Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3
Score: 90% ESRB: Everyone 10+ Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Rhythm
Graphics & Sound: DDR Ultramix 3 is yet another iteration of the popular Dance Dance Revolution series. In addition to bringing along a slew of new songs, as well as a few old favorites, Ultramix 3 also offers a few new modes and options for expert players to dabble in while, at the same time, keeping the game accessible to even the clumsiest of players. Music will always be DDR's most important element since without it, you're just stepping on arrows and looking like a jackass. Ultramix 3 offers around 70 songs and features DDR favorites like "Butterfly", "Crazy in Love" and "Captain Jack" as well as new tunes from the Black Eyed Peas, Run D.M.C., They Might Be Giants and Good Charlotte. Overall, the selection of tunes is great and should offer something for everyone. You won't always get to dance to the songs you want since some force songs on you, though some modes will let you choose if you have a few favorites. Downloadable song packs are also available over Live, though they come with a small fee. As a bit of an added bonus, a Jukebox mode is available that allows you to create a playlist of songs to listen to without having to dance, which is good if you want some DDR-styled background noise and don't own any of the game soundtracks. Ultramix 3 retains the series' low-key approach to visuals. Arrows are obviously the most prominent aspect, while backgrounds are filled mostly with either simple, cel-shaded dancers or videos from the song's artists. There's nothing here to get overly excited about, yet at the same time, it probably isn't that good of an idea to pay that much attention to the backgrounds anyway.
Gameplay: Gameplay is split up into two core game types that are then broken down into several smaller types. The number of game types available is pretty overwhelming and should provide a lot for players to do. Of all the available modes, Party is the one you'll most likely have the most fun with since DDR is, by its very nature, more fun when you're playing with a group. In Attack mode, players send attacks to other players who can then deflect them by hitting the right dance steps. This is similar to Bomb, where players need to hit a set number of steps correctly in order to pass the bomb before it blows up. Sync mode adds a bit of co-op gameplay to the mix with players trying to sync-up their movements. And, if these modes seem a little too complicated, Ultramix 3 also offers classic head-to-head score-based battles as well as Challenge, which has you completing certain objectives during a song like hitting a certain combo or getting a perfect. For players who would rather play alone (or during times when it's difficult to get some friends together), Ultramix 3 also offers brand-new Single-player modes. Quest mode adds a "story" element to the game and has you assuming the role of a DDR Champ who must go from city to city building a fanbase. While fun, Quest mode is ridiculously hard and requires insane point totals to proceed -- so this mode will probably appeal more to experts who will have a much easier time getting the higher point totals. Other modes, like Training, Step Editor and Workout are also available in single-player. Freestyle has you making up your own steps to songs while a counter at the bottom gives a vague idea of how you're doing. Series vets, as well as some newcomers, will likely skip this mode and see it as pointless -- though I could actually see it being a lot of fun for younger players who want to play, but lack the coordination required to play the real game.
Difficulty: As always, how well you do in the game depends greatly on how coordinated you are. This game is not for the clumsy or aloof. This doesn’t mean that you still won’t be able to enjoy the game, but DDR Ultramix 3 seems like it is geared more towards advanced players since it seems like you need a third leg or tail to complete some of the patterns found with the "easy" songs. Expert players will be happy to know that Ultramix 3 includes the challenging "Oni" difficulty setting. Trying your skills online will provide a real challenge. There are some really good players out there, so don’t get discouraged if you have a hard time beating some people. My experiences online were mixed. Some were very helpful and gave me hints on how to hit complicated combos while others seemed to get a real rush out of showing just how great they were. But, if your life is defined by how great you are at DDR, you've probably got issues...
Game Mechanics: Understanding the basics behind DDR isn’t difficult. Arrows scroll; you step on that arrow on the dance pad. Arrow patterns and combos increase in difficulty level with the difficulty level of the song. The game can be played with a controller, but doing so does cause the game to lose something. An interesting addition to DDR Ultramix 3 is Quad mode, which allows you to play with 4 dance pads at a time. Seeing as how I struggle with a single dance pad, my mind was absolutely boggled at the prospect of having to keep up with 4 pads. Of course, this is something that will likely only appeal to the more hardcore of fans as it not only requires tons of skill, but lots of floor space and a pricey investment in dance pads. DDR Ultramix 3 is another quality offering in the DDR series. However, the new play modes and increased difficulty level make it better suited for veteran players rather than newcomers. That's not to say that beginners won't be able to have fun with the game, though they'll likely get more out of the Party options rather than the single-player ones.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble