I thought I would finally write a small article on what to improve to the site - here are my suggestions which I will post in the forum as well.

1) Allow a Search engine to find forum threads [very convenient]

2) Improve how to upload one's DDR online stats [current process for Universe 2 is confusing and does not seem to work all the time]

3) Ability to fully "link account", merging our web account and gamertag fully so when people search for my name, it comes up as one result.

4)  More contests and events : )

That's all I have for now ^_^

It's been a while since I posted a blog on here, so I thought I would post two of them today :)

DDR X, the 8th DDR game to hit the PS2, arrives at a cheap price of $29.99. Is it worth the money? Read on to find out.

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Platform: PS2

Developer: Konami

Genre: Dance, Music/Rhythm

MSRP: $29.99 without dance mat

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Another DDR game hits the PS2. You will either have 2 reactions to that: Yay or Augh. My reaction is somewhat in the middle, after having played this game for about 30 hours in total over the last few days.

The main problem this game has is mainly due to the fact that I mainly play the Ultramix/Universe games on the Xbox consoles. DDR X is not as graphically advanced as it’s other counterparts, however, it’s a solid release on the aging PS2.

One of the main components I was looking forward to was online play. Makes sense, since Supernova 2 had it. Unfortunately, X does not have online play, and instead Party Mode tries to substitute for it - a mode where you can link multiple PS2’s for multiplayer LAN games. Fair trade? Nope. I don’t see myself using this mode ever. If you do, please notify me and tell me how the experience went.

So what is new to DDR X? Well besides the song list, there is a Street Master Mode which is a hit or miss depending on who you ask. For me, this is a silly attempt on trying to copy Universe’s Quest Mode, which is becoming much better as the series progress. There is 14 characters to play through, each of them with roughly 10 episodes - most of them being “Hey, I’m going to a party, but I have 2 hours to dance, so let’s battle!”

The mode is not that bad, but I felt it recycled the songs over and over again. You can only choose one or two songs to play when doing an event, which is annoying, since the Universe series allows you to pick any song you like. Luckily, most of the songs that are repeated through Street Master Mode are enjoyable to dance to, such as Wine Red and Put ‘Em Up, perhaps my favorite two songs in the game.

If you are looking for a challenge, there is certainly a few tough songs and difficult challenges to complete. DDR X tries to balance out the difficulty, and mainly succeeds. The only issue is the shock arrows, which I am not quite sure what was the point of them to begin with. They don’t really add anything great to the DDR formula.

Ultimately, the game is awesome if the only console you own is a PS2. The song list is so-so in my opinion, as I don’t really care for the R&B hip hop songs. It’s nice too see some old songs like Dub-I-Dub and Butterfly return, but ultimately, the majority of the songs are not really my taste. The Xmixes are pretty cool, which is new to PS2 but not really Xbox DDR’s. Take a look at the entire song list here:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNo209u9lLI

Presentation: An urban themed interface with easy to navigate menu’s. Besides color scheme, not much has changed here from previous DDR’s. The layout is getting boring though. [7.0]

Gameplay: Fun for beginners, tough enough for hardcore DDR gamers. There’s enough modes and songs to last a bit, but I just wish it would inform the gamer how to get 100 percentage complete in the game. The new Street Master Mode is okay, but I did not find it very appealing, Xmixes and shock arrows are new to PS2, and the mixes are a welcomed addition… while the shock arrows are shockingly dull. [7.5]

Graphics/Sound: The arenas are really boring to look at in this game. There’s only maybe 5 in the game. Konami should have added more, or just took out arenas completely in favor of more video backgrounds. [Which is why I enjoy Ultramix/Universe series so much] The music in this game is okay - you can decide for yourself with the song list video posted above. [7.0]

Value Factor: For only $29.99, it’s definitely worth a purchase, especially if you only have a PS2. For those with an Xbox 360, it will be a bit strange playing a watered-down PS2 mix. For the price, one can’t really complain, but I just wish the song list was not too urban, and that there was an online mode. I am sure some people out there will love this mix completely though. [8.0]

Bottom Line: Buy this game if you only have a PS2. If you own a 360 or Wii, take a look at the song list and see if it’s worthy of a purchase. But for $29.99, there’s not too much harm done either way.

+ Xmixes.

