Customer Reviews

Dance Dance Revolution DDR Max

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I love DDR. I play it regularly. I have been waiting for this game since June. But enough about me, heres some things about the game that might interest you.

1. Introduction of a new "hold" step. A new kind of dance step where you have to step on the arrow for as long as the arrow is there.

2. If you are accostomed to the american DDR konamix, you should know that another primary difference will be that the arrows go down, not up. They drop down from the top in DDR Max.

3. "MAX 300" - this is the title of a 300 bpm song that you will be able to play in DDR Max. Yes, 300. That is not a typo. I ran and hid after I saw someone play this song. (and I thought konamix's Drop Out, which was 260 bpm, was fast).

4. Ever notice the dancers? I never really paid attention to them, but i guess some people will probably miss them now because they're not in the DDR Max.

5. If you've never played DDR before, this will be a good place to start, a good list of songs, and future releases of DDR will end up mimicing this one.

6. This is the American release of DDR 6th Mix.

7. You must have a dance pad, all DDR games are absolutely no fun at all without one. Two pads is even better, because it enables not just 2-player functionality, but different game modes that utilize both pads at once.

8. The average framerate in the game is about 60 fps. (don't human eyes only percieve at like 39???)

I give this game an A++.

My only gripe about this game is that there could have been more music. Yes, yes, there are about twice as many songs on DDR max as on DDR Konamix, which is alot. But this is a PS2 disk, I KNOW they could have put more songs on this game if they wanted to.

I picked this game up for some variety after starting with DDR Max2 and DDR Extreme. While DDR Max 2 is still my all-time favorite (I own Flow, Pump It Up, Into the Groove, DDR Max 1 and 2, DDR Extreme 1 and 2), this game places second in my book.

It has good variety in the difficulty levels of the songs. Some I can pass on Heavy easily after a year, and some songs I still can't pass on Standard. There are some really slow songs with a hip-hop vibe and some really fast techno ones, and songs in a whole range of styles and speeds, so whatever mood I am in, I can usually get into a good flow with this music and want to keep working out.

There is a training mode just like with DDR Max 2, where you can slow the songs down and gradually speed them up as you get better at each sequence, which is invaluable for Rhythm and Police and Exotic Ethnic, two awesome but very fast songs!

The downside to this game is that it doesn't have nonstop mode like DDR Max 2, but the game mode is structured so that you don't have to keep flipping through a ton of menus if you pass each song, so it isn't as necessary as it is with DDR Max 2.

I am grateful that DDR Max excludes the dancers as I find them distracting.

The (nearly complete) song list (I've starred my favorites!):

22 Dunk - Slake
5.1.1. - DJ Nagureo
Abyss - dj Taka
*AM-3P - kTz
*Baby Baby Gimme Your Love - Divas
Brilliant 2U (Orchestra Groove) - Naoki
Broken My Heart - Naoki (feat. Paula Terry)
*Candy - Luv Unlimited
Celebrate (Beat Mania Version) - JJ Company
Cutie Chaser (Morning Mix) - Club Space
Dark Black Forest (Short Trip) - Steve Rhyner
Deep In You - DJ Nagureo
Do It Right (Harmonized 2 Step Mix) - SOTA (feat. Ebony Fay) Drop the Bomb (System S.F. Mix) - Scotty D.
Dynamite Rave (Down Bird Sota Mix) - Naoki
*Ecstasy - D-Complex
Electro Tuned (the SubS mix) - TaQ E
*Exotic Ethnic - RevenG
*Gambol - Slake
Gentle Stress (AMD Sensual Mix) - Mr. Dog (feat. DJ Swan)
Get Me In Your Sight (AMD Cancun Mix) - Symphonic Defoggers with 1479
Gradiusic Cyber (AMD G5 Mix) - Big-O (feat. Taka)
Groove 2001 - Sho-T (feat. Brenda)
Healing Vision - De-Sire
Healing Vision (Angelic Mix) - 2MB
Holic - TaQ
*I Like To Move It - Reel 2 Real
I'm For Real - Slake
Insertion - Naoki
Jam & Marmalade - Final Offset
Kind Lady - Okuyatos
*Let the Beat Hit Em! (Beat Mania IIDX Version) - Stone Bros.
*Let the Beat Hit Em! (Classic R&B Style) - Stone Bros.
*Let's Talk It Over - Shin Murayama (feat. Argie Phine)
Logical Dash - DJ Taka
Look To The Sky - System S.F. (feat. Anna)
Look To The Sky (True Color Mix) - System S.F. (feat. Anna)
Love Again Tonight (For Melissa Mix) - Naoki (feat. Paula Terry)
Love This Feelin' - Chang Ma
*Matsuri Japan - RE-VENGE
Max 300 - Omega
Midnite Blaze - Jewel Style
My Generation (Fat Beat Mix) - Captain Jack
My Summer Love - Mitsu-O! with Geila
Never Let You Down - Good-Cool (feat. JP Miles)
*Ordinary World - Aurora (feat. Naimee Coleman)
*Orion.78 (Civilization Mix) - 2MB
Overblast!! - L.E.D.
Paranoia Evolution - 200
Paranoia Max (Dirty Mix Club Another Ver.) - 190
*Peace Out - dj Nagureo
Remember You - NM (feat. Julie)
*Rhythm and Police (K.O.G.G3 Mix) - CJ Crew (feat. Christian D) Rugged Ash - Symphonic Defoggers
*Sana Morette Ne Ente - Togo Project (feat. Sana)
*Sand Storm - Darude
Secret Rendezvous - Divas
Share My Love - Julie Frost
Silent Hill - Thomas Howard
So In Love - Caramel S.
Spin the Disc - Good-Cool
*Stomp to My Beat - JS-16
Synchronized Love (Red Monster Hyper Mix) - Joe Rinoie
*Take It to the Morning Light (Extended Vocal) - Golden Gate
The Cube - DJ Suwami
The Shining Polaris - L.E.D. (feat. Sana)
Trip Machine Climax - De-Sire
True (Trance Sunrise Mix) - Kosaka Riyu
You Leave Me Alone - Venus

