Dance Dance Revolution
Most books and websites I've seen on classic videogames generally deal with arcade games that were released prior to 1984 (the year of the fabled Great Videogame Crash where many videogame manufacturers either lost a lot of money or went out of business). However, this narrow-minded interpretation of what videogames deserve to be considered "classics" completely ignores worthwhile and innovative games that were released in the years since then.
Dance Dance Revolution is a case in point. When Konami first released this game in the arcades in Japan in 1998, it created an instant sensation due to its uniqueness. Up to this point, most people played videogames by either standing or sitting in front of a machine while pushing buttons with their fingers or moving joysticks with their hands. Sure it gave the eyes and hands a good workout but the rest of the body was pretty still so it wasn't very condusive to being physically fit.
Dance Dance Revolution was different. For one thing, you used your legs and feet instead of your hands. Plus the game had a soundtrack that sounded like something you'd hear at a nightclub or rave instead of the usual computer game music.
The object of the game is simple. The player stands on a pad that has arrows. The player uses the arrows on the pad to select the game's difficulty then select what song he/she wants to play. (The game provides a brief snippet of each song in order to help the player make a choice.)
Once the game begins, a row of dark arrows appears on top of the screen. Yellow arrows start floating from the bottom of the screen to the top. Once the yellow arrow matches one of the dark arrows, that person is supposed to hit the corresponding arrow on the pad. In the meantime the game flashes a bunch of pretty images that's tempting to watch, but not too closely or else you'll get so distracted that you miss hitting the arrows at the proper time.
If the person does well, then he/she can progress to the next song. The game ends after mastering the third song. However, if the person bombs out on the song at any point, then the game will end much sooner.
It's very easy to learn but, like all great games, it's difficult to master, especially if one hits the faster-paced songs at the hardest difficulty and the yellow arrows start flying like crazy to the top.
Dance Dance Revolution was (and still continues to be) a sensation in many ways. Each subsequent sequel boasts a soundtrack that will definitely keep your toes tapping. Even though many of the songs are by relative unknowns, most of the music is excellent. At times I find myself thinking that some of these songs deserve to be major radio hits far more than anything by the likes of Justin Timberlake or Hillary Duff.
What's more, many people who play Dance Dance Revolution on a regular basis have reported losing weight, which is unusual for a videogame.
Dance Dance Revolution have also inspired knock-offs. One such example is a similar game called Pump It Up that is also frequently found in arcades where the pads sport diagonal arrows instead of horizonal and vertical arrows. Another one is Bust a Groove, an excellent dancing game that was released for the Playstation before Konami released the first DDR game for that platform.
Even Britney Spears got into the act by releasing her own dancing game, featuring her music and likeness, called Britney's Dance Beat.
I discovered this game in a roundabout way. I had pretty much stopped frequenting video arcades on a regular basis by the mid-1980's mainly because of Mortal Kombat. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate that game (in fact, I even played it a few times). What I hated was that Mortal Kombat's success prompted the way for numerous sequels (which were basically similar) and inspired other manufacturers began to come out with their own Mortal Kombat knock-offs. At the same time, a few of the old-time arcades in my area went out of business while the remaining arcades had gotten rid of Pac-Man, BurgerTime, and other classic games so they could offer Mortal Kombat and its many sequels and clones. It just got so boring with all these fighting games and no other alternatives so I basically quit going. (It also didn't help that the prices of playing these games had gone from 25 cents a game to 50 cents a game then up to $1 per game.)
So I pretty much missed Dance Dance Revolution's initial arrival in the U.S. I saw a few dancing games like The Jungle Book Rhythm & Groove in the video stores for the Playstation but I ignored them.
I didn't discover that game until October, 2001 when I was still reeling from the September 11 terrorist attacks (I live just 20 miles from the Pentagon and the ministers at my church had officiated over a memorial service for an entire family who were on that plane that hit the Pentagon). I was on a diet but had gone off of it in a big way and I would go on these eating binges where I would eat a bunch of candy or something else that was sweet. I was browsing through one of the stores when I found Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Mix featuring Mickey Mouse and his pals on the front. I looked at it mainly because I was into Mickey Mouse as a child and it seems like a blast from the past. What was really cool was that this game had a Workout Mode where you can track how much calories you've burned.
