Underrated Step Charts?

AGAINST ALL ODDS (Definitive Mix) Heavy. While it should've been an 8, it's a fun chart!

---

Trigger (mostly and :cha

And thanks guys for helping me pick today's SM picks.

Sorry 4 the bump, but...

TOGETHER & FOREVER. Both of them. (Nuff said.)

---

Stay by Tess from DDRMAX2 USA Arcade. A lot of people seem to hate that chart, but I guess it's because not many ITG-esque non-boss 9s existed at that time, and they probably weren't used to them yet. I'd say it's a rather challenging, but fun chart to play.

---

In DDR 4th MIX in our local arcade, "KICK THE CAN" is the most-played (based on observation).

Now to my opinions regarding DDR EXTREME in another local arcade.
Anything in the PLAYER'S WORST section in NONSTOP mode can qualify (I was stunned when I saw "ABSOLUTE" by dj TAKA on it... That's an awesome mix, but I guess I was the only one playing it.) Not many players in our arcade would like to play the following:

1.) "bag" - because the S and D charts are just M'F-ing intimidating; even novice players couldn't get past halfway, let alone finish a fourth of its chart
2.) "true... (radio edit)" and "true... (trance sunrise mix)" - truth be told, I never saw anyone play this song in our local arcade; I guess I might get a hand on it
3.) "TSUGARU (APPLE MIX)" - I think some players think that the mix is a little more difficult than the "TSUGARU;" I'd love to tell them that the mix is slightly easier, but they'd go for overrated songs anyway
4.) "Gamelan de Couple" - just like "true..." I never saw anyone play this song - considering that it's the first song to appear alphabetically under letter "G"
5.) "BUTTERFLY" - strangely enough, this song is quite ignored in our local arcade
6.) "MIKENEKO ROCK" - again, this song is usually ignored - maybe because of the slightly fast speed, or people just don't like to play it
7.) "DESTINY" - somehow, even I think that this song deserves some attention, being a NAOKI song
8.) "Love Again Tonight (ForMELISSA Mix)" - and also this NAOKI song, which is more frequently played in the DDR 4th MIX in our local arcade, is sadly ignored in DDR EXTREME
9.) "TRIP MACHINE survivor" - enough said; trippy charts
10.) "The legend of MAX" - enough said

I don't know how people will respond to this, but these 10 and others are based on my observation.


Oh yeah, and HEART BEAT FORMULA... One does not simply ignore its happy beats.

---

ITG-esque? 7thMIX predates the idea of ITG by years. Hell, it predates most efforts to make organized official simfiles. The MAXes had a certain style to them where a song would have very basic-feeling charts but the chart would be a hard 9. Or at least have very confusing "eruptions" within the song. They kind of gave it up after 7thMIX and EXTREME had a more balanced feel.

I like STAY a lot, but hardly ever get to play it. When a the disc drive in a DDR machine starts to go out, STAY seems to be one of the first songs that exhibits freezing issues.

Another song from that era that doesn't get the recognition it deserves is FANTASY / LOCKOUT.

Those 180 BPM songs from 4th mix are my favorite warm-ups songs, but I don't think I've ever actually seen anyone else do them.

180 BPM songs... hmmmm yeaaaah... TRIP MACHINE CLIMAX

---

Ha, I love both FANTASY.

---

Are you talking about those simfiles back then, where the difference between & rating was 4? (Ex: Matsuri Japan, Exotic Ethnic, Burning Heat, Rain of Sorrow, Stay, Trance De Janeiro, and So Deep -unless that song's is really a 6-)

---

XD I think they mean the Dancemania SPEED remixes, although they're mostly 170 bpm. BOYS (EURO MIX) was really busy sounding, but only 155, IIRC.

Hmm, now THAT'S something that could mix well with B4U and BURNIN' THE FLOOR... and make a theme of clustered "B" songs at that, which 4th Mix was also infamous for. That, "D"s, and "H"s. (/tangent)

Speaking of which, HYPN0TIC CRISIS S- and 6-. Don't get me wrong, their difficulty was OVERRATED, but they're very fun and well-constructed, and have been gone since 2002.

And pretty much every 6-panel chart added in DDR 4th Mix PLUS (Solo Edition). In fact... pretty much EVERY chart of it. That dozen add-on songs featured *immensely* shows the value of quality > quantity. I would recommend anybody take a session and *just* explore those songs on 6-panel/each difficulty, and how fun and masterful the stepwork of it is.

---

Drop Out (both the 260 and 130bpm) had that really fun stream at the end; shame that the only time I've seen it played a lot was when Extreme came out.

---

It was really popular on Solo 2000 and 4th Mix PLUS, too.

5th Mix had tighter timing windows, and DROP OUT's sync was off a little too far to make it practical to play and score well on, however. In fact, there's a fair grip of songs on 5th Mix that were made unplayable by that adjustment, like LEADING CYBER too.

---

Yes, those charts that were nothing but a constant stream of 1/8 notes. No tricks. No BPM changes. Just stream.

I always liked Stream-based charts. No, they're not exactly innovative, but they make for a good, steady workout. Especially if you're not in the mood for anything fancy but still want a challenge.

Yeah, I noticed that on 5th Mix. All the hair pulling that happened just to get a high score...
(I can just imagine DDR with IIDX Gambol-esque timing for some reason XD)

---

That was Club version (especially hilarious when the IIDX player missed or mashed the notes), and why that hasn't happened since then; however fun in concept it would seem.

---