- Shock arrows, Street Master Mode, Song list is not exactly my style.

? What happened to the online mode? Is this the last PS2 DDR?

Overall: [7.5]

Yay!

I made my first DDR Mega Mix!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5xBQuTVT_8

Check it out :)

Plus, I made a video for Charlene, by Missing Heart!

I decided that for the time being, this feature will mainly be about the songs in DDR. I have found out about many awesome songs from DDR- and if it were not for this game series, I would have never known about these songs. Maybe you will also enjoy the songs as well.

Today I would like to focus on one song, After All by Delirium (Svenson & Gielen Remix) I first heard it in Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 for Xbox. It was the first song I ever played on a home console, and also the first song on the playlist. The lyrics were quite haunting, and became one of my favorite DDR songs of all time.

After All- Delirium (Svenson & Gielen Remix) Music Video

Do you have any favorite songs on DDR? What did you think of this song?

Hello, and welcome to the second edition of the DDR Hardcore feature. I decided to write the DDR Universe 2 review now, so enjoy! If you were anxiously waiting for this game, and love techno, you will not be disappointed!

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Category: Rhythm/Dancing

Developer: Konami

Players: 1-4 Online

MSRP: $49.99,$69.99 (With Dance Mat)

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Shake your body to the all new Dance Dance Revolution!

Or should you?

Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2 has been released for the Xbox 360, but this time with a trick. Only the dance mat bundle version is available in retail stores at the moment, so what is the point in spending an extra $20 for another mat? In response, the new mat has one new feature, your wireless headset will now work with your mat! That is indeed wonderful news, as the people online in the previous iteration were usually very quiet, since the headsets did not work with the mat, unless one was using a controller.

The number '2' holds sacred ground for me, as DDR Ultramix 2 on the original Xbox has been my favorite DDR all these years. So when DDR Universe 2 was released, I had high expectations for this game. For those who have previously played DDR Universe, you already know that your original Xbox songpacks will not work, but furthermore, not even your DDR Universe downloadable songs will work. That came as a shock to me, since the DDR's on the original Xbox allowed the songpacks to be carried over on other DDR games- provided they were of a later iteration.

So exactly what is new to this DDR besides a songlist? Well, there is a new mode called Freestyle mode, which allows players to dance to arrows however they like, which is great for beginners. Quest mode has received an overhaul, in which you can create a personal dancer, where you travel through five fantasy islands trying to become the ultimate dancer. The best feature added to Quest mode is the Shop, where you can purchase all the songs and video clips, along with hairstyles and clothes for your dancer. This makes Quest mode less frustrating, as one will never be afraid of missing out on something.

You are probably wondering how the songlist is. Well, in my musical opinion, I believe this is one of the best songlists ever released on Xbox consoles. When you dance to songs such as EternuS, Synergy, and Take Me Out, you will be happy that you purchased this game. Granted, many of these songs have been released on previous DDR iterations, especially the ten downloadable songs, which is a shame. I do not like paying for songs that I already have! Overall, DDR Universe 2 has one of the best music songlists ever, and will keep you grooving for a long time.

Online is another story. I could not find a single match over the last few days, it seems to be a ghost town at the moment. Sadly, the online options have not improved at all from DDR Universe, which is very frustrating. Why is that DDR Ultramix 2(known as the only xbox DDR game to have 16 player tournament mode) and DDR Ultramix 3 and 4, which have an awesome matchmaking system- are not on DDR Universe 2? Furthermore, one can not even upload their own custom dance steps. I find it sad that the older iterations have much better online modes then the next-gen ones.

Hopefully, Konami will look back on the original Xbox DDR games and see why they were so wonderful. But until then, DDR Universe 2 is your best choice for those who love dancing games. Maybe Pump It Up will come to Xbox 360 someday.....

