Dance Dance Revolution Universe boldly goes where no rhythm dancing title has gone before, making it the first DDR game to hit the new generation of console systems. Using the Xbox 360, Universe stays true to the Xbox’s Ultramix format but still manages to maintain its own identity with a fresh mix of 70-plus new songs, beefier visuals, and online modes.
What hasn’t changed an ounce, though, is the tried-but-true arrow-stepping formula that has kept feet flowing since 1998 and staying true to its title, this DDR is in fact universal in the sense it is accessible to beginners and experts alike.
Players who have never stepped up to the pad before will find solace in the game’s Basic Edition, which holds a dancer’s hands through a number of lesson modes and tutorials. On the other hand, at the push of a button, novices and experts can jump straight into the eye-crossing frenzy of the game’s more difficult levels as well as have access to the full buffet of game modes.
In essence, Universe copies the setup of Ultramix 4 with completely redone presentation, bringing in the power courses (tunes mixed into a nonstop course of nearly 10 straight minutes of game play), relay modes, an expanded quest mode, challenge mode, multiplayer party modes and online modes. The party modes throw in the usual array of multiplayer modes, quadruple pad dancing and more, which also carry over into the game’s exceptional online capabilities that feature leaderboards and downloadable content.
Unlockables and achievements tally mostly through the game’s quest modes, which features a map of the United States and all of the territories players can conquer through the art of dance. By entering a state, players will then have unlimited tries to meet a pre-determined criteria and success grants them currency and access to special events and competitions. Thankfully, the quest mode in Universe isn’t limited to one player, allowing buddies to join in on the quest to dig deep for the game’s decent chunk of hidden songs.
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