E3 2008: Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 2 Hands-On

In honor of Dance Dance Revolution's 10th anniversary, the series is getting a number of new releases on various platforms. DDR: Hottest Party 2 is the second DDR title for the Wii and, like its predecessor, demands that players gesture with the remote and Nunchuk in addition to matching their steps on the DDR mat. A brand-new setlist and a few tracks catered to series newcomers make DDR: Hottest Party 2 an appealing title for experienced move busters and dance-floor first-timers alike.

For those new to the series, or perhaps who never got into the groove, DDR: Hottest Party 2 includes new lesson tracks designed to help you get acquainted with how to maneuver your way around the mat. Unlike previous lessons that merely offered text explanations, these songs come complete with video and audio aid, so they feel a bit like an aerobics lesson at the gym. Your trainer sings ahead of the beat and cues up a call-and-response dynamic, so when he says, "Right! Left! Right!," you answer by stepping right, left, right. Further along the lessons begin to incorporate the down arrow, but they first tell you to position yourself with, for example, your left foot on the left arrow and your right foot on the down arrow. This effectively instructs you in the best way to position yourself throughout various steps, so folks who find themselves tripping over their own legs will have some handy reference points.

In addition to these newcomer-friendly songs, there is an entirely new soundtrack that features mostly club-style music. These tracks come from Bemani, Konami's music video game label, and feature such series favorites as NAOKI and Terra. Konami hopes this blend of old and new will help broaden the appeal and accessibility of their venerable rhythm series. DDR: Hottest Party 2 is set to release this fall, so check back in the coming months for more.