Pros: Fun dancing game for playstation, good music, great workout.
Cons: Somewhat expensive and hard to find accessories, inexplicably hard to find.
The Bottom Line: Dancing games are typically given a bad rap in the gaming world for their lousy music, or reptitive gameplay. Dance Dance Revolution is quite a trend setter.
kfj001's Full Review: Dance Dance Revolution: Konamix for PlayStation 1
It's more than just a video game
From the title, the explanation of "dance" is implied. Well, they're right. This game certainly involves a lot of dancing.
Based on the extremely popular Bemani (slang for "Beat Mania") series from Konami, this version of Dance Dance Revolution is a home version of the popular dancing based video game for Sony Playstation.
That's right, dancing.
Forget your controllers.
Dance Dance Revolution, being a dancing game, doesn't revolve around your ability to pound repeatedly on a hand-held Playstation controller. No, instead it revolves around your ability to actually psychically dance.
This is accomplished with the special "dance pad" controllers for Sony Playstation. What these special devices are is a touch sensitive plastic pad, measuring about nine square feet, that has arrows on it.
Each arrow points in a different direction. "Up", "down", "left", and "right". Your mission? Step on those arrows with your feet according to the order and timing that the game specifies.
The game
Dance Dance Revolution has no story line. No plot to get tangled up in. instead, it's all about "let's see your energy" to quote a line from the video game.
Once you've selected a 'game mode' to play in (depending on your mood), you select your "avatar". These are game "characters" who dance in tune with the music, to entertain whoever may be watching your gaming session in the room (because you WILL be too busy to notice what your on-screen avatar is doing, while playing)
You select your "play mode" which is comprised of simplified versions of all the songs (basic), normal modes for the songs but your overall score doesn't get counted (Normal), and the Nonstop mode where song sets are pre-selected, and you dance them to your best to get the "high score" (Nonstop).
In "Basic", and "Normal", you select "songs" in this game. Each song is about 1:30 in length, and is typically a techno-pop or "dance" style song (although other genre's exist.) Each song is a varying difficulty, ranging with steps involving simple two-stepping, to ultra-fast paced maniac tap-dancing steps from beginning to end.
Each song is "Recorded" by an 'independent artist' (Konami employee who could sing). And each song is, for the most part, unique. There are a few "remixes" and "rerecording" of old favorites, like Olivia Newton John's "Have you Never been mellow?" To a disco/dance beat, and "Smoke on the water (Fire in the sky)", also to a dance beat.
Once the song begins to play, little arrows corresponding to steps on your dance pad begin to scroll along the screen from bottom to top. When those arrows hit the top, you step on the corresponding arrow on your dance pad.
The close the arrow is to the top of the screen when you hit the dance-pad button, the better your score. If you continue to do well, the virtual announcer will congratulate you on your ability to dance. If you continue to miss steps and barely get the timing of each step right, the announcer will consequently barrage you with insults (and you can turn him off if he really bugs you).
Pretty simple sounding, isn't it?
It's not.
I should point out that simply two-stepping your way into a video game isn't the intention here. Far from it.
Because actual psychical movement is involved in this game, it gets exhausting very quickly (unless your in shape, and for most people who just start out with this game, AREN'T).
The game provides substantial training for the invariable tap-dancing orgy of stepping you'll have to do in the highest levels. With a special training mode that teaches (in slow, and repeatable lessons) starting out with "When to step on your pad", progressing into "how to step on two buttons at once", and even going into a little mini-song where you can practice your new dancing skills.
But this game is quite the energy drain.
Some songs are extremely slow, catchy and not too difficult. The Olivia Project's (the name for the sound-a-like who sings Olivia Newton John songs) Have you Never been mellow is the first, and easiest song, with a slow beat, and simple steps.
Songs like "Boom Boom Dollar" (mentioned in the title) are somewhat harder, but not overall that taxing. If you have the basic set of steps and maneuvers down (explained, demonstrated and practiced in the Training mode in this game), This other song is not quite that difficult either.
Since you have to dance through at least one song, and you'll want to continue to a second, and hopefully a third, you will begin to feel your personal stamina falling.
