Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party

[AsianBlossom]

We got this game yesterday...anyone else have it/want it/are interested/don't care?

To sum it up, it was Nintendo's turn to finally get a more-traditional DDR game (I've never played Mario Mix, but that's DDR Nintendo-ized), like what you would have at an arcade or with the Playstation (1, 2, and perhaps 3) and XBOX (360). Special features include gimmicks and Wii-mote and Nunchuk shaking panels.

What I'm really looking forward to are discovering at least one of three songs that I like on here, and even if only one makes it on, I'll still be happy. They are: "I Do, I Do, I Do" (by Creamy), "Dam Dariram" (by Joga), and of course, "Waka Laka" (by Jenny Rom vs. The Zippers).

And did you know that you can buy "I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Waka Laka" (both versions) on iTunes?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

They're kinda everywhere on the internet. XD

I'm having a hard time finding the complete track list. I'd buy it but the basic pads that they have are insufficient for myself.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I've been looking at this, but how much more of a challenge does the remote and nunchuck create? Does it just make you dance on screen or is there another set of motions you have to use for it?

[AsianBlossom]

Um, basically, there are odd-looking panels that come up just like the dance markers, only just on the right and left sides. Those are you queue to shake whatever is in your right or left hand. But thankfully, we've discovered that you can turn all the extra options off and just dance arcade-style.

[JohnnyG]

I bought the game last week. We had been using the Mario version on the Wii (we had it on the GameCube beforehand) for fun and exercise (doing it three nights a week for an hour on Very Hard is a good workout). However, it was getting tiring performing with the same songs over and over again, so we wanted something new.

Enter DDR Hottest Party. I don't listen to secular music much, but I certainly have enjoyed most of the songs on this game. Of course, while playing I don't really listen to the lyrics and focus on the beat, so I can't really say too much about them.

As for using the hand controllers, it certainly adds a degree of difficulty. My brain doesn't like to process some of the motions (like right stepping and using the left controller at the same instant), but overall it's quite fun. I certainly have no qualms about recommending this game to anyone.

Best,
~JohnnyG

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Um, basically, there are odd-looking panels that come up just like the dance markers, only just on the right and left sides. Those are you queue to shake whatever is in your right or left hand. But thankfully, we've discovered that you can turn all the extra options off and just dance arcade-style.

Yeah. I'm not really liking the new "game mode" or whatever. Call me a purist, but I've been playing DDR for many years. XD I'll never play on a fold-able soft pad nor will I buy a mix that lacks a good amount of songs.

[AsianBlossom]

Well, we're still unlocking the songs, and I think the game has 50 total or something.

But the soft pad is a little...eh, not sure how to describe it. It works, don't get me wrong, but it's not really the same. I still enjoy the game, however, and I save on money (and gas) by not having to drive some far place, pay to get in, and then pay more money to play the machine.

I do think that you can buy the solid arcade-style dance pads online. Not sure how expensive they are, but you can still buy them.

[JohnnyG]

Well, we're still unlocking the songs, and I think the game has 50 total or something.

But the soft pad is a little...eh, not sure how to describe it. It works, don't get me wrong, but it's not really the same. I still enjoy the game, however, and I save on money (and gas) by not having to drive some far place, pay to get in, and then pay more money to play the machine.

I do think that you can buy the solid arcade-style dance pads online. Not sure how expensive they are, but you can still buy them.

You can. If I recall correctly, they tend to start at about $200 and go up from there. There are also kits available for you to put together your own, or even plans if you want to build them from scratch.

I agree that the soft pads are not as enjoyable, but as you said, it beats paying to go elsewhere.

Best,
~JohnnyG

[Mr. SmartyPants]

but as you said, it beats paying to go elsewhere.

I'm going to have to disagree on that. XD

Anyway, unless Red Octane or Cobalt Flux makes a gamecube-compatible dancepad, I think I'll skip out on Hottest Party.

[AsianBlossom]

Well, the Mario dance pad is compatible with Hottest Party.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well, the Mario dance pad is compatible with Hottest Party.

It's really not a great pad in my opinion. It's too soft and it tends to move a lot. When you're trying to do something like Rhythm and Police or Tsugaru on Heavy with a 15 dollar soft pad, you'll just crumble the pad up and fail. XD

The best soft pads available run around 50-60ish dollars. It's a double layered pad that has a thick foam insert that goes in between each of the two layers. It works REALLY well for home and I highly recommend it. Once you try each of them you'll notice the difference. If you're going to get it, it's called the Red Octane Ignition Pad. (Make sure you don't get any of the cheap imitation versions, they're way less durable despite being double-layered and having the foam insert).

The best hard pads are roughly 200-300 dollars, and they're the Cobalt Fluxes.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I do think that you can buy the solid arcade-style dance pads online. Not sure how expensive they are, but you can still buy them.

Just bought it today and trying to figure out how to turn off all that extra stuff >_> I can see some people enjoying it as something new, but regular version is challenging enough. The shaking of the remote is HORRBLE and only works half the time for me (especially if you're not in the sensor bar range :/)

Just found the option to turn all that off. Ahhh much better now^^ I sure hope it also works for the circuit run thing or else it'll be harsh to try and unlock everything :/

Oh and turning the voice off from that guy is awsome^^ Especially since now he talks even MORE in the menu >_> Oy...

[AsianBlossom]

Don't worry; turning off the gimmicks also works in the circuit mode. We're still trying to get past this one song, but it is by far the hardest yet. And we can only move on if we complete the song in basic mode with three or fewer 'Boo's, and beat the venue-master at the same time. Oy.

[spoiler=some of my favorite songs to dance to]I love to dance to Love Shine (got a 'AA' today on Basic mode), Breakdown, Candy, and You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).[/spoiler]

I put a spoiler tag up for those who haven't unlocked a bunch of songs yet and may have a few spoiled.

[Monkey J. Luffy]

I actually enjoy the soft pads, not because they're neccesarily better, but I've never actually played a working DDR machine in an arcade, the back button is always broken