This may be great for beginners, but I've played a lot of DDR, and this just isn't DDR to me.
Maybe it's because I have high standards. I grew up on the arcade versions of Extreme and 7th Mix (which is the Japanese version of DDRMAX2), so they're like home to me. That's not to say that I don't appreciate the domestic versions, because I do. Like I said, I love DDRMAX (because it was A LOT better than its Japanese counterpart, 6th Mix) and I play it all the time. But I've played a lot of DDR, so I sort of know what to expect of it, and most of the stuff I see in DDRMAX2 just ISN'T DDR at all.
First of all, I have a real problem with Challenge Mode. It's just not challenging. What's the point of creating a Challenge Mode with a meter that behaves exactly like it does in game mode? That's not challenging. The defining feature of Challenge Mode is the fact that you only get three chances to mess up before you fail. That way, you get better. What the heck, Konami? You just created an Endless Mode where you can pick the lineup of songs you want to play and that basically ISN'T endless at all. Maybe I missed the part where you can change the setting, like you can in the US versions of Extreme, but still...that just takes all the fun out of it.
Secondly, what's with the mini music videos in the background of some of these songs? I know those cute, flashy, brightly-colored animations were pretty distracting, but that's part of how DDR is. They get you in the groove. I'm disappointed with what they did to some of these songs, especially 'The Whistle Song.' That had a wonderfully fitting animation of an exercising bunny in 7th Mix, but in this game, they've changed it to a live-action club scene. Yuck. If they were trying to make this kid friendly or something (which I completely understand, by the way), I don't see much logic in their choice of replacements. And what's more, they didn't even bother to animate some of the US-specific songs at all. Come on, Konami, couldn't you have at least tried? Why ruin a perfectly good trend when it worked so well for DDRMAX?
On top of all that, the playlist is definitely not great. Sure, they borrowed a few good songs from 7th mix (not enough, I say!), like 'Break Down,' 'Burnin' Heat,' 'The Whistle Song,' and 'Kakumei,' but many of the songs they brought in for the US version are just not fun to dance to at all. I understand that they can't license every song from the Japanese versions and are limited in what they can choose from here as well, but, again, couldn't they have at least tried to pick some better songs? I mean, I love the song 'Days Go By,' but it's just not something you can DDR to. In my opinion, the best song on this game (besides MAXX Unlimited) is 'Kakumei,' which is the very last song you can unlock. It was a pain in the butt getting this song, and honestly, it isn't even THAT good of a song to dance to.
If that isn't bad enough, there's a glitch in the system that periodically erases your data once you've unlocked everything. When this happened, the first thing I said was, 'WHAT!? I have to play through this entire game AGAIN!?' That was what really pushed me over the edge. To be fair, I found out later that the glitch exists in the Japanese version, 7th Mix, too, but at least that game is worth playing through again. Couldn't Konami have addressed this issue before they put out the US release?
I'm honestly not trying to nitpick, but this game was just a disappointment overall. I know what I expect from DDR, but this just didn't deliver at all. It seems to me like Konami got lazy and figured they could do whatever the heck they wanted because DDRMAX did so well. Overall, my thoughts are that this game is basically aimed for people who have never played or even HEARD of DDR before. This game is much easier to get the hang of than other versions, which is maybe what Konami's original intent was.
So, if you're new to DDR and looking for something fun and easy to play, I guess this game would be your best bet, although I strongly suggest you pick up the first domestic release, DDRMAX, instead because it's much more true to the nature of DDR. If you're a hardcore DDR fan, like myself, then it's at your discretion to pick this game up, but if you're short on cash, then don't waste your money. I rarely ever play this game, and the only reason I don't trade it in for something better is because I just want to have it in my collection.