But, practice, practice practice, and you will get more "Perfect"!
Sounds like a chore.
This game is not a chore to play, it's really quite fun. Actually, this game is great. It's a load of fun for one, and even two players (two mats or controllers required, of course).
Yes, it takes psychical energy to play it. But playing it is a blast. The independent songs are quite well done, and very catchy. You'll learn to sing along to some of them (provided they have lyrics), and you'll even develop a favorite or two as you play.
Catchy music, with simply fun and innovative gameplay make Dance Dance Revolution a quick favorite for a wide variety of people.
Good luck getting it.
This game may sound like an aggravating chore. Or, it may sound like an interesting change from button mashing and lethargy found in most other video games.
Either way, if you want a copy, your going to find out just how many other people want a copy too.
For some inexplicable and idiotic reason, Konami (and it's distributors as well as publishers) have ensured this game, and it's accessories are in somewhat limited supply. Keep in mind, you CAN play this game with a standard Playstation controller, but a dance mat gives this game it's reason for being played; TO DANCE.
The game is hard to find.
The mats are hard to find.
There's a combo pack of a copy of Dance Dance Revolution and a Konami brand dance mat. This pack is EXTREMELY hard to find.
Your local software store is going to be hard up to get these items for you. So online sources like Amazon.com, as well as other sites are your best bet for finding either the game, the mats, or both in the pack.
The problem with mats...
The Playstation mats serve as full fledged Playstation controllers. The arrows correspond directly to the direction buttons on a standard Playstation controller. Certain mats come with X, Circle, Square and Triangle buttons placed in the corners of the mat so you can play other games with your dance pad.
The problem with mats, aside from the fact that there somewhat hard to find, is that Konami isn't the only company who makes them.
Companies like "Topway" manufacture both soft, touch-sensitive pads, as well as hard "dance pad appliance" devices (explained later) with weight sensors. They make good quality dance equipment. Their pads don't slip and slide around like a twister mat on shag carpeting, and they're nice and durable.
Konami's soft pads are also really high quality. Not too much "slippage" when in use, and durable.
Naki makes a lower quality pad, the lifetime of which is debatable, but the pads slide around. This is inconvenient when dancing.
Hard, soft, good, pad, we're still talking about dancing pads, right?
Your dance pad is your key to playing Dance Dance Revolution the way it's meant to be played, because you CAN play it with a standard controller (you just don't get any exercise in doing so).
There are two types of pad. Hard and soft.
Soft pad's are TOUCH SENSITIVE, and typically a thin plastic material with wiring inside of it. Soft pads are flexible, thin and somewhat delicate. They are to be placed on flat flooring and dance upon, barefoot or with socked feet.
Soft pads tend to wear down after some time, depending on how you dance on them.
Soft pads range from $25 - $40 each.
HARD Pads are very different. The technology behind a hard pad is more advanced (and more expensive) but they are substantially better than a soft pad.
HARD pads are WEIGHT SENSTIVE. The hard pad is typically an "appliance" like device that is solid plastic, and several inches thick.
The sensors inside the device measure weight. NOT touches. When a certain amount of weight is applied to a certain pad, the pad registers a "touch" and sends it to your Playstation.
Because hard pads don't have thin wires to register your dancing (instead they have that weigh mechanism), they are substantially more durable. They can be used WITH shoes, and trampled upon like flooring.
Hard pads are usually $100 a piece.
Dance Dance Revolution supports two pads (for two players). So if both players want to actually DANCE (not just use a controller), each player will need a separate dance pad. Soft or otherwise.
An expensive hobby, but you'll enjoy it.
This game provides quite the workout. It's a blast because it does. But between the pads and the game you'll be spending at least $70 on a copy and a single pad (unless you comparison shop to save money.)
Hard or soft pads, you'll likely also spend money on shipping, because there's only a slim chance you'll find a copy of the game, or it's accessories at your local software store.
Summary
A game that requires skill, and even teaches you how to build that skill is always a good one. With great music, and truly unique gameplay, Dance Dance Revolution is a fantastic and unique game for your collection. As well as a good workout.
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