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Somewhat disappointing for experienced players

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 39 / 42
Date: March 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you have played DDR on other platforms, you will probably be disappointed with this version. In particular:

The music selection was less varied than in past editions. There are licensed songs, but mostly older songs or "hip-hop" - there are not many current dance songs. There are reconizable artists doing songs for this mix (Midihead, Echo Image and Neuropa to name a few), as well as remakes of older songs (like Ecstasy, Insertion and Candy).

The doubles charts seem like they were designed at random. There is a progression of moves you expect to see based on difficulty, and they are very different from singles. The doubles steps don't follow that progression, and are not very new-player friendly. A 6-foot doubles looks like a singles song randomly tossed over 2 mats. This makes many of the doubles songs more difficult than you would expect from the foot-rating. Another problem with doubles is that you must select the pad layout EVERY TIME you pick a song. It would be nice if it would default to the last layout you picked.

The "improved graphics" do not enhance the game, but rather detract from it. DDR is a simple game - watch the arrows and step. The graphics and flashing tend to make it harder to see the arrows (although the movies are not harmful).

Lastly, the load times are significant - about 12 seconds per song. While not terrible, other platforms load faster.

The game includes "downloadable content" - there are 10 songs on the game that can only be unlocked through X-box live by paying $10.

There are also songs unlockable through "quest" mode. This is the worst type of unlocking system I have ever played on a DDR platform. In previous versions, there were finite tasks to do, which if you did, gave you the ability to unlock songs. This version is fluky - you travel around from site to site, and mainly compete to get your "fan base" up. A problem with this system though is even if yuo do a song perfectly (full combo it), you may not meet the objective. Another fluke you may see is being assigned to do 15 Freeze steps, and the song doesn't have 15 Freeze steps, so you fail again. The quest mode is more designed to waste time than add enjoyment to the game.

To the game's credit, it is very new-player friendly. It has a lesson based tutorial, and the quest mode will never kick you out mid-song (there is no life meter in quest mode).

Another good part of the game is there is a nice variety of difficulty levels for singles, right from the start. Some older versions had "gaps" where there might be only a few songs at a certain level (especially 8+). The challenge levels of the songs are nicely dispersed. One odd thing though - there are a lot more jumps here than other versions. This is good if you play for exercise.

If you are considering buying this, realize that your old dance pads will not work with this. The Konami pad included is pretty good for a thin pad, but you'll want to buy foam pads if you play the game a lot. If you are going to shell out $[...] for 2 "Beat pad pro" foam pads, you are better off giving up on the X360, and playing DDR on either the PS2 or Xbox. Both have better games, and a single set of Red Octane foam pads will work on both the PS2 and the old Xbox. There are much better games on the other platforms; on old Xbox, take a closer look at Ultramix 2 & 3. On PS2, look at DDR Supernova and Extreme 2, or "In the Groove" if you are a skilled player.

Good, but previous versions better.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I bought the Dance Dance Revolution Universe Bundle from Amazon for the massive discount in price at a retail store. At a local store from a nationwide chain, the game was retailing for $59.95...just the game..without a controller. The Wireless X-Box 360 controller cost an added 39.99 and was an off brand. Purchasing it from Amazon, I saved 30 bucks and got a controller along with the game(though, the controller is corded, which is a bit of a drawback, a cordless controller would have been nicer).

The game itself is similar to the other version of Dance Dance Revolution, except it has an added "Quest" mode. While the Quest mode is challenging, it's often prohibitively challenging. Many of the challenges are difficult to surmount, and choosing a 'overall difficulty' at the beginning of the quest mode does not seem to affect the songs difficulty in any way. Most quest mode challenges involve you earning a certain number of points over the course of one song. If you fail the song, all is not lost as you can continue and try another song. You can keep trying until you quit or master the song. It's nice that you don't fail if you don't succeed the first time. Some challenges, however, seem impossible to succeed at no matter how many times you try, or how perfect you complete a song. This makes the Quest mode seem tiresome and unrewarding. And since you MUST play Quest mode to unlock hidden songs, it makes finding those songs nearly impossible.

