- Dancing Stage MegaMix
-
Not to be confused with the bootlegged version of Dance Dance Revolution Extreme.
Dancing Stage MegaMix 
Developer(s) Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH Publisher(s) KDE GmbH Distributor(s) KDE GmbH Designer(s) KDE GmbH Series Dance Dance Revolution & Bemani Engine 7thMix PlayStation 2 Platform(s) PlayStation 2 Release date(s) - EU May 30, 2003
- AU September 26, 2003
Genre(s) Music & Exercise Mode(s) Single-player & Multiplayer Rating(s) - PEGI: 3+
- OFLC: G
Media/distribution DVD-ROM Dancing Stage MegaMiX is the fifth home release in the Dancing Stage series, a European version of the Dance Dance Revolution series of music video games. MegaMix was the first Dancing Stage game released on the Sony PlayStation 2 game console - and as with Dancing Stage EuroMix 2, MegaMix introduced many new features to Europe, such as Freeze Arrows, the Options menu, and a cleaner interface. Based largely on Dancing Stage EuroMix 2, MegaMiX was separated from the arcade game by a completely different track list of songs. The game was marketed by Konami as a family game and an exercise tool in efforts to make the niche series more mainstream.[1]
Contents
Gameplay
See also: Gameplay of Dance Dance RevolutionThe gameplay of Dancing Stage MegaMiX is exactly like Dancing Stage EuroMIX 2, which had been released the previous year. Players who had not played EuroMIX 2 would be introduced to Konami's "Freeze Arrow" in this game, where players have to step on the correct arrow and hold their foot down until the game signaled to release it. This added more dynamics to the overall gameplay of MegaMiX and introduced situations where the player is forced to hold one foot down and hit a series of arrows solely with the other foot, maintaining balance at the same time. For beginner players MegaMiX was the first console title to feature the Beginner difficulty level, containing the absolute easiest steps possible for a song, never featuring anything beyond the most simple of step patterns, and utilizing an on-screen guide to assist
Dancing Stage MegaMiX uses the exact two-tiered scoring system that EuroMIX 2 does, but the judgment is less forgiving than EuroMIX 2, however there is a slightly larger window for perfects making it easier to pass a song overall.[2]
As with EuroMIX 2, Dancing Stage MegaMiX was based on the Japanese release DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX, but with modifications such as difficulty selection being done before the song instead of being offered before the song wheel (but being changeable with codes). Challenge Mode[3] was replaced with Nonstop Mode, again to mimic EuroMIX 2. In total, the gameplay modes include the traditional game and nonstop modes, Workout Mode, Lesson Mode (containing tutorials), Training Mode (allowing the player to practice specific portions of songs), and Endless Mode, most of these modes and one additional song are unlocked through regular play.[4]
Modifiers
Unlike EuroMIX 2, Dancing Stage MegaMiX implements the new Options Menu which debuted on DDRMAX: Dance Dance Revolution 6thMIX, allowing easier access to modifiers which required special codes entered on the difficulty selection screen on previous versions.[4]
Interface & graphics
The visual interface was completely overhauled for the console Dancing Stage series.[5] For the first time the game played at 60fps and doubled the old video resolution from 320x240 to 640x480. Full motion background videos completely replaced the aging background animation engine, and Konami's signature dancing characters were omitted from the game for the first time on a European home version. Graphical karaoke style lyrics are displayed during some songs when there are spoken words. Occasionally videos are specifically made for a certain song, and in Dancing Stage MegaMiX's case, some licensed tracks contain their original music video in the background.[6]
Music
Note: Below the songs and courses are color coded, ordered, and displayed as they appeared in-game as accurately as possible with the available references.
Dancing Stage MegaMiX default song list[4][7] Song Artist Love at First Sight Kylie Minogue One Step Closer S Club Juniors Shake UR Body Shy FX & T-Power feat. Di When You Look At Me Christina Milian A Little Less Conversation (Elvis vs JXL) Elvis vs JXL Stealin' Beats Kid Galahad The Lovecats The Cure BRILLIANT 2U (Orchestra-Groove) NAOKI BROKEN MY HEART NAOKI feat. PAULA TERRY CRASH! mr.BRAIN & THE FINAL BAND DROP THE BOMB -System S.F. Mix- Scotty D. Groove 2001 Sho-T feat. Blenda I Was The One good-cool Kind Lady OKUYATOS Let the beat hit em! BM IIDX version Stone Bros. MEMORIES NAOKI feat. PAULA TERRY MY SUMMER LOVE mitsu-O! with GEILA PARANOiA KCET (clean mix) 2MB Remember You NM feat. Julie Secret Rendez-vous DIVAS Share My Love Julie Frost SO IN LOVE Caramel.S Spin the disc good-cool Sweet Sweet ♥ Magic jun TRIP MACHINE CLIMAX DE-SIRE TSUGARU RevenG vs DE-SIRE VANITY ANGEL FIXX Dancing Stage MegaMiX unlock song list[8] MAX 300 Ω Courses
Note: The colors indicate the preset difficulty of the songs in the courses; STANDARD is yellow, DIFFICULT is red, and EXPERT is green.
