"This has got to be one of the best DDR games out."

Dance Dance Revolution has actually been a revolution to the gaming world. With the lack of music games in the markets, Bemani has stepped into gaming world and introduced a tsunami of great games to flood the nation. Lately, their lasted DDR game, Extreme, has every DDR player flocking from everyone to play the cleanest to date. With all the Maxs and Extremes, everyone has diverted their attention from the best DDR game with a dancing character, DDR 4th Mix Plus.

Everyone should be aware how to play by now. It's does type of games that you press something at the right moment. For those who have been living under a rock, let me make it more clear. On the ground there are four panels with arrows going in different directions. Now there's a screen with four gray outlines of the arrows. Here's the tricky part, there are colorful arrows that scroll upwards. The idea is to step on the right panel indicated by the direction of the arrow, when the colorful arrow is under or close to under the gray outline. It might take days or months to get used to it, but it's alright, you'll get used to it.

DDR 4th Mix Plus doesn't have as a vibrant color or a speed mod so you have to get used to it all over again. That means gallops (a technique used to nail a arrow that's quickly followed by a 1/16 arrow) are going to be harder to execute. The background can not compare to the Maxs and Extreme. It's all a slides how of various things and doesn't make sense to the songs at all. Then there's the character that be dancing like mad when playing a high tempo song. Did you miss them? Neither did I. The only reason why the graphic department is really weak is because we have been spoiled by the latest versions. Still, I tend to love being old skool.

This is a music game, so that means the music should off the chain. Here's the coolest thing about 4th Mix Plus, it has about 87% of all the DDR songs on the previous version packed into one machine plus many more. Another cool thing is that there are some songs on here that's not on the 6-8th mixs. There are some people that missed DD Sound's song entitled ''Cafe.'' Then there's most of Smile.dk's stuff, the themes from Lupin the 3rd and Enter the Dragon, and other exclusives. I wish I can give a list, but it would take all night so let's move on, shall we?

I love playing this machine despite it's unfair location in my local arcade (behind the DDR Extreme machine). Usually, this should cost less than Extreme, making doubles (which requires 2 credits) not as much of a financial crises on the typical Extreme machine. It also past some time when your waiting your turn on the coin line. DDR players are still giving props towards this machine despite it's old skool looks and weak game options.

Pros
Great selection of songs
Great exercise
Almost no coin line

Cons
Lame graphics
No speed mods
No extra stage or another extra stage
Feet may hurt after playing

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/19/03, Updated 06/19/03