Presentation: DDR Universe 2 goes oriental, as noticed by the font and online themes. Easy maneuverability through the menus. Not much different than from DDR Universe. No complaints here.[10]

Gameplay: With one new mode added, Freestyle- along with many other modes to choose from- there is plenty of game here. The Quest mode is a bit easier, which is great. The annoying “do 30 freeze arrows” or “45 jumps” have been reduced. Furthermore, the challenge mode is back once again for those looking to be tested. Unfortunately, there is a slight bit of freezing every once in awhile- but it is much more improved over DDR Universe. [9.0]

Graphics/Sound: Graphics in Quest mode has been spruced up, along with the video clips, making this the most graphically advanced DDR yet. If you love anime, you will be in heaven. The music in this game is amazing, and has one of the most grooving soundtracks ever. There is a song for everyone in this DDR. The announcer is slightly annoying, but luckily one can lower the volume. [10]

Value Factor: For DDR pros like me, it will probably take you 7-9 hours to complete Quest mode. There are over 70 songs to choose from, with many unlockable songs and gameplay modes. Hopefully more downloadable songs will be released in the future. The variety and quality of songs justify a purchase, or a rental for those who are curious. [9.5]

Bottom Line: Not much new in this version, and unfortunately the online options are terrible, as it has not changed at all from DDR Universe, meaning you can not change the speed of the arrows, or see who is available to match up with. Furthermore you can not even upload your custom dance steps. However if you only play DDR offline then those complaints do not matter. If you are a hardcore DDR fan, then you will be pleased with the song choice, for others- rent first, and if you can see yourself playing this game from time to time, then purchase it. The songs alone are worthy of spending the money.

+ Awesome songlist, improved Quest mode, and Freestyle mode a bonus for beginners

- Online options are pathetic, slight freezing at times, nothing really new

Overall Score:

[8.0]
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You should find this review edited and posted on Loading Reality no later then this Tuesday. Thanks for reading! Comments and feedback appreciated ^_^

Was this review helpful to you?

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) came into my life, when a friend of mine- Jessica(Gamertag-Anubiac), introduced me to DDR. She told me about DDR Ultramix 2 for the original Xbox, and it seemed really cool. In August 2005, I purchased DDR Ultramix 2, and it became one of my favorite games of all time. Its future sequels, DDR Ultramix 3 and 4, along with Universe, still did not match DDR Ultramix 2's song list and online options. (DDR Ultramix 2 was the only DDR game thus far on Xbox consoles to have a tournament mode)

There are times when I am spacing out and I picture DDR arrows in my mind... just dancing to a beat. There are times I hear an awesome techno song and imagine what the arrows would be like for that song.

Yesterday, a game that I have been waiting for a very long time was released for Xbox 360. DDR Universe 2. I was afraid that it would not be very good, as the number "2" is very sacred to me. I had very high expectations for this game...

When I came home with DDR Universe 2 in my hands, I had no idea I would be playing the game for 11 hours straight, but I did. The game is phenomenal. Anyways, I thought before I were to write a review for this game, that I should take another look at a review I wrote for DDR Universe. At the end of my review I will give my final thoughts on DDR Universe.

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Platform: Xbox360

Publisher: Konami

Developer: Konami

Category: Music/Rhythm, Party

Players: 1-4

Online: Yes

MSRP: $79.99 ,$49.99(without dance pad)

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Once upon a time, there was this game called Dance Dance Revolution. It became an overnight phenomenon in arcades which consisted of one's feet stepping on arrows to the beat of the music.

Konami, the publisher of this game, thought why not transfer the arcade experience to your living room?

So thus began the transition. Beginning with the Playstation in the late 90's, Konami began churning out sequel after sequel, adding new songs, new game modes, and later on the wonderful “freeze arrows”, which is where one steps on the desired arrows and holds their feet in the same spot until the “freeze” passes.

By the time DDR hit the Xbox, there was a huge fanbase, enough to warrant sales on a console system when back in the day the music rhytm genre was just a faint blimp in the video game industry.

Konami released DDR Ultramix, and the game received lukewarm reception. Many consumers who had xbox live at the time were upset with the lack of online options, and how the matchmaking system worked (one would have to start a new room each time one completed a song).

In response to these critical remarks, Konami released DDR Ultramix 2 soon afterwards, which perhaps was the best DDR game to ever hit the Xbox consoles, even until this day.

DDR U2 had one of the best song tracks ever, and most importantly, was a true xbox live game. Konami added Tournament mode to its online options, which allowed up to 16 people to compete against one another. Also, rooms could be created, and one would not have to start a new room after a song had been completed, which made the interface much simpler, and online-friendly. In addition, Konami allowed players to create their own dance steps and upload them online to share with others. They also released many downloadable song packs, which added more replayability.