Dancing Stage MegaMiX course list[4] Course Songs EASY 1 One Step Closer When You Look At Me Remember You Love at First Sight Shake UR Body EASY 2 Spin the disc A Little Less Conversation (Elvis vs JXL) Stealin' Beats Let the beat hit em! BM IIDX version The Lovecats EASY 3 Kind Lady MY SUMMER LOVE Share My Love SO IN LOVE The Lovecats NORMAL 1 MY SUMMER LOVE I Was The One When You Look At Me Secret Rendez-vous Share My Love NORMAL 2 MEMORIES CRASH! Kind Lady Let the beat hit em! BM IIDX version VANITY ANGEL NORMAL 3 Love at First Sight SO IN LOVE BROKEN MY HEART Remember You MEMORIES HARD 1 VANITY ANGEL DROP THE BOMB -System S.F. Mix- Sweet Sweet ♥ Magic CRASH! TRIP MACHINE CLIMAX HARD 2 Spin the disc Shake UR Body Stealin' Beats Let the beat hit em! BM IIDX version GROOVE 2001 HARD 3 BRILLIANT 2U (Orchestra-Groove) TRIP MACHINE CLIMAX PARANOiA KCET (clean mix) TSUGARU MAX 300 Notable music
- MAX 300 - First seen in DDRMAX: Dance Dance Revolution 6thMIX. As the title suggests, this song plays at 300 BPM, The song is usually considered to be the first 10-foot difficulty song, and is also notably the only unlockable song.
Other versions
On September 26, 2003, Konami released a localized version of Dancing Stage MegaMiX to the Australian audience. The game was simply re-rated and there were no changes made that sets it apart from the European release.[9]
Reception
Slogan from promotional video
Reception Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings 76%[10] Review scores Publication Score GameSpot 7.6/10[11] EuroGamer 6/10[12] GamePlanet 4/5[13] TVG 6/10[14] Ace Gamez 8/10[15] All About Games 8.3/10[16] Contact Music 7/10[17] Rewired Mind 3.5/5[18] Konami launched Dancing Stage MegaMiX with promotional ads in game magazines and videos. Konami attempted to reach the "underground" dancing crowd with the slogan "Take the Stage" and a television spot that displayed hip, young teens breakdancing on the dance mats to the songs in the game.[19]
The general public took the new game with mixed emotions. While many praised the introduction of the Dancing Stage series on the PlayStation 2 and how it brought with it better graphics and smoother gameplay, others were chastising the meager song selection it brought to the table.[20] Released against the home version of DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX in Japan and the North American DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution, it was considered the weakest of the three and hardcore European fans recommended importing one of the other two or picking up an older release instead.[21] In the end, however, most people were happy with the game overall and gave it points for being one of the best Dancing Stage games at the time.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Dancing Stage MegaMiX". Konami of Europe. http://uk.gs.konami-europe.com/game.do?idGame=34. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ a b Zell_KFF. "Dancing Stage Megamix Review". DDR:UK. http://www.ddruk.com/articles/dsmreview.htm. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "DDRMAX 2 -Oni Mode-". DDRMAX2 -Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX-. http://www.konami.jp/bemani/ddr/jp/am/ddrmax2/oni01.html. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ a b c d Neko Neko. "Dancing Stage Megamix for Playstation 2 (PAL)" (in Japanese). DDRers' Stompin' Ground. http://www.ddr.sh/info/basic/pspalmega.html. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing stage Mega Mix (with Dance Mat) (PS2) Screenshots". Atari Australia. http://www.atari.com.au/games/screenshots.do?id=265. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage Megamix Screenshots". GamePlanet. http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/mag.dyn/Reviews/Screenshots/2561,1.html. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage Megamix (Europe) Song List". Zenius-I-Vanisher. http://zenius-i-vanisher.com/v4/ddrgamedb.php?gameid=55. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Song Lists and Difficulties - Dancing Stage Megamix". DDR FREAK. http://www.ddrfreak.com/versions/songlist.php?mix=145. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing stage Mega Mix (with Dance Mat) (PS2) Game Overview". Atari Australia. http://www.atari.com.au/games/overview.do?id=265. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage MegaMix - PS2". Game Rankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/589527.asp. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage MegaMix PS2 Game". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/puzzle/dancingstagemegamix/index.html. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ Mark (2003-06-05). "Dancing Stage MegaMix". EUROGAMER. http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=52210. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage Megamix". Gameplanet. 2003-07-13. http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/mag.dyn/Reviews/2561.html. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ Mark Simons (2003-06-03). "Dancing Stage MegaMix Review PlayStation 2". TVG. http://www.totalvideogames.com/articles/Dancing_Stage_Megamix_717.htm. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ Tom Leclerc. "DANCING STAGE MEGAMIX". AceGamez. http://www.acegamez.co.uk/reviews_playstation2/Dancing_Stage_Megamix_PS2.htm. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ Elaine Campbell. "Dancing Stage Megamix review". allaboutgames.co.uk. http://www.allaboutgames.co.uk/reviews/PS2/Dancing+Stage+Megamix/141/. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage MegaMix Review PS2". contactmusic.com. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/dancingstagemegamixreviewx21x05x03. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage MegaMix (PS2)". REWIREDMIND. 2005-09-12. http://www.rewiredmind.com/review-archive/dancingstagemegamix/. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ "Dancing Stage Megamix Game Trailer". Konami of Europe. http://uk.gs.konami-europe.com/game/gDownload.do?idGameDownload=76&idGame=34&idGamePlatformInfo=. Retrieved January 2008.
- ^ Arcane Azmadi (2003-12-05). "What kind of pathetic feebs do they take us for?!". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/review/R64851.html. Retrieved January 2008. "27 songs is not good, no, not good at all"
- ^ ecureuil (2003-05-30). "Not such a MegaMix..". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/review/R54480.html. Retrieved January 2008. "get Party Edition, not only is it cheaper, but it's a better game"
External links
- Dancing Stage MegaMix at Konami Europe
- Konami of Europe Konami Europe Corporate Information
- The scoring system for DDR MAX 2 Scoring formula used in Dancing Stage MegaMix
Categories:- 2003 video games
- Dance Dance Revolution games
- PlayStation 2-only games
- Video games developed in Germany
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