DDR Home release (Xbox vs PS2) What do you guys think?

So as many of you know, I've recently gotten back into shape with DDR again and have finally gotten to the point in which I'm playing pretty well and even able to AAA some songs on the home releases. (No arcades around town where I live.) This led to me wanting to have a bigger variety of songs to play so seeing as most of the games for Xbox and PS2 were now cheap I went ahead and ordered the adapter for my metal pad and picked Ultramix 1-3.





(Yes I know that I had freeze arrows off...I was basically just playing for fun that night (Using it mainly for exercise) When all of the sudden I hit a good groove and managed to get three or four AAA's. Good feeling...Anyhow back to the actually topic.

Upon putting the game I noticed some different not only in the type of music offered but even the feel and presentation of the Xbox games. So I became curious. Whats your guys opinion on the Ultramix series and how do you think it stacks up to the Ps2 versions of the game?

My personal opinion is that the Ultramix series has it's ups and downs.

Positives:

The presentation is slick and gives a fresh feel to an older series.

It goes out of it's way to feel more like a home release.

Nice variety of songs and even the first Ultramix seems like a best of.
Most songs were unlocked at the start which was nice.

Oddly enough...mini game during the credits...oddly addicting haha
While adding American songs is often frowned upon by players some of the additions were nice for me. I actually loved dancing to Ray Charles.

Some of the arcade songs in the Ultramix series were not offered on the PS2 games. (Crash for example)

There were some remixes specifically for Ultramix 2,3 and 4.

Negatives

While the first release was a solid mix of Arcade songs the later games started becoming more Americanized. (To the extent where the American songs took over.)

A bit of lag in the arrows in Ultramix 2...I have no idea why.

Too much going on in some of the videos making the arrows hard to spot in some cases.

Color scheme of the arrows is a weird adjustment in Ultramix 2

All in all I actually like the Ultramix series but there are times where I've seen it shunned from the DDR community for being Americanized. (PS2 being a little guilty of this too...but not quite to the same extent.)

Anyhow, I'm just curious as to what you guys think.

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Get any Ultramix you can. The songlists are frankly the best DDR CS games have ever been, and no, I'm not exaggerating. I can't see any real complaint against the songs of the game aside from "wah where da arcade tunes".

When it comes to PS2 games they are very hit and miss. If you weren't Japanese, you didn't get a proper EXTREME port. And they released X2 CS which was, frankly, completely nothing like X2 which didn't help. However, there are games that didn't come out with an arcade release in mind to port like Strike that are pretty good. (The general consensus around EXTREME2 is that it's good but I personally don't dig it.) Overall, I'll always prefer the Ultramix series over anything on the PS2, maybe sans EXTREME JP.

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I agree with you on many levels. A lot of the PS2 ports were not proper and seemed a bit scattered at times. I absolutely love the song list on Ultramix 2. The complaint you're talking about is the one I've heard the most. I personally was never bothered by that as Ultramix one was flooded with arcade tunes. It's nice to hear from someone with a similar take on it.

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Ultramix 1 was something I wasn't a fan of having a lot of arcade tunes on it.

But then I saw it had Paul Oakenfold with the second best license in DDR ever and all was forgiven.

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Haha That's a good point. I personally didn't play a lot of Ultramix 1 mainly for the reason that my PS2 ports already had most the songs on it. 2, 3 and 4 were great though and had some interesting boss tunes.

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I myself enjoyed both the PS2 and Xbox versions. The only thing I didn't like was the gawd awful Song Wheel/Select screens in Ultramix 2-4

I've always liked the Ultramix titles for their neat exclusives, but - dear lord, - I can't stand the graphics for these games. They're just so ugly. I don't even know how to describe it.

The PS2 games were good, but the song lists never 'wowed' me. Each game featured your typical roster from the original Arcade version, some songs from previous titles that didn't make the cut, and a buttload of popular licenses.

I personally stick with the PS2 titles since I have my Sony consoles hooked up more often than my XBOX, but I'd say each one had its fair trade-offs. It boils down to preference in the end.

Those are my recomendations from my personal experience:

For the PS2 there are LOTS of games, but they are so similar, the golden collection could be:

- DDR Extreme JP
- DDR SuperNOVA2 JP
- DDRX JP

Always the JP versions, mainly because they have better songlists and are so similar to their arcade counterparts. with DDR extreme you got a nice compilation of songs from DDR 1st to Extreme, and with DDRX the compilation of SuperNOVA series plus the new X songs. SuperNOVA2 is in the list because is the nice interface from the PS2, and also got nice songs.

From the XBOX side, is strange, most of the Ultramixes feel completely strange, they have a lot of garbage music, and bizarre interfaces for me but they have the best Trance music, a some good charts like Maximizer challenge, from all of the mixes, I choose the Ultramix 4 version, for me this is the most balanced version of the xbox releases.