DDR MAX, in the arcades, was the 6th version of the popular dance game, and contained all new songs. Almost none of those songs from the arcade version are in this version. That is disappointing.

However, there's very little to be disappointed about in this game in itself. The first thing I noticed is that the PS2 engine makes the arrows scroll much more smoothly than they do in the PSone versions. Also, the FMV backgrounds are very cool, and the interface is far easier to use.

The music selection is much more varied than in the first two home versions of DDR, though I'm not ready to say it's better. Some songs are incredible, including old DDR classics like Rhythm and Police and Gentle Stress, newer classics like Healing Vision Angelic Mix, Exotic Ethnic and Max 300, and new licensed songs like Take It to the Morning Light. Some hideous songs are included too, such as Celebrate, I'm For Real, Gambol, 22 Dunk... songs that could have been replaced by the many, many DDR classics that have never been on a U.S. home release.

Many songs have creative little tricks that make them more interesting than the Konamix songs, such as more tempo changes and stops. For example, in the song "Healing Vision Angelic Mix," the arrows, scrolling very quickly, suddenly halt completely for one beat, then keep moving. Once you know where the stops are, they're quite fun to play.

The freeze arrows, where you have to hold a certain arrow for a length of time, also make the game interesting, as sometimes they force you to spin around on the pad, face away from the screen or use one leg to tap several buttons in a row.

I am slightly annoyed by the inclusion of several songs from Konamix (Matsuri Japan, Healing Vision, Era, Baby Baby Gimme Your Love, Holic, etc.), because most likely anyone who buys this game already has Konamix. Other songs are repeated (Cutie Chaser, Look to the Sky, etc.), but these are new mixes and have new steps, so that's acceptable.

If you buy this game, do not, I repeat, do not buy the [...] pads available in stores. Order them online. If you buy soft pads, make sure they are the type that have a zippered compartment for padding on the inside...

Maybe your not John travolta in saturday night fever, but we all like to get down and boogie-oogie-oogie every once in a while. And with DDR Max, now you can in the comfort of your very own living room. Lord knows in these days of McDonalds, its a wonderfull day indeed when you can play a video game, and lose weight. DDR Max does away with the dancing characters, and puts in a new twist, Music videos. The music has also greatly improved in this version (as opposed to Konamix) and in my opinion, the game itself is much more challenging. There are 4 modes of difficulty, Light; Standard; Heavy and the "secret" mode (I call it secret because I had no freakin' idea it was there, and found it accidently) Challenging mode, wich is flippin' hard.

One of the many great things about DDR is its more like playing an instrument, than playing a video game, its not really something you get tired of all too quickly, so paying 60 bucks for the game and pad isnt really that bad, if only because the games replay value is so high.

There really isn't any better feeling than beating a super-hard-psychotic song in this game, especially when there are witnesses all around. And I think there is something to be said for the fact that this game is amazing for parties, and get-togethers. Now, granted, its not the best thing videogame wise, and every new release isn't much more than a ton of new songs, but thats all part of the fun. My only complaint with the regular dance pads is that the bunch up under feet sometimes, and that gets really annoying, but there is a platform you can buy if you don't mind sinking the 70 bucks in to get it. I eventually adjusted, but sometimes, the vinyl pads can wear-out, hasn't happened to me yet, but its something to think about.

