Dance Dance Revolution Extreme E3 2004 Preshow Impressions

We have seen a good dozen installments in Konami's popular rhythm action series since it debuted in US arcades in 1999, but the changes from one version to the next have generally been pretty nominal. This looks to change in a big way with Dance Dance Revolution Extreme for the PlayStation 2, which will make use of the Sony EyeToy in concert with a standard DDR pad to create a full-body rhythm action experience.

Classically, Dance Dance Revolution games have challenged you to follow onscreen step commands using a special dance mat controller while keeping time with music. DDR Extreme will build upon this gameplay model by using the Sony EyeToy to sense your hand movements too. The new hands and feet mode will require you to move your arms in time with onscreen cues; the clean-the-screen mode will require you to wave your arms around to clear an obstructed portion of the screen, similar to the window washer minigame in EyeToy: Play; and the watch-me-dance mode will put you in the background of the game, strutting your stuff. DDR Extreme will also introduce a mission mode, which will issue a series of specific dance-based challenges. You can anticipate the return of the workout mode, which keeps count of the calories you've burned while playing the game, as well as the oni mode, which was previously featured in DDR MAX.

Though they were originally populated almost entirely with original J-pop songs, the soundtracks for DDR games have progressively relied more and more on licensed music. DDR Extreme promises 70 new songs, with artists such as Junior Senior, The Village People, and BT contributing to the soundtrack. The game's inclusion of Dolby Pro-Logic II support should enhance the game's aural presentation, too.

Dance Dance Revolution Extreme looks poised to inject the DDR series with some much-needed new blood, and we're very intrigued by the new gameplay possibilities to be offered by the new EyeToy support. Stay tuned to GameSpot, and we'll have more on the game as it develops.