Even though I had a Playstation 2, the big obstacle was that not only did the game cost $40 but I had to buy a dance pad controller, which cost $25 at the time (the prices have gone way down since). At first I was leery about making such an investment because I was afraid that I wouldn't like the game. So I went home and mulled it over for the next couple of weeks.
I took stock of my current weight situation, which had gotten so out of control that recently purchased a few pairs of size 26 jeans at Wal-Mart, which totally upset me. I began to realize that just walking for 30 minutes a day three to four times a week wasn't doing it for me. I decided to add some more exercise time by trying Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Mix.
So I took the plunge and bought the game and dance pad controller. When I first tried the game I found the music to be surprisingly listenable. As for the dancing part, I found that while I was okay with the really easy songs, I would quickly get out of breath whenever I tried any of the harder songs. But I soon began to enjoy the game and I found myself hooked.
What's really refreshing about the game's Workout Mode is that you don't get some perky, hyperactive instructor barking orders like a drill seargeant. Your only guide are the arrows and the deejay in the game is laid-back compared to Richard Simmons. (It also helps that the music in DDR is far superior to what one would find in a typical workout video.)
Soon afterwards, I bought the first Dance Dance Revoltuion game that Konami released in the stores in the U.S. I found the songs on that game to be even better than the ones on Disney Mix and I really got into it. I soon became inspired to purchase Bust a Groove and The Jungle Book Rhythm & Groove as well. I began to buy every new dancing game released in the U.S. I even bought Britney's Dance Beat, even though I'm not a big Britney Spears fan.
There are hardcore DDR fans who have purchased the Japanese imports but I haven't bothered to do that yet mainly because the imports are expensive plus I really don't feel like going through the time, effort, and money to get a mod-chip installed in my Playstation 2 so it can play those imports.
In any case, I began to get serious about my weight. I began to take 30-minute morning walks around the neighborhood four days a week and do shorter stretching/toning exercises two days a week. I augmented all that with playing Dance Dance Revolution and other dancing games for 30 minutes in the evening four days a week. (I've recently boosted that to playing DDR for 30 minutes in the evening six days a week.) At the same time I began to closely follow two books by Kathleen DesMaisons: The Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program and its sequel Your Last Diet!
I began my weight loss program in earnest on January 2, 2002. Since then, my dress size has gone down from a size 26 to a size 18. Recently I've discovered that I'm able to fit into some size 16 clothes if they are cut loose enough. In addition, I've received compliments from many people who've noticed my weight loss.
All I can say is that I'm one of the many people who can claim that they've loss weight playing Dance Dance Revolution. Actually, I have a perfect tabloid headline to describe my current situation: I'VE LOST WEIGHT PLAYING VIDEOGAMES!
But there is one other thing that Dance Dance Revolution has done for me--it has exposed me to a variety of music that one would never hear on corporate radio in the United States. Konami seems to make an effort to find music that people would actually like instead of just picking superstar acts like Madonna or Christina Aguilera. The soundtrack is far more adventurous and interesting than what one would hear on a radio station that's owned by Viacom or Clear Channel.
Sure, there are a few klunkers among the good songs. But even the klunkers are fare more listenable than some Top 40 hits that gets played several times a day on the radio.
When I was visiting Ocean City, Maryland this past summer, I found a Dance Dance Revolution machine in the arcade on the Boardwalk that was frequently crowded, no matter what time of day it was. I've noticed that the best players were also the thinnest ones. These players would draw crowds as they successfully dance to the hardest songs at the hardest difficulty levels.
From time to time I'll try either Dance Dance Revolution or Pump It Up in the arcades and I do okay at the lower levels. Maybe one of these days I'll be in good enough shape and get enough guts to try the hardest songs at the hardest difficulty levels and have throngs of crowds gather around me to admire me.
For now, I'm just content trying the harder songs in the privacy of my own home.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is based on one person's biased opinions of which videogames should be considered to be classics and why. It is not meant to provide a complete history of the videogame industry, the latest videogame news, technical support, or hints on how to play a certain videogame. None of the videogame manufacturers or programmers mentioned here have endorsed or supported this blog in any way, shape, or form.
