Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix

"Dancing The Night Away"

Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix

I've been waiting a long time for DDR to come to Xbox and now it's finally here! The game was announced back in May 2003 and the bundle edition was released November 18th 2003. The game by itself is expected to be in stores December 2nd 2003. Now on to the review...

Graphics: 7/10
As with all DDR mixes the graphics dont play a major role in the gameplay. The Xbox version has some slick graphics that are similar to the arcade mix DDR: Extreme. The background bmgs are awesome as well as the sweet cel-shaded characters. Unfortunately there appears to be only 2 dance characters in this game and they are not selectable. Hopefully more will be downloadable in the future. In the options menu you have the ability to change several things like arrow color and arrow shape. The only thing I particulary didn't like was the flashing danger sign when you're about to fail a song. This however can be turned off, which is great in my opinion.

Sound: 9/10
Of course this is the game's best area seeing as this is a dancing game. There are over 45 songs to choose from including 9 unlockable songs. The genres range from techno, hip-hop, pop, and even some rock. To unlock songs players must complete certain criteria while playing. It features old DDR classics such as Drop The Bomb and Can't Stop Fallin' In Love(Speed Mix) as well as 4 brand new songs Castle In The Sky, Ready Steady Go, Shiny Disco Balls, and Do That Thang, exclusive to the U.S.

Controls: 9/10
As usual you can use the Xbox controller or the new DDR controller designed for Xbox. The new mat is exactly the same as the old PS1 mats except it has A,B,X and Y. The controller is very responsive and has a new sticky underside to lessen the chance of sliding. Interestingly the game can tell the difference between a controller and a dance mat. Another option that a lot of people will find appealing are adapters for their old PS1 mats, however the game detects these as controllers and not mats.

Gameplay: 10/10
The addition of new modes promises players exciting new ways to dance. Among them is Challenge Mode, where players must complete difficult goals to advance, 4 player battle mode, but the biggest addition of them all is the ability to play online via Xbox Live. In the bundle version an extension cord comes with it so you can still chat while you play online. This mix also contains freeze arrows like it's arcade and PS2 counterparts.

Overall: 8.8/10
Dance Dance Ultramix is sure to keep Xbox owners who are fans of the genre as well as newcomers dancing the night away. I highly recommend this game to anyone who owns an Xbox or enjoys dancing.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/25/03