Dancing and Other Rhythm Games

Oioioi, me feet, me feet are burnin\'. Actually, I\'m on fire, baby, yeah! I rock! And roll! All day long! Sweet Suzy! (spot the reference)

Not having bought any games in a loong while, I was scouting the town for potential purchases, and I found the Dance UK mat, and Dancing Stage Fever at half-decent prices (combined, they ended up being a bit cheaper than getting a full-priced new game).

I just spent about an hour and a half trying to master Rain of Sorrow on Difficult (= not too easy). I\'m progressing pretty good though. Just like with Frequency, the things that seemed utterly impossible at first, just shoot out through your fingers (legs) with amazing speed after some serious practise. Few games become as rewarding after extended play as rhythm games.

So, how do you guys like music games, and which do you own, and how good are you at them? Or do you just think they\'re gay beyond belief? (I admit some dance mats look a bit too ghei indeed)

My collection includes

Um Jammer Lammy
For some reason I just had to dig out all my old rhythm games, this included. I suck on some levels, and some I just improvise through. I especially love the Parappa levels... "I miss my brain..." "May I help you?". Hilarious. Good game.

Beatmania (+ keyboard/turntable)
I got this set for 3 euros (yes only 3, in a discount bin from another dimension or something). It\'s pretty cool on easier difficulty levels, but gets just totally mad as it gets harder. I\'d think I\'ve got some upper hand on the game, having played piano for 15 years, but doesn\'t seem to help much, eep. Not a total waste of money, and not really all that entertaining after all.

Frequency
It\'s hard to describe how much I actually rock when playing this game. There\'s one, just ONE goddamn riff I can\'t get right (the fast B-part of the synth track in End of Your World). It\'s just a shame I can\'t get myself to enjoy anything less than the 7 last songs on expert. Anything easier and it\'s just boring. One more difficulty level wouldn\'t have hurt anyone. Or might have.

Eyetoy
Not a music game per se, but still there\'s them rhythm action sections. Which didn\'t quite grab me by the nads like DSF or Frequency. I much prefer Kung Foo (played from as far away as possible so you really have to make yourself move.). Damn that game rocks, but it\'s dangerous too. Sidekicking furniture to bits is not cool kids.

Dancing Stage Fever (played with the Dance UK mat)
My latest acquisition, and my personal fave after Frequency. Sure, a big guy about 6 foot 5 jumping on a silly little plastic mat might look a bit kooky, but I can\'t help myself, almost as addictive as Frequency, and definitely takes a lot more effort to master. The most difficult of the dance routines are something so ridiculous it\'s hard to believe. But having brosed many a DDR site recently, everything seems to be possible. At the expense of looking batshit silly. My fave portion of the game is the Workout more, complete with a calorie counter and weight follow-up. I\'ve been burning about 500 kcal daily on that mode alone (takes grain of salt regarding the actual accuracy of the measurements).

I won\'t stop here, I\'m hell bent on getting :
Samba de Amigo (rare...)
Amplitude
Mad Maestro
Gitaroo Man
Parappa the Rapper
Parappa the Rapper 2
Dance UK
Groove
Pop Idol NOT!
+ Any Konami dancing games

I wonder what I left out...

And Kung Pow is one of the funniest movies ever. I need the DVD. "THAT\'S A LOTTA NUTS!"

Samba De Amigo
Space Channel 5

Samba De Amigo is an absolute must if you like rythm games.  When you get to the difficult stages (incredibly difficult), it\'s crucial that you can zen out at any moment and just let your fingers do the work.  <----  You won\'t beat it otherwise.

I even have the maraccas...quite the workout!

I just played DDR at an arcade for the first time the other day. Some little girls set it up for me and I did good on beginner.  So I cranked up the difficulty level and holy hell. Having that to play at home would be fun.  I can see what you mean about being rewarding.

-Eik

I love ddr but i hate the house pad so i play in the arcades. I have Konomix and i just mooch off my friends for DDRMax1&2.

Most of the games you mentioned are good. UmJammerLammy being one of the best, along side FreQ, Amp, SdA, BeatMania(i like it only with the controller pad), etc etc.

I really think you should skip Mad Maestro. A piss poor game that was truely mad for kids. Gitaroo man, while similar, is a much more entertaining game with better songs. Parapa 2 wasnt nearly as good as the first but if you can get a good deal on it then go for it.

I\'m just having a case of "gotta catch \'em ell"...

Can\'t wait to visit Helsinki again, with all those DDR machines just waiting to be trampled by me...

I have a new dream: One day, I will own my very own DDR cabinet. Yes, oh yes I will.

I\'ve only played Amplitude, but it\'s fun as hell.  Still can\'t beat the BT level on impossible....