Dance Dance Revolution Supernova

Overall, Supernova is a fun (eventually challenging) play, but not the best DDR out there, in my opinion. (Extreme 2 and Max 2 are my favorites.) I enjoyed the trance/dance songs from previous games, and Supernova seems to be lacking in those. It does have plenty of licensed songs, and I like a lot of them, though they seem a little slow if you're used to the fast-paced trance/dance songs.

The only thing that really bothered me was the unlocking system. You have to complete different challenges (like, "Complete five songs with an A grade or above" or, "Choose (some song) and beat it", etc) and then complete a final "Showdown" challenge. It's a nice idea for beginners, but it's a complete joke if you've played the game before. You have to beat the different challenges at the Beginner/Easy level to earn the Showdown, and then the Showdown is a tutorial of sorts (basic things, like "Don't step back to hit the down arrow, turn your body and step" and "Don't return to the middle of the pad between steps").

I've been playing DDR for about three years, and the Beginner and Easy courses aren't the least bit entertaining anymore. It's a little insulting and a complete waste of time to force advanced and expert players to dumb down their gameplay just to earn more songs. But once you get past unlocking things and crank it up to Advanced or Expert, it's a ton of fun.

As a side note, the dance pad that comes in the bundle is NICE. It reminds me of the pad that came with the Mario DDR game. The underside is thick and rubbery and it doesn't slide at all on our tile floor. The top side is shiny, smooth plastic with a little bit of texture, and it doesn't hurt or stick to my bare feet. I've never purchased a bundle before, so I'm not sure how the other pads were in the other bundles, but this pad is much better than the off-brand ones you can buy alone.

The DDR series of games brought a physical element to the world of video gaming. Most games simply require the player to sit on a couch and manipulate the buttons on his or her controller. There's very little physical activity involved. As a result, most gamers who chose to spend time in front of the console instead of going to the gym may have sacrificed some of their physical conditioning. But the DDR games are truly revolutionary. You can actually improve your physical conditioning by playing this video game!

Basically, you will connect a Dance Pad in place of your PS2 controllers. The Dance Pad is a square piece of flexible plastic material. There are sensors located at various areas of the pad. And these sensors correspond to the familiar directional buttons of the PS2 system. Stepping on these "buttons" causes the sensors to send a signal to the PS2, in much the same way that your normal controllers do. As the song is playing, arrows will appear on the television screen. Basically, you will step on the corresponding arrow/directional "button" on the dance pad.

That sounds simple and it is. The concept is simple. However, executing the right moves at the right time takes coordination. Coordination that I do not yet have. Right now, I am depending on the visual signals to tell me where and when to step. However, I suspect that fairly soon, I will also learn to use the beat of the music to help with the timing.

This is a fun game. I truly believe that I will continue to enjoy even more as my ability improves. The Tutorial, or Training Mode, is very short. There's not a lot of controls here. Nothing elaborate, no complicated button sequences and commands to remember. Just work on your timing and your ability to keep up. Once you can get your upper body to move along in coordinated fashion, I suspect that the game will be even more enjoyable. It should also provide a better workout.

I bought the game bundle. An "Official" Dance Pad came with it. I suppose that is the most convenient way to get into this game. The Dance Pad seems a little fragile to me. Basically, you are not supposed to wear shoes while on it. Doing so will damage the pad. I was told that there are aftermarket alternatives that are made of more durable materials. However, these alternatives are also very expensive, costing over a hundred dollars for some of the better ones. My advice is to go ahead and just get the bundle. That way, if the game is not to your liking, you will not have spent too much money.

The game has online playability and works with the PS2 Eye Toy camera. However, my intended use for the game (to help get me back in shape) does not require the PS2 to be online, nor does it require the Eye Toy. You can enjoy this game just playing on your own, in your living room. It could be the perfect party game, but you do not need to be online to do that. I suspect most people will not even go online or use an Eye Toy.

This series and the Guitar Hero series are some of the most innovative games for the PS2. They helped to make the PS2 the number one console. I realize that there is a version coming out for the XB360 platform, due at the end of February. However, I chose not to wait.

I am new to the DDR series. This is the only game I have from the series. But I suspect that I will become a fan very shortly. This is the kind of game that your whole family can enjoy. Not only will it provide entertainment, it will also get them off the couch and moving. I can't imagine a middle school or a high school girl who would not like this game.

I recommend this game for those who might want to add some physical activity to their gaming. If you are given the option by the retailer, buy the extended warranty. It will be worth it if you ever need to replace the dance pad. And if you are buying the game for your family, you just might want to consider an aftermarket, premium Dance Pad.

A lot has been said of the Nintendo Wii's revolutionary controller and it's ability to get video gamers "off the couch". Many a reviewer have said that it provides a much-needed dimension to gaming, physical activity. A lot of people forgot that the DDR series has been doing that already. My point is that video gaming doesn't have to contribute to the size of your waist. By making careful choices, you can find video games, from other consoles, that can give you a workout. Read more ›

My cousin brought over her PS1 with a DDR game and 2 dance pads. We spent 3 hours playing it and had a blast. I was hooked and decided to get my own DDR gear for my workouts. I was thinking about buying a used PS1 (because of the low cost), but quickly realized I'd be pigeon-holed into having only 1 DDR game out of 6 or 7 that would be compatible with the unit. Bogus. So, we decided to spring for a new PS2 (just a little advice for anyone contimplating getting a Play Station).

The DDR Super Nova Bundle is a great starter kit for those new to DDR. It comes with the Super Nova game and 1 dance pad. I like this particular game because it has more choices to SLOW THINGS DOWN a bit for the less in shape (like myself) or for those who need to ease into this whole DDR thing slowly. It also features songs from actual artists like Kelly Clarkson, David Bowie and Cyndi Lauper, rather than just play cover songs. Some even play the game against the backdrop of the songs original music video (although it is hard to follow the arrows when you're paying attention to David Bowie up against that jukebox, but I digress). The workout mode rocks out loud. You enter any or all of the following info: weight, calories you want to burn or amount of time you want to workout, distance, etc. There is also an instructional part so you can be sure to so it correctly.

Downside? The dance pad clearly states that you should have bare feet when playing, not even stocking feet and certainly not shoes (they ruin the dance pad). But even with a thick rug and yoga mat underneath, I question if this will hurt the arches of our feet at some point. Also, the workout section only features the same 6 songs over and over again; you have to individually key in different songs each time if you want a variety, which becomes cumbersome when you're trying to keep your heartrate up. Another reveiwer commented on the scantily clad girls in some of the animation; although I'm not a prude, I have to agree. It's rated E+10 for this reason, I suppose. Still, it's a fun game that gets the whole family off the couch and burning some calories. Read more ›