DDR taps out 10 years, three new games

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted May 15, 2008 3:50 pm PT

Konami ushering in franchise's decade of dancing this fall with DDRX on PS2, DDR Universe 3 on Xbox 360, and DDR Hottest Party 2 on Wii.

Milestones seem to be a dime a dozen these days. In recent weeks, Microsoft said that its Xbox 360 was the first high definition console to reach 10 million units in the US, Sony flagged Gran Turismo's 50 millionth unit, and MTV Games jammed out 3 million units and 10 million song downloads, to name a few. Today, Konami jumped into the major-milestone fray, saying that its seminal Dance Dance Revolution franchise was gearing up for its 10th anniversary this holiday season.

To give Dance Dance Revolution some company on the linoleum, Konami is launching three new games in the long-running franchise this fall. DanceDanceRevolution X will foxtrot onto Sony's PlayStation 2, and with it comes a host of new songs and updated graphics. New modes appearing in the game include LAN Battle, in which up to eight players can have a dance-off simultaneously using the PS2's local-area network capabilities. DDRX will also let players customize their own fitness program, as well as input their image into the game using the PS2's EyeToy camera.

Konami will be returning for the third time in two years to Microsoft's Xbox 360 with DanceDanceRevolution Universe 3. This time out, the publisher has added in DJ Mode, in which players can create their own tracks and song lists, and City Mode, which features a variety of boss battles in an urban environment. More than 65 songs will be on offer in DDR Universe 3, with acts spanning from the '70s to the present day, and the game supports online multiplayer for up to four.

The publisher will also be releasing a follow-up to one of its key 2008 fiscal-year revenue drivers, DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2 on the Wii. As with the original, DDR Hottest Party 2 will be a total-body affair, given that it incorporates the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Up to four players can dance at any one time to tracks that span several decades. DDR Hottest Party 2 also adds a number of new moves to its repertoire, including the Course Mode, in which players dance until they drop, and Hottest Training Mode. The game will also support Mii integration, and more than 50 unique dancing venues.

Konami's DDR lineup this fall will complement the publisher's return to the rock genre with Rock Revolution. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to MTV Games' Rock Band and Activision's Guitar Hero IV, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of Rock Revolution offers guitars, drums, vocals, and song downloads. On the Wii, digital rockers will measure out the rhythm with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, whereas the DS game will rely on stylus-gesture gameplay.

30 Comments

  • Mogsworth

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 9:50 pm PT

    "I own the last two DDR's on 360 and gotta say I have no intention of grabbing this one.

    The games are more and more identical"

    Of course they are. DDR has been basically the same game with different songs and minor fixes since it came out. But now, it appears as though they're adding mines from In the Groove, under the name "shock arrows", and they're going up to 13. I believe Roxor was bought by Konami, if I'm not mistaken? Maybe DDR will finally get an ITG-esque difficulty upgrade?

  • musicgames_best

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 8:40 pm PT

    In all fairness, Guitar Freaks came out WAY before guitar hero or rock band were even heard of. So to say Konami is copying off of the companies that originally copied off of them is absurd. Opinion; Konami makes some of the best music games out there (at least for the techno addicts =D). Everyone else just seems to follow, add on a few extra buttons/features and load it up with licensed songs everyone has grown to love or hate over time.

    If you want a better DDR buy a JP PS2, it's the way to go, if not, there's only a handful of good DDR's for the U.S. PS2. They're the only ones that stay as true to the arcade as you can get, all others are just licensed garbage. DDR Hottest Party being a prime example of this, on the exception of Pluto the First, the rest is just garbage. But, like I said, the imports are better, thus, that song was never put on U.S. Hottest Party =P.

    Lastly graphics don't make the game, great gameplay does, so even if DDR looks nice on your Wii/PS3/360. If the songs suck the game does too =P.