The Ultramixes, are really really great. Underappreciated songs that deserve more attention than most modern bemani songs
they have right now.
I like the cel-shaded models to the characters, and it definitely looks better than the weird PS1 style on the characters they have on the PS2 pots.
The PS2 mixes are fine, but the best one is MAX2. SN1 and EX2 are great as well.
There's also the wii games, which are not the best out there. However, HP3 and DDRII are good mixes sans some of the American pop songs. if you can tolerate toeho and coconatsu you can tolerate Bieber too If you can tolerate some of the songs, you will be pleased with some of these mixes.

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didn't bother reading any of this thread, the ultramix games are objectively better than any of the ps2 titles, don't believe anything else

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Ultramixes have a lot of songs I wish were in the arcade, and the songlists are good. Graphics are ass, unacceptable. I like the amount of non-japanese artists, it's refreshing for DDR.
PS2 mixes, moreso the JP ones, have a lot of solid music lists. Some of the english releases like MAX, MAX2, and EX2 have pretty good songlists as well.

Both are fine, but from personal experience I recommend PS2 mixes over any Ultramix, and pick up some of the JP versions if you can, they are a treat. Have a console that can run them first obviously.

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Personally I've never played any Xbox games, I've only played the PS2 games.

But one thing that I like about the former, is that they have songs that can't be found anywhere else, including some remixes and crossovers that never appeared in any AC game (though, I believe Ultramix 1 and 2 share some songs with some PS2 games, and X2 has songs from Universe 3).

However, as you said earlier, the graphics don't seem too nice to me. I've seen gameplay of Xbox DDR games and the backgrounds are really annoying, which is terrible due to the lack of a filter. And I think this causes lag as well? I haven't noticed that to be honest.

But still, I'd say go and play the Xbox games, mostly because of songs that you can't find anywhere else.

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DDR Extreme JP is the best, hands down, if you can get your hands on it, due to actually being sort of similar to the arcade version. Plus, you get MAX. (Period), which is really neat.

And if we're being honest, if you can get your hands on JP CS games, well:
DDR Extreme JP
DDR SuperNOVA JP
DDR SuperNOVA 2 JP
DDR X JP

I think Ultramix games are more worth your time simply for the fact you don't have to import them.

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Each system of DDR games has their own separate feels from me, if that made any sense. I'm also assuming we're JUST talking about American DDRs?

The PS2 DDRs are the most common games, the most popular games, the cheapest (AT THE TIME) games. As most people said, the best PS2 DDRs (if you want a big variety of great music) are Max 2, Extreme 2, and SuperNOVA 1. (I personally love Extreme 1 and SuperNOVA 2 as well, but that's my opinion.) Once you're into a DDR game on the PS2, the fraction of how addicted you'll be would be about 8/10.

The Xbox DDRs are a different world of songs. DDR Ultramix reminded me a lot of DDR Max 1, but then when DDR Ultramix 2 was released, and after I unlocked all songs on the game, I thought to myself "This is the best Ultramix I've ever played." DDR Ultramix 3 ALMOST broke Ultramix 2's record due to Brilliant RED and Akumajo Dracula Medley being on there. DDR Ultramix 4, in my opinion, was still good but I liked 2 and 3 a lot better. Also there's a lot of weird revivals in each games, some revivals that are usually exclusively on a Japanese DDR like Bye Bye Baby Balloon and Night in Motion. If you asked me what to recommend you to get for Xbox, I'd say Ultramix 2 or 3. (I wish Insaner LED Punishment Mix was on DDR A.)

I know we didn't mention the Wii or Xbox 360 DDRs but they still count very very much.

The Xbox 360 DDRs will remind you a lot of the Xbox DDRs. Each game still had their weird revivals, which is NOT a bad thing. The more off-guard you are with a DDR song list, the more you'll like its song list. DDR Universe 1 and 2 had absolutely no 10-footer songs, on singles. (Love me do on doubles expert is a 10-footer, but that's it.) However, Universe 1 and 2 has enough /great/ songs for you to say to yourself "These games don't even NEED a boss song." However, if you're that person (like me, tbh) who thinks a boss song is a key to completing a DDR song list, then you're in for a treat. DDR Universe 3 made up for the missing boss songs, as there were tons of 10-footer songs and legit boss songs at the end of this game's Quest Mode. That game is so nice, my personal favorite, but if you play DDR games just for its music and not care about boss songs, then I recommend you get ANY DDR Universe game for the 360. All 3 games are equally amazing, though I like Universe 3 slightly the most.

The PS3 DDRs is..umm there's only one, don't waste your time.

The Wii DDRs are MY favorites. These games are party-materials if you have let's say...a Christmas Party with your family and you bring a Wii DDR and the pad at the house. These games are full-on new music, for all games. These series is games is what started the combination of Jun and EVOLVED songs as the 2 boss songs. My favorite Wii DDR is everyone's worst Wii DDR, and that's Hottest Party 2. I loved the song list, I loved everything. However, I am not a normal person lol, and most normal people would say Hottest Party 3 and DDR II are the best games for this system, and I would honestly recommend you get one of those two games too.

Keep in mind, I've grown up with Dance Dance Revolution, and I'm a die-hard DDR fan. I'm honestly somewhat obsessed with DDR, though I hide it. I love each and every game, but at the same time, they're all different. Kudos to whomever reads this whole post.

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I've played both the PS2 and Xbox DDR's extensively and I'll say this: aesthetically, I have always been more partial to the PS2 games. Other than Extreme US looking like some sort of half assed modernized 3rd Mix (decent songlist tho), I always liked the fact that the PS2 versions looked and felt like the arcade versions. Ultramix 1 kind of had that feel as well, but completely deviated from it in Ultramix 2 and onward. I also never liked the songwheels in the later Ultramix games, because I felt like they were pretty disorganized and threw too much at you at once. Which is also how I feel about DDR Ace's interface, but that's another story.

As far as songlists go, I do feel like the Ultramix games were much better than the PS2 games in that department. They were always extremely unique and the stepcharts generally were high quality. I do also prefer the more "open" feel during gameplay, which the PS2 games didn't start to embrace until Extreme US and didn't get right until Extreme 2. Overall, I can't say I prefer either one of them over the other, but they're both great in their own ways, and I would recommend getting both if you can.

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[nitpick]Universe 1 had a few boss songs (MAXIMIZER, Return of the Toe Jam, TSUGARU (OR-IF-IS Mix)); that just isn't apparent because for whatever reason charts didn't get ratings in Ultramix 4 and Universe 1.[/nitpick]


HP2 has an excellent songlist, but I've heard a lot of people say that the charts aren't great. I wouldn't know, I've never played it myself, so I can't say that for myself. I would argue that HP3 is better than DDR II; II has a lot of X2 arcade songs but I feel like they tried to cram too much into one game, and it suffers for that (and leads to shit like BG videos being relegated to a tiny screen in the corner due to memory limitations). HP3 has some great licenses, and I would die to see PARADISE make it to arcades.

I Agree that Ultramix is hands down one of the best CS releases for America (im not counting JP cause JP is always far superior)
But if you want to play some what of the latest i would play DDR Hottest Party 5/ DDR II I fucking loved that CS release, (ignoring the god awful licenses) but the arcade songs are Hands down amazing.
Here is my list from Great to Okay

1. 5. DDR Hottest Party 5
2. DDR Extreme 2
3. DDR Universe 3
4. DDR Extreme US (Ill explain)
5. 1. DDRMAX2 US (holy fuck im just noticing how good the PS2 US Song list was for this release. I might consider this superior just for nostalgia's sake. Break Down, Destiny, Lets groove, Twilight Zone, SO FUCKING DEEP. THE MOTHERFUCKING WHISTLE SONG, TSUGARU, AM-3P, SPIN THE MOTHER FUCKING DISK, AFRONOVA, XE- FUCKING- NON. Kind Lady and Kind Lady - Interlude-

DDR Extreme US.. We all know is fucking god awful. Yeah.. But It has songs that DDR Extreme JP didnt have like You're Not Here, Maximizer, and the random ass revivals. Dont forget Mission mode. One of the best Mission Modes for a CS release cause it was actually fucking challenging next to DDR Extreme 2's Mission mode.


Now lets talk about DDR JP CS.
I haven't played the JP version of any Ultramixes. (is there any..?) i know about Chinese Universe 3 but its the same as Universe just with weird Chinese licenses. But my experiences with DDR JP i would have to say here is my list (IM NOT COUNTING DDR EXTREME CAUSE THATS TOO GENERIC AND WE ALL KNOW THATS SUPERIOR)

1. DDRMAX
2. DDR Supernova 1
3. DDRMAX 2
4. DDR X
5. DDR Supernova 2

DDRMAX was great cause of DanceMania, We all dont have to argue about that. Its just plain amazing. Plus Max 300 and BYE BYE BABY BALLOON
.
Supernova 1 was pretty much .. Xepher, Fascination, Doll, Healing-D-Vision, etc those generic songs that we usually all play on a Supernova 2 Cabinet)

DDRMAX2, Waka Laka? Baby Love Me? Little Boy? and the amount of Konmai songs on this mix are amazing. And the inclusion of DDR Extreme songs on this mix are good too.

DDR X was just purely cause of the Boss songs, Inclusing Paranoia Survivor/Max, oh and the X-mixes

Supernova 2 was.. OKAY. the amount of Konmai Originals are amazing like usual coming from a JP release. Cant forget about the Boss songs on this release either. they are all a blast.

I know this is out of topic but What about PS1 releases if anybody has played them? Which are bad and which are good?

1. DDR 3rd Mix
2. DDR 5th Mix
3. DDR Konamix
4. DDR 4th Mix
5. DDR Disney Mix

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These responses are all great. I've always been torn between the games. I will agree that the graphics in the Ultramix series bothered me. (It wasn't so much the dancers as it was the lag in the arrows as well as backgrounds that to me have a little too much going on.) Something I haven't done surprisingly enough is play a Japanese DDR game for the ps2. This question might be a tad off topic but anyone know where I can find a good tutorial to mod my PS2 to play a Japanese port? You guys got me curious.

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Look up "Freemcboot tutorial" I won't send links unless if it's in PM

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