Overview
VSpook! (バーサスプーク！) is a Halloween-themed HardBass original composed by s-don for maimai DX FESTiVAL, released on November 18, 2022. The title, which the composer confirmed reads as "Versus Spook!" (with a minor jacket-side notation of ヴァーサスプーク！), merges the concept of a matchup with a haunting, jack-o'-lantern and ghost emojis in s-don's announcement tweet reinforce the October-spirited theme.
s-don had previously contributed to the maimai series with Trrricksters!!, a collaboration with Hino Isuka (翡乃イスカ). VSpook! marked their second original for the game and established their presence in the maimai composer lineup with a driving, aggressive electronic sound built around the HardBass style.
The song debuted behind a Perfect Challenge gate in Metropolis Area 6, requiring players to accumulate 1000 km of travel distance within the area to attempt it. It was later made available by default starting with maimai DX BUDDiES (September 14, 2023). Regional releases followed: the Asian version unlocked on April 14, 2023, and the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2023) on January 11, 2024.
The in-game flavor text drops players into the Metropolis narrative universe: characters Shikoku (紫黒), Sekiboku (赤墨), and Kurohime (黒姫) brace for battle against an antagonist named Ishu (イーシュ), exchanging defiant words before the fighting begins, a cinematic framing that suits the track's tense, high-energy mood.
On the charting side, the MASTER chart (Level 14, constant 14.3) was collaboratively designed by Redarrow and Suirouya (翠楼屋), credited as Redarrow VS 翠楼屋. Their signature is visible in an unusually high Break-note count of 156, among the heftier Break totals for a Level 14 MASTER chart. The EXPERT chart (Level 12+, constant 12.9) was designed by Rocher@penguin (ロシェ@ペンギン).
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
6(6)
256 notesDesigner: -|Tap 214Hold 10Slide 5Touch 8Break 19
ADVANCED
8(8)
402 notesDesigner: -|Tap 336Hold 18Slide 3Touch 19Break 26
EXPERT
12+(12.9)
804 notesDesigner: ロシェ@ペンギン|Tap 530Hold 118Slide 83Touch 62Break 11
MASTER
14(14.3)
1095 notesDesigner: Redarrow VS 翠楼屋|Tap 730Hold 47Slide 120Touch 42Break 156
Trivia
- The composer s-don confirmed the title's reading as バーサスプーク！ (Versus Spook!) in an announcement tweet, though the in-game jacket text uses ヴァーサスプーク！, creating a minor orthographic variation between バ and ヴァ.
- VSpook! is s-don's second contribution to the maimai original soundtrack, following Trrricksters!!, a collaborative piece with Hino Isuka (翡乃イスカ).
- Halloween imagery surrounds the track: jack-o'-lantern and ghost emojis appeared in s-don's promotional tweet, and the word 'spook' in the title directly evokes the holiday.
- Originally a Perfect Challenge reward in Metropolis Area 6, VSpook! required 1000 km of cumulative travel distance within the area before it could be played. This unlock condition was removed in maimai DX BUDDiES, making the song available by default.
- Regional unlock dates varied: Asian servers received the song on April 14, 2023, while the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2023) unlocked it on January 11, 2024.
- The MASTER chart credits two well-known maimai designers, Redarrow and Suirouya (翠楼屋), in a head-to-head credit format (Redarrow VS 翠楼屋), suggesting a collaborative or competitive design approach.
- The MASTER chart contains 156 Break notes out of 1095 total notes, a notably high Break count for a Level 14 chart that rewards precise timing for high-score runs.
- The flavor text narrative features characters from the Metropolis story arc: Shikoku (紫黒), Sekiboku (赤墨), Kurohime (黒姫), and an antagonist named Ishu (イーシュ), setting a pre-battle scene of defiance and military resolve.
- The EXPERT chart was designed by Rocher@penguin (ロシェ@ペンギン), a maimai chart designer known for creative note placements across multiple FESTiVAL-era songs.
FAQ
- Who composed VSpook! for maimai?
- VSpook! was composed by s-don, who previously co-created Trrricksters!! with Hino Isuka (翡乃イスカ) for the maimai series.
- What version of maimai did VSpook! first appear in?
- The song debuted in maimai DX FESTiVAL on November 18, 2022, and became available by default starting with maimai DX BUDDiES.
- How do you read the title VSpook! in Japanese?
- The composer confirmed the reading as バーサスプーク！ (Versus Spook!), though the jacket artwork displays ヴァーサスプーク！ with a slightly different initial kana.
- What genre is VSpook! classified as in maimai?
- VSpook! is a HardBass (ハードベース) track. The Halloween theme is reinforced by its title, a blend of 'versus' and 'spook', and jack-o'-lantern imagery in the composer's announcement.
- Who designed the MASTER chart for VSpook!?
- The MASTER chart (Level 14, constant 14.3) was co-designed by Redarrow and Suirouya (翠楼屋), credited as Redarrow VS 翠楼屋. The EXPERT chart (Level 12+, constant 12.9) was designed by Rocher@penguin (ロシェ@ペンギン).
- How many Break notes does the VSpook! MASTER chart have?
- The MASTER chart contains 156 Break notes out of 1095 total notes, a notably high Break count that contributes to the chart's scoring potential.
- Was VSpook! originally locked when it released?
- Yes. During FESTiVAL, VSpook! was a Perfect Challenge reward in Metropolis Area 6, requiring 1000 km of cumulative area distance. It was made available by default starting with maimai DX BUDDiES on September 14, 2023.
- What is the story behind VSpook! in maimai?
- The song is tied to the Metropolis narrative arc. Its flavor text depicts a standoff between characters Shikoku (紫黒), Sekiboku (赤墨), and Kurohune (黒姫) against an antagonist named Ishu (イーシュ), with defiant dialogue exchanged just before battle begins.