When DDR Ultramix 3 and 4 was released, Konami added a new “Quest mode” which enabled one to embark on a quasi-adventure to compete with other dancers, while unlocking new songs. These quest modes sparked much anger amongst DDR Beginners, who could not pass this mode unless one would play on a harder difficulty level- which led many to begin using the controller.

The online options increased, with a much better matchmaking system, and even a chat room. However, Konami took out Tournament mode, which till this day has not yet been seen since DDR U2. For those that had purchased all 16 song packs, one could have over 150 songs per DDR game.

When DDR Universe was announced for Xbox360, many people had high expectations for this game, hoping that the downloadable song packs would be compatible with the 360, and that there would be awesome online options.

When the game was released 1st quarter 2007, I eagerly went down to Gamestop to pick up my pre-ordered copy. I popped the game into my 360 and set up the dance pad as well. I went into quest mode and was shocked that this mode was the same exact structure as it was in DDR U3! The only thing that changed was that the graphics were a bit better.

I then went through the song list, and was disappointed with the selection. Gone were the many amazing techno songs, and instead more current songs, trying to cater to everyone. I don't know about you, but I really do not want to dance to any rap songs, much less anything with the artist “Jamiroqaui”.

To top it all off, all of my 15 downloadable song packs were not compatible with the 360, which further aggrivated me.

I then went online to see what xbox live options there were, perhaps hoping they had improved on the previous Ultramixes. What I saw what was available, I was stunned. The only options were to create or search for a ranked game, or create or search custom games, which were not ranked. These options brought back immediate recollections to the first DDR Ultramix, which had the same exact system. So DDR Universe, instead of advancing in the online options, regressed back to where they had started from. There was no options to even upload your own dance steps. However, Konami did release 10 songs to download, although 6 of these songs I had already purchased or played before in previous DDR iterations.

So, after I got over my reaction, I created a custom game. I then went through the song list and noticed that I could not play every song with other people online! There was a glitch, which still to this day has not been fixed. Furthermore, sometimes the screen would freeze, and one would have to restart their 360 over again. At least one could continue playing after a song was completed, provided that the other players did not lag out.

To those new to DDR, they will certainly enjoy this game, but to the DDR fanatics like myself, we all know we were let down. Hopefully DDR Universe 2 will fix these issues.

Presentation: Anime style interface with HD- support. The most graphically advanced DDR game yet, but there is still room for improvement.[7.5/10]

Gameplay: With many modes included, such as Workout (the ability to track how much calories you burned) Power, (5 to 6 minute remixed songs, which are fun to play) Bomb, (A frantic multiplayer mode in which one must make sure they hit the arrows and get combos so the bomb does not explode on them), and other modes as well- there is certainly a variety of gameplay options that will keep one coming back for more. However Quest mode can get on your nerves, due to a variety of unfair rules implemented. [8.5/10]

Graphics/Sound: With HD support, and advanced animations, this game certainly does look better, but there is definitely room for improvement- especially in quest mode, which sports the same graphic style as DDR U3. The sound is either really good or bad, with some awesome songs found amongst some painful songs. Perhaps one of the worst song tracks in DDR history. The dancers voices should be turned off, as they can become quite annoying.[7.5/10]

Replay Factor: With plenty of different modes to play (even though most can only be played offline), and the variety of songs, this game will definitely be played over and over again until the sequel is released. [9/10]

Bottom Line: To those new to DDR, they will certainly enjoy it, as it has a Beginner's mode to train newcomers. In that case, it would deserve a much higher review. However to DDR Fanatics, the online options will certainly disappoint, and will be upset that previous song packs they purchased will not be compatible with this game. One should definitely rent this game, and then purchase it if they can see themselves enjoying this genre for months and years to come.

+70 songs, many different game modes

- Most of the songs are not new to DDR fans, online options sparse

Overall Score:

[7.5/10]

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When looking back on this review, I agree with what I wrote. I was very disappointed with DDR Universe in a few ways.

Hopefully I will have a review for DDR Universe 2 by Mid-December.(Which will also be on Loading Reality)

Thank you for reading. ^_^

What are your thoughts on DDR? Did you play DDR Universe? Did it meet your expectations?