Description
The speed of the symbols is based on the BPM (beats per minute) of the music and the number of symbols is based on your chosen difficulty. On the easiest skill level a song might have 80-100 steps in the entire mix, but on the Light setting this number doubles. Choosing Normal or Hard drives the difficulty into the realm of impossibility. Only professional dancers and speed freaks need apply.
DDR can be played with the gamepad or a dance mat or a pair of dance mats for even more challenging fun. You can also play two-player head-to-head or link a pair of Xbox’s together or go online for competitions with up to four players. Ultramix is going to be huge at your next party. There are more than 70 popular songs featuring some of the hottest mixes from world-famous DJ’s, and you can download more for a small fee on Xbox Live. This is the kind of music you’d hear in some of the best clubs and raves from around the world.
While distracting to those actually playing the game, spectators can enjoy plenty of funky kaleidoscope graphics with CG animated backup dancers that boogie down on the screen. As the dancer playing the game, it takes a lot of concentration to see “through” the distracting backgrounds and focus on the symbols.
Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3 brings back the Party Mode from the previous game. This is a compilation of various games that allows players to compete against their friends for ultimate dance supremacy in completely new ways. Challenge Mode is also back and allows players to dance through various rounds of play completing specific goals and objectives. Workout mode is now more of a toggle that you can turn on and play the rest of the game modes normally, while DDR tracks your burned calories.
There are two new modes in Ultramix 3; the Freestyle and Quest modes. Freestyle basically removes the arrow prompts and lets you create your own dance moves, which are then scored by the computer based on your timing and originality. It can be a bit intimidating trying to create what you think are "good" or even "acceptable" dance moves and not really knowing how well you did until the scores come in.
Quest mode is a feeble attempt to disguise the endless dancing by having you travel across the U.S.A. competing for cash and the title of DDR Champion. There are 60 cities and you have to earn a certain amount of fans in each city before moving on. Talk to NPC's and use your cash to buy items and travel to new locations. The only problem with this mode is that it takes "forever" to earn the required fans, and when you strip away the interface you are simply dancing to the same music the same way you do in other modes.
Ultramix 3 features online play with plenty of modes and all of the matchmaking services you’d expect from Xbox Live. Most surprising was that the gameplay flows quite smoothly. For a game that requires precise timing, any lag would kill this title. Thankfully, there was none in the 20-some matches I participated in. DDR must really be catching on, as there were even more people playing this year than last.
The multiplayer modes are rather inventive and include Team Battle and Synch modes. The Team Battle mode is your typical versus mode that has you competing with a rival dancer to get the most flawless run possible. The Synch mode is something new and a long time coming. This mode has you and a partner dancing together and synchronizing their steps. The game actually detects any timing differences between the two players steps.
- Online play, download songs, upload content and more
- Exclusive game modes including Freestyle Mode and Quest Mode
- New mode for beginners let's you dance the way you want to
- Get fit with the Workout Mode & customize dance steps in Edit Mode
