Dance Dance Revolution Konamix
Konami of America
Genre:
Music Simulation
Players:
1 - 2
Type/#:
CD
/
1
Overall Rating
92
%
Graphics and Sound
By now, most gamers worth their salt have at least heard of Dance
Dance Revolution. Some have called it the greatest game series of all time;
others shake their heads in disgust when they spot it in the arcades. No
matter which category you may fall into, you've still gotta admit -- it's a
hell of a workout! And now, after releasing two lukewarm stateside versions
last year, Konami unleashes Dance Dance Revolution Konamix with loads
of fresh music and enough new features to get any DDR veteran sweatin' once
again.
Okay, so nothing's really changed visually. Anxious players haven't been
treated to the flashy 60 frames-per-second style seen in the DDR 5th
Mix import, and those original Solo Mode arrows are pretty ugly to say
the least. Don't get me started on the announcer's silly comments, either
('I can see tomorrow in your dance!' isn't my idea of flattery), but since
when has DDR ever been about glitzy graphics and amazing sound effects? It's
all about the music.
Konamix finally offers the American audience one of the best DDR song
collections ever assembled, hands down. Fans of 3rd and 4th Mixes get gems
like 'Hysteria', 'Drop Out', and 'End of the Century', while 5th and 6th Mix
nuts can play 'Matsuri Japan', 'Look to the Sky' and 'Groove' to their
hearts' content. And remember 'The Earth Light' and 'Perfect Free' from
Beatmania? They're all here, available to us at last without the aid
of a mod chip.
Gameplay
I've had indescribable fun dancing on DDR machines since 1999, and the home
versions are always a hoot when you've got a few modified dance pads and
crazy friends to play with. Admittedly, though, the concept of stepping on
four panels to repetitive, poppy Japanese music tends to wear thin over the
years. Here's where Konamix comes in to save the day.
U.S. gamers have really been spoiled with such a comprehensive package this
time. Lesson Mode teaches newbies the ropes, Workout tells you how many
calories you're burning during a session, Training lets you test out the
tunes and learn the steps with no repercussions, and Edit Mode gives players
the ability to forge their own creative steps for any song. But that's just
the old stuff -- Konamix now blows replay value into a new dimension
with the exclusive Solo Mode (6-panel) steps for nearly every song, and
Nonstop Order (my favorite) opens the door for personalized five-song
exercises set to your own specifications. For example, this is my custom
cardio training Nonstop:
1) Drop Out (Hidden - Maniac) - 8 Feet
2) Afronova Primeval (Right - Maniac) - 9 Feet
3) Era (Nostalmix) (Shuffle - Maniac) - 8 Feet
4) Matsuri Japan (Maniac) - 9 Feet
5) DXY! (Left - Maniac) - 8 Feet
I play that set once a day and I've instantly gotten one of the best
workouts of my life. Seriously, I've never been in better shape thanks to
years of DDR, and I personally know a few people who've lost up to 80 pounds
by playing it daily! Konamix easily extends DDR's lasting value with
these new modes, and should turn a few non-gamers' heads with its fitness
aspect.
Difficulty Level
Players can adjust the level of difficulty under Options, and each song has
Basic, Trick and Maniac versions available in the game. A song's 'foot
level' denotes how hard it is; a 3-footer should be a no-brainer for most,
while 9-foot 'catastrophics' take some serious skill to clear. Still not
hard enough for ya? Try a 5-song, 9-foot, 6-panel custom Nonstop and get
back to me on that.
Game Mechanics
The controls couldn't be simpler, whether you're using a third-party dance
pad or your trusty PlayStation controller (boooring!). Stepping up, down,
left or right doesn't exactly become complicated -- until the harder levels
where you're tripping over your own feet in an attempt to nail all those
eighth notes, of course.
Konamix also seems to use an adapted 4th Mix scoring system, placing
far more emphasis on full combos than accuracy. I really hate it when I can
land around 95 percent Perfect steps compared to my roommate's 80-something,
yet he gets three times more points than I do because he combos the entire
song. That all comes down to personal preference, though, and score has
never been my main concern in DDR to begin with. Go figure.
Compared to 2001's Dance Dance Revolution and DDR Disney Mix,
this one really gives American gamers a nice taste of what those wacky
Japanese have enjoyed for years. Sure, the song selection could be a tad
stronger and those graphics do need an overhaul, but then what would that
leave open for future stateside releases? Konami did a fantastic job of
listening to the fans while adding their own preferences into this package,
and with a suggested price tag of around 30 bucks, how can you lose? Call me
biased, but this may very well be the greatest game to hit the PlayStation
during its final days. Grab yourself a dance pad, pick up Konamix,
and shake that thang. You'll love it.
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