Dance Dance Revolution Max 2 Review

Developer	Konami
Publisher	Konami
Genre	Rhythm

Dance Dance Revolution Max 2 marks the fifth iteration of the dancing game released for a North American console. Can we truly call DDR a revolution? It hasn't exactly become a requisite pastime in the living rooms of North America, at least not to the degree it has in the arcades. It could be the dreaded peripheral that seems to doom games of this sort to oblivion. Or maybe it’s the fear of looking absolutely ridiculous trying to follow the torrent of arrows that appear on screen. Either way, DDR has been more akin to a steadily growing movement, gaining followers with each passing mix. DDRMAX2 perfectly compliments this growth by providing more songs and game modes than ever.

Gameplay – If you don't know the basic elements of DDR, then where exactly in hell have you been for the last 5 years? The concept is so simple yet at the same time it is surprisingly brilliant. At some deep primal level, locked deep with your soul, lies the urge to cut loose and dance. For the cross-section of society that prefers videogames to dance clubs, consider DDRMAX2 the best outlet your innate impulse.

DDRMAX2 has a staggering 65 songs available from the get go. Many dozens more can be unlocked by progressing through the game, scoring massive amounts points, and getting good grades for your wicked dance moves. If anyone told me that Doobie Brothers classic Long Train Running would make for an entertaining DDR song, I would have slapped them and called them Susan. But here it is, ever so slightly remixed to make it more in tune with the nuances of DDR. That is definitely an area I'd like to see explored in future releases; more classic songs that have been retooled to work with DDR.

Where would this game be without the dance pad? It would be confined to electronic wasteland that is the North American arcade. Although it has achieved cult status in the arcades, nowadays no game can have truly universal appeal unless it is able to breakthrough on home consoles. Thankfully, the dance pad has made possible the move from arcade to living room. Sure, you can play DDRMAX2 with a controller. But to do so would be analogous to eating soup with a spoon; you'd be missing the point. Do yourself a favor and pick up a dance pad or two; it makes a world of difference. Konami has even bundled a version of the game with the official dance pad to make it even easier to get started.

DDRMAX2 has plenty of ways to keep you busily stepping away on that shiny new dance pad. The standard arcade mode is here, of course, where you pick from 5 difficulty levels and step to three songs of your choice. The nonstop mode is available for you masochists out there. In this mode, there will be between 3 to 12 songs that you must dance through without pause. For health buffs, workout mode will count the calories you burn while you dance away. Rounding out the game is edit mode. Here you can modify steps to a particular song, save it to a memory card and have other DDR freaks see if they're up to your challenge. You can even export the edited steps to older versions of DDR, so long as it has the exact same version of the song.

In previous versions of DDR, there was a strict dichotomy between difficulty levels. Often times players would find that one difficulty level was too easy while the next level up would be too hard. On top of the fact that there is a new beginner difficulty level that will gently guide even the most rhythmically challenged, there are also modifiers that can tweak the experience by making it more or less challenging. For the uninitiated, the barrage of arrows coming at you can be daunting. Like all good things, it takes time, practice and patience. In time, you'll get the hang of it and even develop your own swagger.

DDRMAX2 is fun on your own but when you combine a couple of dance pads with a few friends, the experience is the stuff of legends. The social element is the essence of what DDRMAX2 is all about. You'd be hard pressed to find any videogame that is better to bust out at some party or social gathering. The primary reason for this is how it involves the participant at a higher level than simple rapid twitch thumb movement. It centers on the Zen-like synergy of the mind and body. Even if you aren't playing, it is fun to watch other people deftly maneuver their feet and/or make complete fools of themselves.

Graphics – Like the other games in the series, DDRMAX2 isn't about cutting edge graphics. But admittedly the graphics are still a large part of the appeal. The vibrant graphics fit the themes of the various songs quite well. One thing long time fans of the series will notice is that the series favorite dancers can no longer be found dancing away in the background. But fear not, they can be unlocked if you prefer their presence during gameplay.

Something new to the series is the music videos that accompany a handful of songs. This seems like a natural progression of the series with the DVD capabilities of the PS2. The quality of these videos isn’t top notch but it probably doesn’t matter too much anyway since you’ll be too busy dancing and all.

Sound – Music is the key element of DDRMAX2. Quite simply, it’s what makes this game possible. So thankfully there is a good selection of songs available. With this installment, you can also see that Konami is making an effort to branch out from the typical euro-trance or J-Pop that has brought the series to this point. In order to make the game a little more relevant with North American gamers, artists and groups like Kylie Minogue, Dirty Vegas, Crystal Method and K.C. and the Sunshine Band have been added and seem to integrate well with the holdovers from previous mixes. Other than the soundtrack, there isn’t a whole lot necessary in the sound department. Of course, the over-the-top announcer is here but he can easily be tuned out if you find him annoying.

Overall Value - DDRMAX2 isn’t so much a videogame as it is an experience. Nothing in the world of electronic entertainment involves the mind and body quite like this game does. When you’re alone, DDRMAX2 serves as a good excuse to get some exercise. When you’re with friends, DDRMAX2 sort of transcends anything you’ve experienced with videogames before. Ultimately, the game is lot of fun. If you’ve been hesitant to take the DDR plunge or if you’ve been holding out for a definitive mix, look no further than DDRMAX2 and a couple of dance pads. You won’t regret it.

Review by Erick Kelsen