7 Reasons 'Take A Hint' Is The Most Legendary And Controversial Osu! Beatmap Of All Time

Few beatmaps in the history of the rhythm game *osu!* command the same level of respect, notoriety, and sheer play count as "Take a Hint" by the Victorious Cast. As of December 2025, this map remains an absolute staple, a rite of passage for high-level players, and a constant source of discussion in the community. It is a perfect storm of a catchy song, a brilliant mapper, and a difficulty spike that has defined the "jump-heavy" meta for years.

Originally a song from the Nickelodeon show *Victorious*, its transformation into an iconic *osu!* challenge has cemented its legacy. The map is not just a high-score chase; it is a cultural phenomenon within the game, often cited as "peak mapping" and a benchmark for skill, particularly when played with the infamous Double Time (DT) mod. The map's enduring popularity, even years after its creation, is a testament to its quality and the intense performance points (PP) it offers.

'Take a Hint' Beatmap Profile: The Core Facts

Unlike a biography of a person, the story of "Take a Hint" is the story of its most famous beatmap set, its creator, and the specific difficulties that have become legendary in the *osu!* community. Understanding these details is key to appreciating its impact.

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• Original Artist: Victorious Cast (feat. Victoria Justice & Elizabeth Gillies)
• Song Title: Take a Hint
• Most Famous Version: "Take a Hint (Speed Up Ver.)"
• Primary Mapper (Speed Up Ver.): SquareTude
• Key Difficulty Name: "[I Think You Could Use a Mint]"
• Star Rating (Base): Approximately 5.8★ to 6.28★ (depending on the map set and specific difficulty)
• Star Rating (with HDDT): Can reach up to 7.3★, making it a challenging play for top-tier players.
• Game Mode: *osu!*standard (Click-based rhythm game)
• Key Gameplay Style: High-speed, aggressive jump patterns (Jump Training)
• Noteworthy Collaborators (GDs): Malphs, My Angel Ram, and Kuki1537 have contributed Guest Difficulties (GDs) to various popular map sets.

The Phenomenon: Why This Beatmap is a PP Farm Legend

The reason "Take a Hint" consistently dominates the leaderboards and community discussions isn't just the song—it’s the near-perfect storm of mapping that turns a pop track into a high-octane rhythm challenge. The map's design perfectly exploits the *osu!* PP system, making it one of the most played maps for players seeking to climb the global rankings.

1. The Superiority of the "Speed Up Ver."

It's a rare case where an "altered version" of a song becomes significantly more well-known than the original within a specific community. The "Speed Up Ver." of "Take a Hint" is the version almost exclusively played in *osu!*. This increased tempo naturally ramps up the difficulty, making the map's jumps faster, the timing windows tighter, and the overall performance points (PP) reward substantially higher. Mappers like SquareTude capitalized on this tempo to create patterns that feel incredibly satisfying to hit.

2. The Double Time (DT) Mod Benchmark

For high-ranking players, the map is almost always played with the Double Time (DT) mod, which increases the song speed by 50% and raises the Approach Rate (AR) and Overall Difficulty (OD). This transforms the already fast map into a blur of notes, pushing the Star Rating to over 7.0★. Achieving a Full Combo (FC) on the DT version is a monumental feat, often resulting in a massive PP gain (frequently over 600pp, and historically even higher), immediately boosting a player's rank. Recent top plays, such as the one by "why\_so\_ez\_\_" with DT, confirm its ongoing relevance as a top play contender.

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3. Defining the Jump Training Meta

The core of "Take a Hint's" gameplay is its relentless, wide-spaced jump patterns. This map is a masterclass in jump training, requiring players to accurately move their cursor across large distances rapidly. The patterns are designed to be challenging but predictable, allowing players to practice the muscle memory necessary for high-speed cursor control. It is a key practice map that helps players transition from mid-level to high-level play, making it a critical part of the *osu!* training regimen.

The Community's Verdict: Peak Mapping or PP Farm?

The "Take a Hint" beatmap set is often at the center of a long-running community debate: Is it genuinely "peak mapping" or simply a highly efficient "PP farm" map? The truth lies in the middle, and this duality is what fuels its enduring popularity.

4. A Testament to Mapping Quality

Many veteran players and mappers consider the most popular difficulties of "Take a Hint" to be exceptionally well-mapped. One comment in a community discussion called it "peak mapping" and the "best mapset ever." The hitsounding is crisp, the patterns flow well with the music's aggressive energy, and the difficulty scales perfectly. It’s a map that feels rewarding to play, even when you fail, which is the hallmark of a truly great rhythm game level.

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5. The Controversial PP Farm Label

Despite its quality, the map's massive PP yield has led to it being labeled a "PP farm" map. This term is used for maps that are arguably overweighted in the Performance Point system relative to their actual difficulty or length. Because the jumps are relatively straightforward and the map is short (especially the cut versions), players can grind it repeatedly to inflate their rank. This accessibility to high PP has made it a common top play for high-ranking 5-digit players, as noted in recent Reddit discussions.

6. Enduring Relevance in the Current Meta

Even with new beatmaps released daily, "Take a Hint" continues to be relevant. The constant stream of YouTube videos showcasing "NEW TOP PLAY ON TAKE A HINT" and discussions about its difficulty (e.g., the 7.3-star HDDT version) confirm its status as a current metric for skill. The map acts as a historical marker and a current challenge, bridging the gap between older *osu!* eras and the modern high-speed meta.

7. The Catchy, Memetic Source Material

Finally, the source material itself is a major factor. The song, performed by Victoria Justice and Elizabeth Gillies, is incredibly catchy and has a memorable, slightly aggressive tone that perfectly matches the intensity of the jump patterns. This familiarity and the song's "meme" status outside of *osu!* give the beatmap a cultural weight that most other maps lack, making it instantly recognizable and appealing to a broad segment of the player base.

Entities and Related Keywords (LSI)

To fully appreciate the scope of this beatmap, one must consider the various entities and related concepts that orbit its fame:

• The Game: *osu!* rhythm game, *osu!*standard, *osu!*mania
• The Song: Victorious Cast, Victoria Justice, Elizabeth Gillies, Nickelodeon
• The Mapper: SquareTude, Kuki1537, Malphs (Guest Difficulties)
• The Mods: Double Time (DT), Hidden (HD), Hard Rock (HR)
• The Metrics: Performance Points (PP), Star Rating, Approach Rate (AR), Overall Difficulty (OD)
• The Style: Jump Training, High-Speed Jumps, Speed Mapping, Cursor Control
• The Community: *osu!* community favorite, PP farm map, Top Plays, Leaderboards, 5-digit player benchmark, "I Think You Could Use a Mint" difficulty.

The legacy of "Take a Hint" is secure. It is a beatmap that transcends simple gameplay, becoming a cultural touchstone that defines skill, sparks debate, and continues to challenge the best players in the *osu!* world, making it one of the most important and enduring maps in the game's history.