Publisher: Konami
Ages: All
Parental
Advisory:
None
Daytrum Editor's Choice
It's an in-body experience that encourages gamers to off of the couch and onto their feet. And it's an activity that everyone in the family can enjoy. Does it get any better than this? Konami's Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME (DDR EXTREME), with its support of Sony's EyeToy camera, is clearly the best, most entertaining dance game yet.
As before, DDR EXTREME is an interactive rhythm video game that's played with a dance pad-a mat that connects to the PlayStation 2 and replaces the handheld controller, and lets players step on giant buttons (Daytrum Review of DDRMax 2). As directional arrows fall on the screen, players try to step on the correct button in the right sequence and at the right time. The challenging and entertaining game scores players on how many correct steps they make. And levels may be easily ramped up to challenge the most coordinated dancers.
The game adds support for Sony's EyeToy camera. This big new enhancement lets players use both a dance mat and EyeToy to interact with songs. The EyeToy is a USB camera that tracks players movements and lets them physically become part of a game. You place the camera on top of your television, plug its cable into one of the two USB ports on the front of the PlayStation 2, load the game and a player's image is projected on-screen. Players can then use their hands, head and knees to play.
The game comes with impressive new hit dance modes and mini-games. The new 'Mission' mode has players performing a series of tasks on a quest to become the most "extreme" dancer. The 'Endless' mode lets players play all the songs in one long continuous nonstop mix, while the 'Lesson' and 'Edit' modes lets players learn and customize dance moves.
A new "Party" mode serves entertaining mini-games that include "Hyper Dash," an interactive foot race, and "Feeding Time," which asks players to feed the appropriate food to as many animals as possible within an allotted time. The frantic "Coconut Panic" and "Hands & Feet" games make use of both the dance mat and the EyeToy camera, and has players using their hands and feet concurrently while dancing or interacting with onscreen images. This mode offers a new, significant challenge to those who are masters of past DDR games.
As before, the game features a 'Work Out' mode that helps players track the calories that they burn as they dance. This mode offers a fun way for parents to get some exercise. And they may practice here so they may have a remote chance of keeping up with the kids.
The game features some 65 songs from artists such as BT, Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran and Village People. And there are remixes of popular songs for titles such as "Ladies' Night," "Like A Virgin" and "Waiting For Tonight" as well as music videos. It offers a good mix of songs, and almost anyone can find a song that they like.
We're big fans of Konami's DDR, and Dance Dance Revolution EXTREME offers the finest version yet. If you own a prior version and an EyeToy camera, you'll want to check this one out. And if you've never discovered the joys of a rhythm and dance game, definitely consider this one.
11/1/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