  • PhantomPhoot

    Posted May 18, 2008 7:42 pm PT

    "Konami's DDR lineup this fall will complement the publisher's return to the rock genre with Rock Revolution. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to MTV Games' Rock Band and Activision's Guitar Hero IV, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of Rock Revolution offers guitars, drums, vocals, and song downloads."

    Just when I was ready to call Activision cheaters by coming out with a "Guitar Hero" Band game, here comes Konami with their own game. Granted, GH4 might be better than Rock Band and so might this game (although the chances are slimmer), but I can't help but feel that Rock Band created a new genre: the BAND game.

    I'm already sold for GH4 due to the Create-a-Song feature.

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted May 18, 2008 2:05 am PT

    @discoron_basic

    "I predicted DDR X over 5 years ago! When DDR Extreme came out, I said once the 10th DDR game was released in arcades, it would be called DDR X."

    Wow...do you want a cookie or something?

  • dazerozoid27

    Posted May 16, 2008 3:27 pm PT

    wait... i just realized... how come they are taking one out for the ps2 and not ps3????.... by the way... they better fix all the bugs and such in hottest party -_-'

  • otanikun

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:33 am PT

    I hate how they keep putting out American music on DDR, I thought it was all about Japanese techno and cutesy dance beats, what happened to that?

  • jcloverboy

    Posted May 16, 2008 6:46 am PT

    I own the last two DDR's on 360 and gotta say I have no intention of grabbing this one.

    The games are more and more identical.

  • bioghost

    Posted May 16, 2008 6:15 am PT

    Better to have good songs to DDR

  • dn3datomiced

    Posted May 16, 2008 2:59 am PT

    Man, I really need to get rid of this set of spare tires around my waist. Maybe it's time to invest in DDR again...

  • Tails200

    Posted May 16, 2008 2:36 am PT

    I would like to be pleased about this news, I really would. But theres one thing that has really been bugging me about DDR, and thats that Konami have NOT but a dance dance revolution game into PAL format. I know that there is dancing stage and all that, but those games have only a few good songs and the rest are just licensed crap. Even the other DDR game on the 360 was regional locked. WHY!!! BLOODY HELLS SAKE WHY!!!!

  • discoron_basic

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:26 am PT

    I predicted DDR X over 5 years ago! When DDR Extreme came out, I said once the 10th DDR game was released in arcades, it would be called DDR X. Well it's coming, just that the X means the 10th anniversary rather than game. But still.

  • gamemaster_ca

    Posted May 15, 2008 11:21 pm PT

    I only have one question.

    Will the PS2 one have only Aerosmith Songs

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted May 15, 2008 10:25 pm PT

    DDR just needs to "tap out". It jumped the shark when the "freeze" step was introduced.

  • RigaMortus24

    Posted May 15, 2008 9:47 pm PT

    dude, you cant even play the ps2 ddr on the ps3, the mats controls are all mixed up. i tried but failed. they need to make it for the ps3.

  • blazethehedghog

    Posted May 15, 2008 8:26 pm PT

    Rexco, I realize that it is cheaper, but how am I soppossed to play DDR on the ps3 if I can't connect my metal DDR mat, konami should at least make a few mats for ps3....

  • rexCo

    Posted May 15, 2008 8:02 pm PT

    To all those wondering "why not the PS3"...
    It'd cost less just to do a PS2 game that appeals to a much wider audience (including PS3 owners) than port a game from 360 to PS3 or vice versa. Yes, you might be ticking off a select few who want DDR in high def... but I do mean a select few. But it's good to see DDR's back and ready for more; it'll be interesting to see how they do.

  • bulletsword

    Posted May 15, 2008 6:29 pm PT

    DDR kicks ass, and the song selection has always been cool. but I am surprised that there isn't one coming for the PS3 (yet)

  • Wula_

    Posted May 15, 2008 6:02 pm PT

    I have been stomping my tokens away at the arcade 90% of the time to this game series alone. Its rare when someone sees me on another machine and is surprised I am good in other games as well xP

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