DDR X2 (AC) (International)

The thing is, without gimmicks, a chart can only get so hard. A 400BPM chart that goes to the music without speed changes, pauses and the chart flows would have to have a batshit insane rhythm in order to be 17+. Not to mention, speed changes kind of force players into a speed mod or no speed mod (do I use 2.5x for a song that's mostly 200BPM but speeds up to 400BPM making it insanely hard to read?), so it's not really artificial difficulty as difficulty doesn't come solely from the rhythm and flow of the song (if that were the case then why not just have a constant speed of scroll for all songs?).

Also keep in mind, the harder a chart gets, usually the crappier the music is. There's a balance between something that's hard and makes you want to keep coming back and something so hard that once you pass it (or even attempt it) you go screw it.

As for the progression of difficulty in songs over the mixes, I do agree that we've pushed the limit of what we thought was once possible. However, these charts are getting too hard even for people to play on a keyboard much less on their feet. There IS a limit of what a human being can conceivably pass and I think we're getting very close to it.

"Crappier music", eh?

---

Considering iidx has 8 notes to deal with and popn has some other amount, they can only do so much with just 4.

IIDX Has stops and speed changes too.

Pop'n has FREAKIN' NINE KEYS.

Personally, I'd like to see more 19s. Also, someone put up a video of VD Double 19

---

Most of the doubles, but bullshit either way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTCy2ZvDtes

i don't think IIDX has any stops? When Pluto crossed over all the stops were changed to slow downs.
and most of the speed changes in IIDX are less gimmicky than in DDR. some of the exceptions are, funnily enough, crossed over DDR songs. and that op.31 whatever song

---

IIDX also has gimmicks as well *cough*GAMBOL*cough*

But VD having a Beginner chart rated 9 is WTF in and of itself.

Also VD is like a 7 on the old rating system.

---

haha what's with all the hate for VD oni? For our first 19, it's pretty good. The Tell jump section is kinda meh and the crossovers are too hard imo, but what were you expecting? That jump at the end is meant to be hit with one foot. It's obvious in the pattern and it's the step artist's intention. Would I change a few things? Yes, but it's better than I expected.

And I actually like what they did with the beginner chart. n00bs aren't going to be playing boss songs. They know that. It's the way I step difficulties. If I make like 13 (old scale) on oni, 11 heavy, 10 standard, and 8 light, I'm probably going to make the beginner a 5 or 6. The highest I tend to go is 6 on the old scale for beginner charts.

---

We want a 150 bpm song with a 19-footer chart that doesn't have shock arrows and gimmicks.

I approve this post.

Seriously, what were you guys expecting for a 19 chart for Valkyrie dimension? Anti-Matter is good, I like it, but it's extremely one-dimensional (HAW HAW HAW) and frankly kind of boring. They could have done much worse and this is really the logical progression anyway, I think Valkyrie dimension really fits the bill of a first 19 and doesn't do too bad a job at that. Glad to have it. Don't like it, don't play it. If 888 didn't get to be a 19, then of course the first 19 has to be ridiculous.

---

With the emerging Oni charts, it's good that they weren't part of the 4-life battery aspect to RDA. Especially with Valkyrie Dimension.

It's an interesting take on a 19-footer. What would it be on the old scale/ITG scale? 13/14?
Once these get ported to SM, I'll try out the Oni charts, but I think I'll stick to playing the Heavy charts more. :]

VD is definitely an ITG 13. Obviously harder than most 12's, but isn't even close to 14's.

Remember, the majority of DDR charts weren't meant to be sightread. I watched each video at least 3 times before making this post.

Here's my opinion on each of the charts:

- Anti-Matter: Looks like a slightly harder chart, and flows similarly well. Not bad at all. chart always felt like it was missing something. Rating: 8/10 Rating: 9/10 (how good the chart is, not how hard it is)

- New Decade: Has some really nice Felm style jump and stream patterns, but the rest seems like blah. also felt like it was missing something. Rating: 6/10 Rating: 7/10

- Possession: The location test chart, just like I expected. The patterns, while very hard, actually flow well if you know how to step it. chart felt the same way. Rating: 9/10 Rating: 9/10

- Valkyrie dimension: I actually would have preferred a Shock Arrow chart. It's like Faxx, there's simply not enough room for big changes, so the majority of changes tend to make it worse. Rating: 9/10 Rating: 7/10

Here's a breakdown of each of VD's sections:
Beginning:---------good---great
Speedup:-----------n/a-----good(flows well)
First 185bpm:-----good---good
Slowdown:---------meh---ugh(except maybe the ending)
Second 185bpm:good---good
Stop section:------great---good
Third 185bpm:----meh----meh
Last 380bpm:-----good---ugh(would have been good except for the stupid jump which can't even be bracketed properly)

I'd probably call VD oni an easy to mid 13. Nowhere near 14. If it wasn't for the crossover run near the end before the speedup, I'd call it an upper 12.
It can be hit properly. You have to switch feet on the down arrow before the jump, so you hit the down with your right foot and bring your left foot over to hit the jump with your left foot only. It's not an easy thing to do, but it's possible.

---

Just a quick question. I noticed all the RDA 17 boss songs (most of them) have sections where the arrows is so bundled up together...like reading 1x.

Am I the only one who's having trouble reading say 180 BPM 1.5x?

I feel these charts are meant for the pros from 5th Mix and below (before speed mods)

It's a form of fake difficulty: You either need to learn to read bunched arrows on a low speed mod, or really really fast arrows on a high speed mod.

This is what pisses me off. They did a good job with Mei, and that's 200 BPM with 16th notes. I rather play Summer (speedy mix) than these craps. Anti Matter and Possession is do-able, but New Decade is a turn off, not to mention VD. But maybe I'll practice playing songs on 1x for a while and change my opinion somehow. Oh Konami :/

That's a very ITG-esque chart actually. I know ITG fanboys will bitch that hell no it's not, but it is, especially from 1:46 onwards - The quick double stepping that's seen in Summer Speedy mix (with the turn holds in the middle of it) and other songs is obviously being used here.
I mean some of it is konami being konami, but I think there's far too few decent doubles players to make a TRUE judgement on some of these charts anyway.

---

Tested the charts on stepmania...

Anti-Matter - 8.5/10 - It's good, you can pass it, and it is an absolute stamina drainer.
New Decade - 8/10 - The Easiest of the RDA 18's, in my opinion, but the chart is the tamest and makes sense
Possesion - 9.5/10 - It's the same test location chart, only better and the jumping part is not hellish as the original beta... Now I like it... I'm fond of this chart now, since it's so great.
Valkyrie Dimension - 6/10 - Gimmicky bullcrap chart that has tons of artificial difficulty.

EDIT 2018: AFTER 7 YEARS I'M GONNA EDIT THIS, BECAUSE THE SCORE IS SHIT. I ADMIT I WAS WRONG.


Also, no Pierce the Sky, Shiny World or Sakura Sunrise ? and, why 888 or MEI were not 19's?... The charts (special atention on 888) are hard as hell as valkyrie...

Edit:

BROSONI!!...