NOTE: If there are any errors or updates to what I have written about Dance Dance Revolution, please send an e-mail to [link=mailto:kstarkREMOVE-ALL-CAPS-IF-NOT-SPAM@erols.com]kstarkREMOVE-ALL-CAPS-IF-NOT-SPAM@erols.com[/link] (remember to remove the capital letters from my mailing address before sending or else it will get rejected) and I'll edit this piece when time permits.
DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION AND OTHER DANCING GAMES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
PLAYSTATION 1
Dance Dance Revoltuion--This is the first DDR title that Konami released in the U.S. Many hardcore DDR enthusiasts who had previously been buying Japanese imports were disappointed by this title. However, I think that it's a pretty enjoyable debut. Sure, the gameplay and graphics are crude compared to later DDR titles but the songs are still very good and worth dancing to. Personal Favorites: "Boom Boom Dollar", "Drop the Bomb", "El Ritmo Tropical", "Make it Better", "I Believe in Miracles", and "Smoke" (a rap song that's based on Deep Purple's classic "Smoke on the Water").
Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Mix--Many hardcore DDR enthusiasts think that this second U.S. release is a travesty but I think this is a charming game that has an all-ages appeal to anyone who likes Disney. The music is a combination of remixed techno Disney songs (which are surprisingly listenable) and non-Disney toe-tappers. Mickey Mouse and his friends alternate as deejays while you dance. This game doesn't boo you like the other DDR games and the announcer is encouraging even when you bomb out on a song, which is perfect for children and DDR newbies. Personal Favorites: "Are You Ready Do the Bus Stop", "D.D.D! (Happy 65th Anniversary for Donald Duck)", "Macho Duck," "Fire", "Mickey Mouse March (Eurobeat Version)", "Mickey Mouse March (Summertime Extended Version)", "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah", "Let's Twist Again", and "Mr. Bassman".
Dance Dance Revolution: Konamix--The third DDR game released in the U.S. is the game that many hardcore DDR enthusiasts think is the best release on the Playstation 1, citing the fact this title has more songs than the previous Playstation 1 DDR titles. This title is the last one that Konami would release for the Playstation 1 in the U.S. Personal Favorites: ".59", "Absolute", "Cutie Chaser", "Drop Out", "Drop the Bomb", "End ot the Century" (which has a riff that's based on Ludwig von Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony"), "Look to the Sky", "Make a Jam!", "On the Jazz", and "Super Star".
Bust a Groove--Of all the non-DDR dancing games, this one is the best. The object of this game is to pick a character (with each one having his/her own theme song) and challenge other characters in a series of dance competitions. The more you dance without missing a beat, the more you can see objects in the background start to animate and evolve. The best dancer wins the round and gets to go on to the next competition. If you perform extremely well during the competition, you'll get rewarded with Extended Time where you do a few seconds of funky dance numbers. The graphics are excellent and it boasts an awesome soundtrack that have no duds on it. Personal Favorites: The theme songs of Shorty, Strike, Hiro, and Hamm.
Bust a Groove 2--This sequel has the same gameplay but with even better graphics than the original. The soundtrack, unfortunately, does contain a few dud tunes along with the catchy memorable songs. Overall, it's a flawed yet fun sequel that's worth checking out. Personal Favorites: The theme songs of Comet, Bio, Tsomutu, and Kelly.
The Jungle Book Rhythm & Groove--It's a fun dancing game that's based on Disney's classic "The Jungle Book." In Story Mode you get to control Mowgli as he dances his way through the jungle and faces off against Shere Khan. The music includes the original movie songs "The Bear Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" along with newer tunes that were written especially for this game. The game also includes a Karaoke mode so you can sing along to the lyrics.
