launched on October 18, 2019 as part of the Dragon Area (ドラゴンちほー) unlock system. Players initially had to rack up 600 meters of travel distance in the area to access it, though it became available by default from the maimai DX Splash update onward.
Now or Never spans five DX-format difficulties. Its EXPERT chart was designed by サファ太 (Safata), the MASTER by はっぴー (Happy), and the Re:MASTER, added on December 3, 2021 to coincide with the maimai DX Best Album Area, by Jack. The Re:MASTER chart sits at level 14 (constant 14.1) with just over 1,000 notes, placing it among the more approachable Re:MASTER charts of its era while still demanding consistent stamina at speed.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
5(5)
165 notesDesigner: -|Tap 134Hold 16Slide 7Touch 6Break 2
ADVANCED
7(7)
335 notesDesigner: -|Tap 250Hold 51Slide 16Touch 12Break 6
EXPERT
10(10)
624 notesDesigner: サファ太|Tap 415Hold 124Slide 25Touch 32Break 28
MASTER
13(13.5)
1007 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 724Hold 20Slide 153Touch 90Break 20
Re:MASTER
14(14.1)
1004 notesDesigner: Jack|Tap 722Hold 40Slide 151Touch 26Break 65
Trivia
- Now or Never is MintJam's second song in the maimai series, following Justified, which also appeared in maimai DX.
- Composition and arrangement were handled by a2c (guitarist of MintJam), while lyrics and vocals were performed by TERRA.
- The song originally debuted as a locked track in the Dragon Area (ドラゴンちほー), requiring 600 m of total distance traveled to unlock. It became available by default starting with maimai DX Splash.
- A Re:MASTER chart was added on December 3, 2021 as part of the maimai DX UNiVERSE update, celebrating the release of the maimai DX Best Album Area soundtrack.
- An extended version of Now or Never appears on MintJam's self-titled Now or Never EP, released outside of the game.
- The song's genre was listed as ORIGINAL in maimai DX, then moved to the maimai category starting with maimai DX PLUS.
- The MASTER chart has undergone level adjustments across versions: initially level 12+ in DX, raised to 13 in DX PLUS through Splash PLUS, and has remained at level 13 since UNiVERSE.
- Lyrics feature the lines 'Stage of final fight' and 'Living Legend,' framing the song as a climactic showdown against a historic foe.
- Despite its high BPM and dense note counts, the Re:MASTER chart (level 14, 14.1 constant) is known in the community for feeling more readable than many other 14-level charts from the same period.
FAQ
- Who composed Now or Never in maimai?
- Now or Never was composed and arranged by a2c, with lyrics and vocals by TERRA, both members of the Japanese rock band MintJam.
- When was Now or Never added to maimai?
- Now or Never was added to maimai DX on October 18, 2019. It originally required unlocking in the Dragon Area, then became generally available from maimai DX Splash onward.
- What BPM is Now or Never?
- Now or Never has a BPM of 202, giving it a fast, driving rock tempo throughout its 2:15 length.
- Who designed the Re:MASTER chart for Now or Never?
- The Re:MASTER chart was designed by Jack. The MASTER chart was designed by はっぴー (Happy), and the EXPERT chart by サファ太 (Safata).
- What level is the Now or Never Re:MASTER chart?
- The Re:MASTER chart is level 14 with a difficulty constant of 14.1. It contains 1,004 notes (722 Tap, 40 Hold, 151 Slide, 26 Touch, 65 Break).
- What are the lyrics of Now or Never about?
- The lyrics describe a climactic final battle, with imagery of a 'Stage of final fight,' a 'Living Legend' opponent, and the resolve to break through negativity and destiny with one's own hands.
- Is Now or Never available in all maimai regions?
- Yes, Now or Never is available in the Japanese, International, USA, and Chinese versions of maimai DX. Unlock dates varied by region, with the Chinese version receiving it later (August 14, 2020).
- Does Now or Never appear in any other rhythm games?
- No, Now or Never is exclusive to the maimai series and does not appear in any other music games.
External Links
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