Doremikko is an educational music game developed by Konami and released exclusively in Japan for the Famicom Disk System in 1987. Originally bundled with a dedicated 36-key musical keyboard peripheral, it stands as one of the earliest examples of a video game designed around a custom instrument. The software offers a robust mix of music practice, improvisation, and recording features.
How to play
The game features three primary modes. “Magic Forest” acts as a guided practice mode where you can learn to play classic melodies and even a medley from Gradius. “Piano” mode lets you improvise and record your own tunes, while “Concert” mode allows for multi-part arrangements and playback. In a browser emulator without the original peripheral, standard NES controls (D-pad to navigate, A/B to select, and Start/Select) are mapped to your keyboard’s arrow keys, Z/X, and Enter/Shift. Because the original game relied on a full keyboard, composing complex pieces with a standard controller interface requires patience.
Tips
- If you do not read Japanese, “Magic Forest” is the most accessible mode to jump into, as it focuses on playing along to familiar built-in songs.
- Use the recording features in “Concert” mode to build your musical compositions layer by layer.
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