User Reviews
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 Not the best DDR, but a great improvement over the original |  4.5
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by DCRage
from , , | Aug 30, 2005 |
THE GOOD:
More songs available than in the first Ultramix. Several fun and challenging play modes for up to 4 players. Highly adjustable difficulty levels. Almost infinite replay value. More music downloadable via Xbox Live.THE BAD:
If you don't have Xbox Live, you can't get all the music. You have to pay to download the music online. Slightly stiff/unresponsive controls. You can't pause during the game. Can't import music from the first Ultramix game. SUMMARY:
Released as a follow-up to the original DDR Ultramix, the Xbox-exclusive Ultramix 2 expands on the original in many ways, namely boasting a bigger soundtrack (at least 65 songs), improved gameplay, and several 4-player modes of play. You can also play online, post high scores, download new music, or even use the Workout mode to get in shape just by playing!
The graphics are true to the DDR franchise, a bit simple but very clean. Backgrounds during the songs are very similar to those in the arcades, sometimes fun to look at, sometimes too bright and distracting. A couple of songs feature live video instead, which is near-perfect quality material. Additionally you can have a dancer on-screen dancing while you play: It's a fun little touch watching the guys go their groove thing or watching the girls do their booty-shaking thing, but the way they move around all the time sometimes gets a little too distracting. The characters also look a bit too cartoony compared to their arcade counterparts. Sounds are even better than the arcade version-the music is the same but not having the arcade atmosphere around, namely all the other noises you'd hear in an arcade, allows you to hear more of the background sounds & voices in the songs and that makes them sound even better in the home version. The arcade songs are the same as their originals, while the rest of the tracks compose a generally nice mix of music ranging from techno to hard rock to somber love songs to a couple tracks that are downright silly. The announcer's voices are another nice touch-their comments do get repetitive but they're always encouraging even when you do poorly, so it's like having your own cheerleader while you're playing, and they don't talk as much as they did in the first game. Some of the comments they make, especially if you take too long to choose an option or on the menus, will make you laugh, if only because they act like Thanksgiving is every day. Controls are just a little stiff, especially if you use an Xbox Controller. You can also use a dance pad-results will vary based on what brand you use: I use Konami's DDR pad, which you can buy separately or as a bundle that includes the game (about $25 more than just buying the game, compared to $30-100 for a generic pad), and it generally works well. It's foldable for easy storage and quite responsive, but the surface is a little too sticky for barefoot play as instructed, so you really have to wear socks to play with it. The Xbox controller works well if you don't have a pad but at time it feels a little stiff and unresponsive trying to do multiple button inputs-you'll swear you did the right input when the game tells you that you missed. It doesn't happen often, especially once you get used to it, but it will mess you up at times. Double mode control is rather complex unless you're using 2 dance pads until you learn the setup. Gameplay is just like in the arcade, and is in some way is like the game "Simon"-when a colored arrow passes over a diagram of an arrow pointing in the same direction, press that directional input or step on the arrow. It's addicting, easy to pick up and play, and hard to master. There are over 60 songs available between the game's lineup and hidden songs, and 4 adjustable difficulty levels plus changeable options make the game accessible to all players, from first-timers to experts. The Edit Mode is difficult to figure out at first but once you do, it give the game almost infinite replay value as well. There is multiplayer for up to 4 players now, and the Battle & Party modes are fun to play with other people or the CPU and add nice variety to gameplay. You can also play on Xbox Live and download more songs-this sounds really nice but with two big complaints: You must pay to download the music, and if you don't have Xbox Live, there really is no way to get these songs. You also cannot import music from the first Ultramix into this game. Another nice feature you may overlook is Workout Mode, which helps you get in shape while playing the game. Obviously this only works if you have a dance pad, unless you want to give your fingers a borderline workout. And while you don't need the dance pad to play the game, the regular controller just can't re-create the arcade experience like a pad will.
Although this isn't the DDR game I was hoping for, nor was it probably the version Konami could have made if they tried, it easily surpassees the original Ultramix and is an excellent game in almost every aspect. It's easily a must-buy for all DDR fans, even if you have the first Ultramix, and a must-rent or good buy for everyone else (maybe wait until the price comes down to $20-30). Even if you're not into this kind of game, the gameplay is very addictive and hard to put down once you really get into it. It's also a good warm-up for Ultramix 3. |
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| The Best US DDR, By Far |  4.8
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by  Reenee
from Los Angeles, , US of A | Nov 21, 2004 |
THE GOOD:
BeatMania crossovers, 60 songs avaliable from the start, interface, songpacks, modes, song variety, HOLY FREAKIN' AWESOME STEPCHARTS, BATMAN!, HOLY FREAKIN' AWESOME DANCERS THAT YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD, BATMAN!, upload Edit data, Beginner Mode, and songs themselves.THE BAD:
XBox Live =\, runs at a sketchy 40-ish FPS even with Dancers and background movies disabled, no modifiers available online, Songpack #6 >..<, Micro$haft's stupidly small user storage only allows 6 Edits online per user, no "recognizeable" modes like Nonstop and Challenge Mode, no Challenge steps, and no Lesson Mode. SUMMARY:
As a DDR player who has started playing at DDRMAX for the PlayStation 2, and continued with DDRMAX2, and DDR EXTREME for the aforementioned platform, Ultramix 2 DELIVERS.