Pros:
Good rewards for defeating songs
Lots of fun for versus
Keeps on challenging you, completing the entire game inside out should keep you busy for at least a year, if not more.

Cons:

Pads bunch up
Music gets a little old, but thats just because its music, and thats what music does.

Alright, so you're considering buying DDR Max. Let me try to persuade you into clicking the "Add to my Shopping Cart" button.

First of all, Dance Dance Revolution is pure fun. It just isn't possible to be bored by this game. ... This is the 3rd DDR game released in the U.S. (I don't count Disney Mix), and is by far the greatest.

Why is this game the gratest? A [lot]of songs really helps, that's for sure. With music varying from Techno and Trance to Salsa and Jazz, you're sure to find a selection of songs that just get you into the rhythm, and with over 80 songs to choose from, you'll have a lot of them, and then some.

Another great thing about this game is the graphics. Though technically, the graphics mean jack in DDR, the smoother flow of arrows makes it easier to see just where the arrow is, saving you from a horrid "Boo!" from the crowd.

More greats? No problem. An easier interface is always a good thing, and this game has just that. DDR games have always had a friendly interface with which to deal with, but this game makes it even easier to get to the songs and start playing, without being snagged up by tons of options.

Tired of playing a song over and over again? Increase the difficulty. Decrease the difficulty. Take advantage of the features this game offers, such as Speed-Boosted arrows, or maybe you're feeling lucky and want to try your hand (Or feet, as it were) at an Oni course? With tons of features, the variety is sure to last.

I could go on and on about reasons to buy this game, but the simplest reason is because it's fun. And for those of you who would like to lose some weight, this is jsut the thing for you. You have fun and shed pounds at the same time. Now what other workout can you HONESTLY say that about?

Well folks, I have taken up enough space. This game definitely deserves 5 stars, and I reccomend checking out the other DDR games if you haven't done so already.

So you've grown bored of the PSOne Dance Dance Revolution, DDR: Disney Mix, and DDR: Konamix? Well Konami has delivered again, with its first Playstation 2 incarnation, DDRMAX! But if you've played the Japanese version, you may be surprised to find whats in store... more than 20 new exclusive songs to this version, including some rather unexpected licensed dance tracks, like "Dark Black Forest" for example.

Gameplay is the same as it's always been, match up scrolling arrows with a fixed set at either the top or the bottom of the screen, the latter being a new option added to DDRMAX.

Speaking of new features, DDRMAX is crammed with them! including a special 'modifier' menu that may be accessed before playing your selected song, you may select different options, like whether the arrows ascend or descend the screen, and how fast they move (up to 8x normal speed!)

The 'edit' mode from DDR:Konamix returns, but this time you can use your edits on any song that exists in both DDRMAX and DDR: Konamix, just select a certain option in the edit menu, and voila! A DDR: Konamix-compatible edit.

Combine all that with the prospect that DDRMAX is said to contain more than 65 songs, and you have what's possibly the greatest DDR Mix published here yet!

If you are a DDR fan, MAX is a game you absolutely cannot miss. Its 1000 times better than Dance Dance Revolution, and 100 times better than Konamix. FINALLY an American DDR with licensed songs! You probably will recognize Sandstorm by Darude, and also I think the song Candy (which appeared in the arcade DDR MAX) is a liscensed song. Despite this, there are still no songs like Butterfly and Dam Dariram. Not really a big deal though, I'm just happy its not all Konami orignals.

I think one of the good things about MAX is that it has more gameplay value than the other DDR games. About half of the songs must be unlocked, kind of like Konamix. Remember though, this is a PS2 game. That means one thing: Much MUCH more songs, over 65 of them. (I dont know the exact number because I havent unlocked them all yet) More songs means more time spent unlocking them all. More time spent playing a game for me means I've got my money's worth.
There are several ways to unlock songs. One way is to do something new in the game, like fail a song for the first time. Another way is to play 1 round of 5 songs. Every time you do that, you unlock a new song.
DDR MAX, like the arcade version, has the freeze arrows where you have to hold your foot down on the arrow untill it completely passes. This can a difficult change for newer DDR players, but you shouldn't worry. The game, also like the arcade, has the menue that can be brought up by holding down the X or the O key when you select a song. In this menue you can turn off the freeze arrow, and also speed up the song or put on other cool options.

I am a huge fan of DDR. Finally, a fun video game that actually burns up some calories! You'll need to pay some extra money to get a dance pad in order to truly expose the game's potential, but it's definitely worth it. The concept of it is extremely simple, as you just hit the arrows scrolling up the screen when they're in their outlined counterparts, but once you start doing this to the beat of the lively music, you'll be moving your body in enjoyment and exercise alike.