For DDR purists, the quest mode can be bypassed and a much more familiar dance mode is available, similar to the other, previous DDR games. Allowing you to dance through any songs the game provides (Save the ones you have yet to unlock from Quest Mode).

It's fun, and a healthy way to spend your time playing videogames. There is an added Calorie counter that shows you the amount of calories burned in all game modes after each song. It's supposed to keep track of your calories burned, but I found the interface to be unreliable and difficult to interpret.

As far as Songs...I found that the songs on this version were lacking compared to other versions, Particularly the DDR Max and Max II versions. It is hard to put into words how songs on those games were 'better' than this, but they had certain...style...to them, that lacks in this game. Don't get me wrong, it's still fun, and since everyone has their own musical opinion, it's hard to rate. Overall, a fun game, DEFINITELY not worth paying store retail for, but a good game for 70 bucks.

Lots of fun!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

DDR Universe is a very fun game. I'm new to this rythm based dancing game and found it very enjoyable. Once you get the hang of the hand/foot coordination, the only thing that will get you to stop playing is that you are tired.

The music selection in the game is good. There are some remixes of older songs (even some from Konami classic video games), and a few by artists I knew. But for the most part, I don't know much about the music. Once you get the beat though, the majority of the songs are fun to play.

For the casual crowd, there is a "Basic Edition" you can play in the game that keeps things simple. If you want more of a challenge, the "Master Edition" section of the game is the way to go.

One problem with the game is a lack of good instructions on how to navigate the game and it's options. This is especially the case with "Quest Mode", which plays out okay but no real direction is given on how it works. You kind of just have to figure it out.

One real plus for the game is that it is a great workout and I actually use it for my cardio exercises. It will even keep track of your calories burned. This is great for anyone looking for a video game that is fun and gives you a good workout.

Overall, this game could be better in some respects (like more variety in the background graphics for individual songs for instance. Some songs have almost the exact same thing going on in them) but in the end it's a lot of fun and I recommend it.

Awesome game, terrible mat.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 21 / 22
Date: April 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

What's there to say about DDR that hasn't been said a million times before?

This version is great, though some of the songs are a bit old. And it looks awesome on an HDTV.

My only gripe is with the included dance mat. It's pretty bad, even as cheap ones go -- and for the sake of reference, the last mat I used was the Madcatz one for the Xbox, and it wasn't bad. This thing slips like crazy!

Since the included mat uses USB, you could just buy the standalone game and a better mat for about the same price. If I had it to do over again, I would have got the Xbox 360 Beat Pad or paid a little more for the Xbox 360 Beat Pad Pro.

Good initial DDR for Xbox 360

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: March 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I like this game and couldn't wait to get it once I sold my PS2 and all 3 DDR games I own (1, Extreme and Extreme 2). DDR is just all around a fun game - if you've never played it before you're in luck with this game. It has a very in depth beginners guide/lesson. Now if you have played the game before this is annoying and thankfully they have Master Mode you can switch to get a more classic DDR menu style.

This game takes off where Extreme 2 left off for the PS2. You have to buy or unlock songs through a quest mode instead of unlocking them as you progress through songs (which I don't like). But the quest mode is drastically improved than Extreme 2. It requires you to do more remedial tasks to go along. Still it is challenging.

The crazy challenges (i.e. do not step on the up arrow etc) have all been moved in to Challenge mode which unlocks a few songs (I think) but more importantly gives you Achievements.

The songs are taking some time to get used to - with a few classics: B4U and Maximizer that I am aware of. Overall the songs seem to be a large mix of electronic more so than hip-hop which I think it was the problems with Extreme 2.

The only thing I could complain of with the game is that is the inability to turn off the announcers voice. She is mind-numbingly annoying - more so than the last voice albeit a bit more positive. You can turn her voice down to a 1 and the music/SFX up to 10 but still you get a minor buzzing of her voice which just sounds eerie.

