06/08/01

         Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix (IMPORT)

System : Playstation

Price : 'Bout 60$...snap it up quick, muchacho.

Genre : Ultra Badass Dance Simulation

Now that the "ultra dance groove" has infected most of the Game Hits crew, I feel I can give my opinion on this, the 4th incarnation of what has to be the most popular music game series of all time.

For those with no rhythm and soul, Dance Dance Revolution or "DDR" is a game where you actually have to physically "dance" to the beat of catchy Eurobeat /Dance music while being guided by arrows on a screen. Since the good, mild mannered gaming superhero, Pat Reynolds has described this game series in a past review (DDR Best Hits, check the archives) I'll continue.

Graphically, this game is no different than the other 8 volumes out there, lots of miscellaneous crap that flashes on the screen with no other purpose than to psyche you out and mess you up along with your chosen "character" that strikes goofy poses and serves no purpose. Anyone who's seen people play knows that what you should be paying attention to is your friend making an ass of himself/showing off while bouncing around on the floor mat. Some people complain that the goofy background interfere with you being ale to hit the arrows at the proper time, if that is the case, thankfully backgrounds can be turned off for a slightly blander experience.

The music is what it is all about, baby. Some of Toshiba Emi JAPAN's finest tracks from their DanceMania Nonstop Virtual Megamix collections have been compiled throughout the series and this one is no different. The running favorite seems to be Bambee's "Bumble Bee", which a snipet of which can be heard at http://www.bambee.com for all those sick enough to want to hear it. With over 50 songs, with new variations on older songs, most people will be guaranteed to find something they like. And a word of warning to everyone, Miss Papaya's "Pink Dinosaur" sucks fat goat nad. Do not play unless you are a fan of super annoying J-Pop or a girl. Fair warning. Oh, and to the truly hardcore, Captain Jack is present but with really lame songs. Dream a Dream sucks, but Only You is almost passable. If you need your Captain Jack fix, go get Extra Mix for the ultra godlike Together Forever, Dream A Dream (Miami Booty Mix) and Drill Instructor. Yes, DDR is crack incarnate.

Controls, you stomp on a pad. That's it. Nice options are abound, though. The option to play the new 6 Step mode is fun, as are all the old favorites such as Double, Hidden, Stealth and so on. Also it's easier to earn the hidden songs on this disc than it was in previous versions, a plus in my book. Disappointing is the missing Extra Track option, however, that gave you a small preview of the next Mix's songs. Too bad, I guess 50+ songs is good enough, but I would've liked a little taste of things to come..

Well, that's it. Another good update to a series that could possibly never see death but will continue to grow and expand like a balloon. I hope that it continues to catch on in America because we're all just flabby bastards just waiting to be turned into destructive motorized dancing machines.


The Reverend Mofat Jones will find a way to get Para Para Paradise one of these days... you will feel the Para Para groove one of these days, Lansing.

-Mofat

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