Super Star Dance Club: #1 Hits--Of all the non-DDR dancing games, this one scrapes the bottom of the barrel. The one saving grace is that this game is so bad that it's funny and I find it far more playable (and cheaper in price) than something like Frogger: The Great Quest (a dull and mediocre adaptation of the arcade classic that made me glad that I only rented it). How bad and funny is it? The cover art leads one to believe that the person gets to control either a blonde, brunette, or purple-haired girl in the game. However, once you start the game, you get to control only one character--a blue-haired, well-endowed girl who can't be seen anywhere on the front cover. The game is similar to Bust a Groove where the blue-haired girl goes through a series of dance competitions so she can win money and go shopping (which seems to be the only reason why she is interested in competing). The game's sub-title is "#1 Hits" but I guess it means that the songs were number one hits on another planet in a distant galaxy since these songs sound like nothing you've ever heard on the radio anywhere on Earth. In fact, the music sounds like something that a teenage girl composed with her cheap MIDI keyboard in the privacy of her own bedroom. The one-frame-per-second 2-D animation is awful and does not even match the beat of the music. The game also only costs $10 so it's a pretty cheap way of enjoying a totally bad DDR/Bust a Move clone.
Bratz--It's a dancing game that's based on the popular Bratz doll line. The game is similar to Bust a Groove where you choose a Bratz doll and go through a series of dance competitions. The 3-D graphics are pretty good and the dolls seem lifelike. As for the music, while it's not quite as bad as Superstar Dance Club: #1 Hits, it's pretty forgettable compared with DDR or Bust a Groove. On the plus side, the game is pretty cheap compared to other dancing games and people who collect Bratz dolls will definitely enjoy this.
DDR Dance Mat--This is the official dance mat that's made by Konami, the same company that's responsible for the Dance Dance Revoltuion series.
Dance Pad Revolution--This is a dance pad controller that's made by Naki.
Dance Mat--This is a dance pad controller that's made by Intec.
Mad Catz Dance Mat--This is a dance pad controller that's made by Mad Catz.
PLAYSTATION 2
DDR Max: Dance Dance Revolution--This is the first Playstation 2 game that Konami released in the U.S. Personal Favorites: "Celebrate", "Cutie Chaser (Morning Mix)", "Dark Black Forest (Short Trip)", "Drop the Bomb", "Gambol", "I Like to Move It", "Look to the Sky", "Ordinary World", "The Shining Polaris", "True (Trance Sunrise Mix)", and "You Leave Me Alone".
DDR Max 2: Dance Dance Revolution--The second U.S. Playstation 2 game boasts more mainstream music (which includes likes of Kylie Minogue, Dirty Vegas, KC & The Sunshine Band, and The Crystal Method) than the previous titles yet it's still just as danceable as its predecessors. Personal Favorites: A cool remake of the Village People's classic "In the Navy", KC & The Sunshine Band's classic "Get Down Tonight", The Crystal Method's "Busy Child", "Dream a Dream" (which has a riff that's based on Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King"), "Take Me Away", Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By", "Super Star", "End of the Century" (which has a riff that's based on Ludwig von Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony"), "Let's Groove", "The Whistle Song", and "The Shining Polaris".
DDR Max 2: Dance Dance Revolution With Dance Pad--It's the same game mentioned above except that it comes with a dance pad controller, which is perfect if you are just getting into DDR for the first time or you need to replace your current dance pad.
Britney's Dance Beat--It's a dancing game featuring the music and likeness of Britney Spears. It's similar to Bust a Groove where you get to play as an aspiring dancer who's auditioning to become one of the backup dancers on Britney's upcoming world tour. The gameplay and graphics are excellent. The biggest weakness is that this game boasts only five songs, which is a pittance compared to any of the DDR titles. It's also pretty bad considering that, at the time of this game's release, Britney had just released her third CD. (I mean, c'mon, couldn't the manufacturers include a few non-hit CD tracks on this game?) Hearing the same five songs over and over again can get monotonous after a while. Die-hard Britney fans will love this game. For everyone else, it's a fun but seriously flawed dancing game.
The Jungle Book Rhythm & Groove--It's a fun dancing game that's based on Disney's classic "The Jungle Book." In Story Mode you get to control Mowgli as he dances his way through the jungle and faces off against Shere Khan. The music includes the original movie songs "The Bear Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" along with newer tunes that were written especially for this game. The game also includes a Karaoke mode so you can sing along to the lyrics.
Lowrider--This game has been described as "DDR with cars." You select a car then cruise the streets or participate in a series of tournament competitions, which include Hop, Dance, Bed-Dance, and Unlimited.