DDR Max is the United States' 3rd (4th if you count the Disney Mix) home installment of Konami's successful Dance Dance Revolution franchise that ignited in 1998. While earlier versions of DDR in the US managed to possess the arcade counterparts' interface and main list of songs, their dated status (PS1 games released in 2001 and 2002!) hindered their sales and attractiveness. Late 2002 saw the release of DDR Max US, and while it's still better than the PS1 installments, it just really doesn't use its full potential very well.

What I do like about DDR Max Dance Dance Revolution is that it brings superb updates to the graphics, which helps it keep up with modern technology. It is the first Dance Dance Revolution for the PS2, and thus delivers a sharper and smoother image. It's also much easier to select a song to dance to, as it overstates the song details on the "Select Music Screen".

DDR Max also brings in an innovation to the challenge of DDR with freeze arrows, which are steps that force you to hold your foot on an arrow until the freeze arrow disappears. Freeze arrows can force you to spin around your pad, otherwise resulting in an N.G., where you don't hold a freeze arrow for the required amount of time.

I also adore the addition of the "groove radar", which helps players track down not just how hard a song is, but how it's hard in different ways: Stream (the amount of steps), Voltage (the highest precipitation of steps in a small amount of time), Chaos (the amount of syncopated steps), Air (the amount of double-steps), and Freeze (the overall amount and length of freeze arrows).

The many different modes that can be played with make things significantly fun. The Lesson Mode can teach new players how to pay the game, and after that, they can start practicing in the Training Mode before they're ready to handle a regular game. You can also keep track of your fitness using the Workout Mode, which shows you how many calories you've been burning lately. The Edit Mode allows you to customize your own steps to songs for when, for example, you want a bigger challenge on a particular song. New to DDR Max is the Nonstop Challenge/Oni Mode, a competitive challenge that forces you to play several songs in a row. If you miss one step, you lose a life, and you only have four lives at the start (although you gain one life for clearing one song)!

With more memory space thanks to the PS2, consumers will get to choose from a much larger song list than they could on the PS1 versions. Instead of about 30 or 50 songs (the amount that the older DDR's had), you can choose from over seventy songs of dancing music...

But that leads to the bad news. With so many songs available, Konami of America probably thought that they could get away with leaving us all of the worst songs that they've created. In other words, the songs on DDR Max are extremely monotonous, and they aren't even very fun to dance to. The Japanese have their own edition of DDR Max (called DDR Max: Dance Dance Revolution 6th Mix), and while there are extremely few tunes that can be selected, the ones that can are fun, catchy, and have awesome steps. Almost all of those songs, such as "WWW.Blonde Girl", "Witch Doctor", and "Let's Groove", are completely absent for the United States, and instead, we get a bunch of boring, lame, and un-danceable R&B-ish stuff like "Deep in You", "Peace-Out", and "Let's Talk it Over". I know that there are clearly some people who will enjoy these songs, but come on, this is supposed to be a DANCING GAME, not a sleep-walking game. Most of the songs don't even use freeze arrows, since they're mainly Konami Originals from Japanese PS1 versions, which didn't feature freeze arrows. On the upside, hardcore DDR fans will spend hours playing old classics like "Rhythm and Police", "PARANOiA Evolution", and "Max 300", while newer players will have a blast playing the DDR Max US-exclusive songs "I Like to Move it" and "Sandstorm". Those are all splendid songs, but with very few good tunes with a selection of over seventy, the enjoyment out of the music is comparable to that of the old editions. Needless to say, there's hardly anything for anyone.

While new innovations make DDR Max a sensible choice for the DDR crowd in the United States, it just isn't enough, and not enough thought was put into it. The song list is the main source of power for a Dance Dance Revolution game, and without a good selection of dance tunes, newbies will never get hooked on such a great game. Instead, I recommend purchasing either DDR Max 2 US or DDR Extreme 2 US. Both games possess the graphical brilliance of DDR Max, but also feature a much more diverse and enjoyable selection of songs. They also include Beginner's Mode, and without it, new dancers would possibly never be able to get better at such a challenging game. Your best bet is to just leave this game on the shelves until you really need it.

Coming from a beginner's point of view, this game can be little overwhelming at first. It's a GREAT workout, however my daughters and I would HIGHLY recommend if you have never done DDR before, you should go through the Lesson Mode before trying the Gaming Mode, otherwise you'll be completely lost. Once you have mastered the Lesson Mode, doing the Games is FUN! This game keeps kids' interest, yet is challenging for adults as well.

DDRMAX1-2 are two of the most energetic games ive owned and played. These games really make a person get off there butt and dance. Even the music gets my hips moving.ha ha.once you've played this you go into a disco stance.trust me.I first got ddrmax when i heard it was a game that has a work out routine. I lost 24pds, in a year. true story. well i hope you read this cause you got to get this game. seeyah.!!!