So the game is good and if they offer classic songs for download over XBL then I will be sold. I ranked it 4 stars right now because the songs, I think, aren't as good as DDR Extreme. Which is one of my favorite. It also seems the DDR games are trending to be easier overall, with the original PS2 DDR game being extremely difficult.

On a side note, the MadCatz pad it really a pile of junk compared with the included Konami pad. It's light and not quite as responsive. I can't wait for Ignition pads to come out. Since they connect USB it shouldn't be too soon. Or even a wireless dance mat (which isn't really that necessary).

Dance Dance Revelution Universe Bundle

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Good product and a blast to play. Graphics are greatly impoved over other gaming systems. The ability to download new songs for a nominal fee is an outstanding feature. The game pad works great!

For beginners

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: April 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I've always seen DDR games and they seemed fun but I could never get past a few steps before getting kicked out of a song.

When I read that this game has some tutorials for beginners, I thought I'd take the plunge and buy it. I was not disappointed.

The game begins with some tutorials that explain the basics of the game. However, it fails to tell you that you will not be penalized for extra steps or, more important, for leaving your foot on an arrow after you've hit it. The animations show the dancer return to the center position after each step. You will not advance very far if you do that. It's easier to leave your foot wherever it lands and then move to the next step from there.

From there it's on to the game. I was able to complete all the available songs at the Beginner stage in a couple days. From there I moved the difficulty level to Basic. Things started getting even more fun and I was getting more exercise (you have the option to keep track of calories burned each day, which is a great motivator to return to the game day after day.)

Unfortunately there are a couple of songs on the Basic level that are just impossible for a beginner and while I don't want to give up, I'm growing frustrated with them. If you try to skip them and go up to the next level up, the songs are in line with those 2 songs that I just can't get pass.

There is no middle ground. I would have liked to have some songs that are a bit more challenging at the Basic level but not to the point of those impossible songs. In other words, the difficulty level didn't increase slowly, it went from a good difficulty level for a beginner to crazy difficult.

The Quest mode is confusing. You dance to the songs perfectly, and yet it says "Failed." It makes no sense. It's also very repetitive "Dance to 35 songs." I don't have time to dance to 35 songs yet I can't seem to be able to save my progress.

The game overall is a lot of fun, and I'll keep trying to get past those 2 impossible songs. I guess that once I figure out how to master them, I'll be ready for the next difficulty level. It's just frustrating.

The pad itself is good enough most of the time. I don't have much problem with it slipping since the rubbery bottom of the pad adheres itself well to my laminate flooring.

If you are like me, someone who has been wanting to learn to play this game, this is the right version to get.

Good but could be better

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

DDRU is a good game. If you've never owned a DDR game, then this is a good buy for the 360...since it is the only offering on the 360 so far, you don't really have much of a choice.

Overall the game is fun. Personally I don't care for a lot of the songs on this version. The PS2 games had much better song selections. Some of the songs on this version just don't have any beat to them, so it's hard to get into the rhythm.

The quest mode feels tacked on and is really quite confusing. There are no instructions as to what you are doing. I recommend checking out the different websites to figure out what to do in quest mode.

Party mode is okay, but some of the modes are a bit confusing. Personally I prefer to just do game mode with two people and try to beat each others score.

The dance pad is decent. It's not as nice as some of the other, more expensive pads, but that's to be expected. Just put a bit of Velcro on the bottom (hook portion only) and it will stay in place much beter.\

More songs are available on the Xbox Live Marketplace, but personally I think that they are a rip-off. You can make that decision yourself though :)

Overall, the game is a lot of fun and dancing with more than one person really makes the game much more enjoyable. If you really need a version of DDR for the 360 then buy it. If you don't mind waiting, I'd recommend waiting to see if they release another version for the 360 later on. Hopefully with a better song track.

great fun way to excersize

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 30, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am a mother of a teen and I love playing this. It is addictive, but I get physical activity out of it and learn to move to the rythym.

Really Fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: May 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Never tried a ddr game before. had lots of fun with this one.

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