Customer Reviews

Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party Bundle

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(64)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As a dance challenged, lazy, out of shape gamer-girl whose nights often include pizza and movies (yeah I know there's more of you out there!) I bought this DDR wii game to help me get active. I highly recommend it to inexperienced dancers because each song has various difficulty levels (four actually, but I've yet to get passed 1- beginner and 2- basic.) It will keep you challenged and give you room to improve, making this game a good investment for the game play time.

There is a good single player work out mode where you can select how many calories you'd like to burn during your session. This is basically setting a duration goal, I usually hit "100 calories" and it makes game play a bit over 30 minutes (depending on the intensity level of songs you play) before it tells you you've reached your goal. You can keep playing of course, but this is a good way to set a nightly workout goal without having to look at a clock.

While I see a lot of these reviews are from dancers or kids that move like lightning, for the rest of us more "average" people this game is going to be a challenge... BUT DON'T GIVE UP!!! You are likely to hate this game for the first hour, but once you get the hang of it you'll be hooked.

To give it a fair chance there are a couple things you should know. One is the ***"HAND MARKER"*** option, which means using the wii remote/chuck in addition to moving your feet on the pad. If you've never played DDR before I HIGHLY recommend you turn this option off (just scroll up to the "options" button when you're on the songs dispay menu right before starting a stage.) This will allow you a chance to get a feel for the foot controls before adding the extra confusion of hand movements.

While you're on the menus you need to keep your feet at the center of the pad to avoid crazy menu glitches, just use the wii remote to select buttons. Otherwise you get endless scrolling from the game thinking you're trying to use your feet to select options.

However, once you start a game... NEVER keep your feet in the center! That was my biggest mistake when starting. You end up doing so much more work. Little did I know that there is NO PENALTY for keeping your feet on the arrows (or even stepping more than you need to, if it helps you keep the beat.) You only get a bad score when you MISS the arrow.

The game arrows are nicely programmed to help you move onto the next arrow spot in a natural sort of movement. For instance, you get a left arrow, keep your foot there because most likely you're about to hit that same spot again or move that foot to the back arrow. In general it feels more natural if you try to use your left foot for left and back markers, and use your right foot to hit right and forward markers. Start with the "Lessons from a DJ" song, it's basically a slower paced instructional intro song.

Even if you're not a fan of the music, it will probably grow on you or fade into the background as you focus on getting the hang of the beat. The graphics are pretty silly, but odds are you'll be looking at the arrows so much you won't notice that either. Overall, I'd say this game is a winner for beginners with patience and willingness to practice.

The game pad is easy to use and very responsive. The mat can be folded along it's creases (two folds between the arrow squares) which fits nicely underneath a computer desk. I use mine on the carpet and have had no problems. It moves slightly after a song or two, but you can just nudge it back into alignment with your TV those few inches.

Positives: open to all ages, encourages activity and cooperation

Negatives: pricey (like all new Wii games) and more pricey if you need more than the included pad, need a lot of space for multiplayer options

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Although the family just opened the box this morning, it's already a sure favorite that will be worth every penny. The game provides challenges for all levels of dancers--from adults to the young teens to the elementary school child to the 5 year old. Please note that family members are not listed in order of skill level because I'm still not sure how a fast-footed Kindergartner achieved an "A" on an expert level song...

The included gamepad stays in place much better than the Nintendo gamepad that was made for DDR: Mario Party Mix, but if you have one of those, they work fine with the game if you can tolerate their tendency to migrate. However, you will need a lot of room in the living room if you plan to hook up more than one pad. In fact, I don't know if you can logistically arrange 4 pads without extension cords because the hand motions can get wild and potentially dangerous.

The rewards are nicely paced, and you can get new songs even for mediocre dancing. We haven't tried the work-out mode but suspect it will be useful for sluggish adults when that exercise bike routine seems too bland. While the only other DDR we've purchased was Gamecube's Mario Mix, the Wii: Hottest Party's hand motions add a nice depth to the game.

It's the type of game that has appeal to the solo player and the group setting. Parents will like that their kids actually get up and move while playing video games. And the friendship mode helps foster teamwork and cooperation between siblings instead of the competition emphasized by a lot of games. (Okay, okay, the real appeal of friendship mode is that one of the kids can help a clumsy parent through a tough song...)

I was not sure if I should get DDR because of its pricetag and the fact that you really need two mat's (or more ;-) to actually make the most of it.

With only one mat its just half the fun. Its good for training alone, but having a contest with your best mates is just a completely different level of entertainment.

The songs included and the overall experience doesnt loose an inch from the original arcade in your nearby amusement park.

Its amazing how the developers managed to bring the same atmosphere across a little home tv.

For me this is a group / challenge game, so do yourself a favour, forget about the pricetag for a moment when you are weak and get the game with at least two mats and get your best mate(s) to bring the drinks ;-) - you will need them after you sweat out all your bodys fluid.

One thing you have to think about is where to keep the mats when not used, keep that in mind too (roughly 60x80 cm each, but you can fold them).

Enjoy !!

I've owned this game since the release date and have played almost every day since. This is my first experience with DDR outside of Dave and Busters, and I have to say that this game is awesome.

I can't even begin to get above the second level of play, but I'm having so much fun with the first two levels, that I really don't mind. I have found the graphics just fine for my purposes, and the song selection is a good one that ranges from recent hits to favorite oldies.

One of the best things about this game is that without changing my diet, I've lost 6 lbs and lots of inches in a little over 3 weeks. I've got more energy and actually look forward to a form of aerobic exercise.

I would recommend investing in some type of padding to put under the dance pad as there isn't much cushion but that is pretty much my only gripe.

I highly recommend this game for both beginners of all ages and for more advanced players.

I will leave the critical work of reviewing the minutia of the gameplay of "DDR Hottest Party" to more capable reviewers. Suffice to say, the gameplay itself carries on both the Wii's tradition of simple, casual gaming with the now familiar interface that has become the hallmark of the DDR franchise.

My biggest problem in familiarizing myself with DDR Hottest Party can be summarized with one hint: GET OFF THE DANCEPAD WHEN YOU'RE IN THE GAME'S MENU SYSTEM. If you're standing on a control pad when you're in a menu, the game acts like a Windows PC with a stuck key, perhaps aptly so.

Wow, DDR for the Wii! I was so excited when I first heard about this game. Unfortunately, after buying it the first day and then playing it for a few weeks, I'm sadly disappointed. In general, the game sticks to the usual formula: you play songs, get a score, and if it's good enough, unlock more songs. There's a circuit mode, and free play mode, and a workout mode. However there are some new features, and plenty that have been taken away...

NEW:
* Hand motions with the wii remote. While this is interesting, it's not really accurate enough to be fun if you're a serious player. I usually turn them off unless I'm really bored with a song and want to try something new.

* Gimmicks. When you have gimmicks turned on, a variety of "obstacles" will be added to the gameplay. For example, there might be "bombs" that appear over certain arrows, and if you step on the arrow at that time, your health meter will go down. Or maybe there will be special arrows that, if you miss them, a barrier will raise up from the bottom of the screen and start obscuring arrows. While these gimmicks are sort of interesting, they really are just... gimmicks.

* LOTS of pop music. If all you've ever wanted is to play DDR to Coldplay, then boy is this game for you.

* Some kind of crazy multiplayer mode. I haven't tried any of this yet because I didn't want to buy multiple pads before trying the game. Looks interesting though.

MIA:
* Japanese songs, interesting techno songs, Captain Jack, video game music, etc. Mostly replaced by good, old-fashioned American Pop Music.

* FAST, HARD songs. There's no equivalent to MAXX Unlimited or even Tsugaru in this game. Sorting by BPM and looking at the higher end of the spectrum is just depressing. Of course, I am still working on the game and haven't unlocked everything yet, but it's not looking good so far.

* The options screen that usually comes up if you hold down the button when selecting a song. In other games, this screen allows you to change arrow speed, scrolling, etc, but in Hottest Party these options are nonexistent. I found this to be a pain because I like to run songs on 1.5x when I'm having trouble learning the steps.

* Training Mode and Edit Mode. These aren't really necessary, but why not put them in?? They're fantastic if you want to learn a really difficult song, or break it down so you can add new moves to your dancing, like drops and spins.


IN CONCLUSION...
I've played DDR extensively on PS/PS2/Arcade and frankly I don't find this new title very much fun. The gimmicks and hand motions add very little to the game, and they certainly don't make up for everything they've taken away. If you're a hardcore DDR fan, you should definitely try this before you drop (waste?) $70+ on the package.

This game is very addicting. I pre-ordered it for my wife expecting her to play it exclusively. I've been playing it on and off. It can be a nice form of exercise and since you're moving your whole body on the pad, it doesn't make you as sore as a long Wii Sports session.

Moving your hands with the wiimote is challenging along with the foot steps.

The pad reminds me of the old Nintendo Power Pad in terms of quality and appearance. It connects using one of the gamecube controller compatibility ports on the Wii.

The graphics are not the most amazing, even on the Wii. After seeing a game like Zelda, it just seems boring to look at.

Some of the songs are unlocked as you progress. It doesn't seem to ask you to use your miis in the game which I found to be a disappointment. It does track some of your progress.

DDR Hottest Party for Wii is my first DDR experience (mostly because the Wii is the first game console I've owned since Intellevision!). Now that I've really gotten into the game, and looked through other forums on DDR, it appears that DDR Hottest Party is a fairly "light" game compared to other DDR titles. I only have my experience with the Hottest Party for Wii to go by, though.

I only have a few things to say about this game -

1) You can easily turn all of the annoying features off; The "gimmicks" can be replaced by regular foot markers, the freeze steps (where you have to stay on a particular arrow for the indicated time) are turned into regular arrows, and most importantly the hand markers can be turned off. A lot of people recommend doing this when first starting out, because it simplifies things. However, bear in mind that when you turn the hand markers off, the game replaces them with foot markers. The end result is that the game becomes physically more challenging. This is a good thing to keep in mind if you're going for a harder workout (the hand markers really don't add to the exercise value of the game).