Note that Ultramix and Ultramix 2 was NOT made by the same people who made DDRMAX, DDRMAX2, and EXTREME. Ultramix 2 and its predecessor was made by Konami's Hawaiian branch who has developed the game from a different standpoint: DDR for the hardcore.
Now, last game, Ultramix 1 didn't do so hot in a lot of places, namely for the new songs that premiered to DDR. Besides from some songs ranging from mediocre to just plain bad, they had mediocre to bad steps to go along with them.
(As a side note, if you own Ultramix 1 and have XBox Live, you might want to visit some forums and ask for the new step data made for songs that premiered in Ultramix but to DDR as well [remember, there's a difference between a song that's premiered on Ultramix, and one premiering on DDR entirely] as Japan just got a new console DDR with about half of their songlist consisting of songs coming from Ultramix with updated steps.)
After you get through looking at the shiny hyper-futuristic interface and setting up your options, you go into Game Mode to get comfortable. The in-game song interface is simplified like DDR EXTREME where instead of a large banner consisting of vital info taking up 1/8th of the top and bottom, all of the background movies are fullscreen and you just get your all important lifebar and difficulty at the top, and your score at the bottom.
The background graphics are AMAZING. All of them are totally new (some of which are reworked movies seen in past DDRs such as a blue lightning storm and the girl from the song "i feel..."). And the dancers...wow. They'll dance differently but accordingly to the song, and you might notice changes depending on who you use (some of the male dancers might do a femenine style if a female is also present).
You get 60 songs out of the box, all in different genres. Favorite Konami Originals such as B4U, A, V, My Summer Love, DROP OUT, 321STARS are already available. Those who have played DDR since the days of 3rd Mix will be happy to see songs like VOL.4, FLASHDANCE (WHAT A FEELING), and NIGHT IN MOTION to show up, but new players will enjoy these songs as well, also available out of the box. And the Beginner Mode will also be helpful for those who have never played to enjoy them too.
For you aspiring Heavy players, THESE SONGS DELIVER! No matter which song you play, you'll find the steps enjoyable, yet not without their degree of difficulty. There's actually a 5-foot song here that actually has more than 250 steps to do! And if you are discouraged over EXTREME's "break combo and you automatically get an A no matter what" grading, Ultramix 2 is not like that. Ultramix 2 grades and rewards you based on your skill, but it's a little disheartening to see that getting 1 Almost near the end of the song cost so many points here.
When you're ready to play online, you quickly find games in progress or start your own. There's a new Tournament mode for 16 players as well. All of the modes found offline are also available online. Let's not forget the songs you can download. As of this time, there are 7 songpacks, each of which have 5 songs for 5 dollars each. Do yourself a favor and avoid Songpack #6. It's hideously awful.
And what about Doubles players? You're in luck! Besides playing like normal in Game Mode, you can actually play Doubles versus a friend offline or online!
Speaking of opponents, Ultramix 2 has the ability to make up to 3 computer-controlled opponents for playing against in the other modes. Or, of course, you can use 3 human friends too. In fact, you can actually go online with your friends from the same XBox.
Okay, so there's no Nonstop or Challenge/Oni modes here, but Ultramix 2 tries to alleviate the problem by providing a lot of new modes completely new to DDR. There's Attack Mode, where you must bring an opponent's Step Zone down to a certain point to make them lose. Bomb Mode forces you to keep your combo up or you'll blow up and be out. Synch Mode has you and up to three partners play on the same Step Zone and not break the combo, not even once.
Well, now the bad:
If you've played on the PS2 before, you'll be slightly disappointed to know that Ultramix 2 has the mysteriously odd problem of having a lower FPS with the arrow scrolling. You'll get used to it, but it's just weird having this problem.
Considering it's a game for the hardcore, why shouldn't it help you BE hardcore? The lack of the staple Lesson Mode will make it harder for new players to get better without knowing how to step properly.
Konami Hawaii also left out Nonstop and Oni Mode. It's still acceptable to leave them out for now, but it'd have helped, even if it was just Nonstop. They'll have to implement one or the other on next game.
Overall, the game will not disappoint. It's a great improvement over Ultramix 1, and it's far, far superior to EXTREME on PS2. Ultramix 2 is worth the money.
For an in-depth breakdown with EXTREME US versus Ultramix 2, go here: http://neoseeker.com/forums/index.php?fn=view_thread&t=476313 |
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4.65/5.0