Dance Dance Revolution
GAMEPLAY:
The gameplay is pretty straight forward. When the moving arrows scroll up into the empty arrows, you press the corresponding direction. One might think that it can't be too hard to step on the arrows when they show up but it's harder than you think. Some of the songs have beats that are very fast and hard to keep up with. There are also "in between" steps that quicken the pace. A new feature in DDRMAX is that of freeze arrows. Instead of just tapping an arrow, you have to keep your foot planted. Other arrows will show up and you have to use your other foot to step while keeping the first foot planted. Oni mode is also new. In Oni mode you are only allowed to get greats and perfects. Every other step results in a strike, and three strikes you're out. DDRMAX really shines with two players. There aren't many games out there where people not even remotely interested in video games will get up and play, but this is one of them.
GRAPHICS:
Graphics are not a very important part of Dance Dance Revolution. Basically all you need to worry about is the arrows. There are some background images which are fantastic, but in the end it's the arrows we're concerned about. I did have a problem with some of the backgrounds because it seemed like they would actually get in the way of the game. Sometimes I would be distracted by the graphics, and miss a step.
MUSIC:
The music is one of the most important aspects of the game. Without a catchy song it would not be as fun to play. There are over 65 songs in the game. Not all of them are available from the start. The more you play the more you unlock. Some songs are unlocked by doing well also. There are a few recognizable songs in this game as well. One of the most familiar is Sandstorm. Even though there are a few slow songs, and others I don't care for, there are plenty of good ones that make up for that.
SUMMARY:
This game is one of my favorite party games. There are plenty of good songs and with a couple of dance pads and a few friends, you can't go wrong. If you are thinking about getting this game, be prepared to spend some money because you will probably want to get some of the higher quality pads. This game is so addictive you'll want to run out and get the psone versions as well.