2) REPLAYABILITY. This game has only so many songs, but with all the different levels, challenges, and battles, it has a high level of replayability. I had gone through the venue mode all the way up to that demonic "Super Samurai" level, and pretty much gave up because it seemed impossible. Instead, I started using the workout mode, and worked my way up to AA's on difficult on most of the songs. Then I read somewhere that you get more dancers if you beat Super Samurai, so I went back and tried it. After all my work on Difficult, I actually managed to beat the challenge, which then shut down all the venues, gave me two more dancers, and now I get to go through the Venue play again with higher challenges and more rewards. Unless you're a DDR junkie and an old pro, this game can last you a LONG time.

3 - I also own a Wii Fit. I can tell you right now that if you're looking for a game that will give you a hard workout and get your blood pumping, don't waste your money on Wii Fit. Get DDR instead. Wii Fit is okay, but DDR is what gets my heart rate up, gets the sweat pouring, and it's FUN.

4 - Don't be put off by the songs (whether you know them or not). I am not a big fan of this kind of music, but in the context of this kind of game, it works. And hey, it also turned me on to the Scissor Sisters! ;)

5 and Lastly - Okay, look. I am a morbidly obese 35 year old. If I can do this game, YOU CAN. Seriously, did I mention I'm at AA's on most of the Difficult levels (with jumps) (including 99 Red Balloons)? And yes, it's helping me lose some weight (probably about 20 pounds since February or so), but fitness is a whole-lifestyle thing. DDR (OR Wii Fit) is not the magic bullet. But it sure is fun!

DDR is excellent in so many ways that it is difficult to know where to begin. I have been playing videogames since the late 1980s (I'm 24 years old) and have owned every major system (this cycle i own a Wii and PS3). For some reason I never got into DDR until now. This game is really really fun! Different people play different games for different reasons, but this game is unifying for families. There are a bunch of great songs (from the past and present) ranging from Chris Brown (Excuse Me Miss - did you see his performance on MTV?!) to Ace of Base (The Sign!!). And to talk about how unifying this game is, I hadn't seen one of my cousins since I was 16 (so about 8 years) and through this game we reconnected. My family had grown apart and this weekend we all came together to play DDR!! Everyone had fun and we played for about 5 hours straight taking turns. I didn't even know my cousins were that into dance or music, but this revealed shared passions for all of us!!

Buy this game, and buy it for your friends and family. It will do wonderful things for you, and its just so much fun with the Wii remotes which add a new dimension to the game (I've played DDR in arcades in Tokyo but never on a home console). Whether you're into hip-hop, techno, funk, 90s pop, soul, or dance music, this game has it all. And it has a ton of tracks which you need to unlock so it will keep you playing for a long time. The game also rates your performance (as I'm sure other DDR versions also do) so it inspires you to improve and get better when you get a D instead of a B. I believe this will solve the obesity epidemic that we have in America and I predict that schools across the country will buy this game for just that reason. Get off the couch and play DDR! Btw, my cousin is going to buy a Wii just for this game (they are DDR afficiandos and have played every game in the series - they tell me that this is different because it has the double step and the use of the Wii remote).

FYI, the reason the Wii remote is so innovative is because it allows you to do a sort of "snap" to the songs. Sometimes you move both remotes at the same time (this game will by the way improve your rhythm for those not born with the funk) and sometimes you move one remote with one step so it really introduces an entire new dynamic. Some people say the graphics are nothing to shout about - to that I saw neither is Wii sports but that doesn't stop Wii Sports from being a ton of fun (and I like this game much more than Wii sports). On PS3 I usually play violent shooting and fighting games or hyper-speed racing games, and this is a welcome change to my videogaming life because it just allows me to be happy with the people that I care about. I mean for crying out loud, my mom was interested in what we were playing (and she being a doctor from burma doesn't really tend to get interested in my videogaming habits!). Btw, I work in finance in NYC and my cousins are into the music scene in philly, so I think you can tell that this game brings together a diverse array of people from different backgrounds. The best $70 bucks I have spent in a long time.

Wow, I am shocked, I have watched my 8 year old play this game at the arcades we frequent on trips, and she always does well, and like her momma, loves dancing.

I knew we were getting a WII and bought her this game set for her 9th birthday a few weeks ago-and it has changed our home like nothing else!

The 6 year old-enjoys singing the songs and coaching her sisters on!

The 5 year old neighbor girl won't leave (lol!), comes over to try and dance with 6 & 9 year old.

The 9 year old shakes her booty until she's sweating and I think losing a bit of her "chubby"!

I tried the fitness levels and (secretly) do it every day-wow!

My oldest (shy, quiet, always plugged into her MP3) is 14 and had just jumped on one night-wow-she can do it like a pro and feels confidant enough she had some friends over and they stayed up dancing until 2 am!

So it gets us moving, socializing, and improving our fitness a tad-and the house chores are getting done (will do chores for wii??) and we all look forward to our time as a family almost every night dancing (or playing some other Wii game) there's less fighting, less arguing-more sibling cheerleading!

LOVE it-songs are catchy and are from the 70's 80's 90's and now-I Love Eugene-and if you have this game, you know what I mean!