American Idol--Another game that's similar to Bust a Groove. Based on the hit TV show, you use the dance pad controller to make a series of steps that corresponds to the contestant's singing ability. The more you can keep your feet in tune with the music, the better that contestant will sing in the game and the more likely you'll make the judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell happy. If you mess up, you can count on nasty remarks, especially from Simon.
Space Channel 5, Part 2--This is a sequel to the original dancing game that was created for the Dreamcast and later ported to the Game Boy Advance. A mini-skirted television reporter named Ulala (pronounced "ooh-la-la") is on another assignment as she investigates a mysterious dancing group who is forcing innocent bystanders to dance before whisking them away. Like in the previous game, Ulala becomes part of the story herself as she is forced into dancing and singing in order to free the hostages.
DDR Dance Mat--This is the official dance mat that's made by Konami, the same company that's responsible for the Dance Dance Revoltuion series.
Dance Pad Revolution--This is a dance pad controller that's made by Naki.
Dance Mat--This is a dance pad controller that's made by Intec.
Mad Catz Dance Mat--This is a dance pad controller that's made by Mad Catz.
X-BOX
DDR Ultramix--This is the first DDR title for the X-Box that Konami released in the U.S. It has a similar set list to DDR Max 2: Dance Dance Revoltuion (for the Playstation 2) as well as other songs that have appeared on other DDR titles for the Playstation 1 and Playstation 2. This game does have one added feature: DDR Ultramix is X-Box Live compatible so players have the option of downloading additional songs and competing online.
DDR Ultramix With Dance Mat--It's the same game mentioned above, except that it comes with a dance pad controller, which is perfect for X-Box owners who are just getting into DDR for the first time.
DREAMCAST
Space Channel 5--This is a fun dancing game that has a wacky premise: a television reporter named Ulala (pronounced "ooh-la-la"), who wears an orange mini-skirt, is covering a story about an alien invasion of Earth and she ends up being part of the story as she's forced to copy the aliens' dance steps in order to free the hostages. This game is a fun cross between Dance Dance Revolution and the old electronic memory game Simon.
GAME BOY ADVANCE
Space Channel 5: Ulala's Cosmic Attack--This is a port of the original Dreamcast game. It's a fun dancing game that has a wacky premise: a television reporter named Ulala (pronounced "ooh-la-la"), who wears an orange mini-skirt, is covering a story about an alien invasion of Earth and she ends up being part of the story as she's forced to copy the aliens' dance steps in order to free the hostages. This game is a fun cross between Dance Dance Revolution and the old electronic memory game Simon.
Britney's Dance Beat--It's the same Playstation 2 game that's adapted to the Game Boy Advance and it's designed to give your fingers a workout. Die-hard Britney Spears fans will definitely love this one.
Mary-Kate and Ashley's Girls' Night Out--The Olson twins appear in their own dancing game that's only available for the Game Boy Advance.
DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION LINKS
BeatFreekS--This fan site provides the latest news on music games for the PC, Playstation 1, and Playstation 2 in the UK.
DDR Freak--This is the ultimate fan site. It includes a history of the game, the complete song list of every single DDR game that has ever been released in both Japan and the U.S., the latest DDR news, a search engine to help you locate a DDR arcade game near your home, step charts to help you master the most complex DDR song, and a very lively and active forum.
DDR Spot--Provides the latest news on Dance Dance Revolution and other music games. This site includes DDR music ringtones that one can download for free, multimedia downloads, and a list of upcoming DDR tournaments.
DDR East Invasion--Another DDR fan site with a forum that's less active than DDR Freak's. This site tends to focus more on upcoming DDR tournaments, which frequently posts such information on the front page.
DDRManiaX.net--This site provides information on Dance Dance Revolution simulation games for the PC (such as Stepmania and Dance With Intensity).
International DDR Meetup Day--You can meet other DDR enthusiasts face-to-face in your hometown once a month.
The Killer List of Videogames' Dance Dance Revolution Exhibit
Konami--The official site of the company that's responsible for Dance Dance Revolution.
12 Steps to Addiction: Confessions of a DDR Addict--The title is self-explanatory.<
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f*** you