Dance Dance Revolution Solo
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| Dance Dance Revolution Solo | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Konami |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Release date(s) | 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Music |
| Mode(s) | 1 player per machine, simultaneous play on up to 4 linked cabinets |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Input | 6 square panels, 3 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Custom |
| Arcade display | Raster, 29-inch, standard resolution, horizontal |
Dance Dance Revolution Solo, or DDR Solo, is a music video game series introduced by Konami in 1999. It is a spin-off of the Dance Dance Revolution series, featuring a smaller arcade cabinet and dance pad, two new arrows (diagonal up-left and up-right), and new gameplay modes that utilize these arrows.
There are four Konami games which use the DDR Solo cabinet:
- Dance Dance Revolution Solo BASS MIX (released August 19, 1999)
- Dance Dance Revolution Solo 2000 (December 16, 1999)
- Dance Dance Revolution Solo 4thMIX (August 24, 2000)
- Dance Dance Revolution Solo 4thMIX PLUS (December 28, 2000)
After the release of the first two games, DDR Solo was merged with the main Dance Dance Revolution series, after which Solo 4thMIX and Solo 4thMIX PLUS were released. This article is primarily concerned with Solo BASS MIX and Solo 2000. For information on the latter two games, see Dance Dance Revolution 4thMIX.
An unofficial "bootleg" version of DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX was also produced as an upgrade for older DDR Solo cabinets. The game is limited to playing in Single mode, and does not use the diagonal arrows.
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[edit] Gameplay details
The core gameplay of Dance Dance Revolution is retained in DDR Solo: a player steps on plexiglas arrows to the general rhythm or beat of a song, following the arrows displayed on the game's monitor. A judgment is displayed for each step, depending on the player's timing: "PERFECT", "GREAT", "GOOD", "BOO" or "MISS". These judgments affect the player's score and determine whether he or she will be able to continue playing.
Unlike standard Dance Dance Revolution machines, DDR Solo only has one dance pad. This eliminates the possibility of gameplay modes such as Versus and Double. However, the Solo pad features two diagonal arrows which add complexity to single-player gameplay. Some songs even take advantage of the new layout and make the player step on four arrows at once -- the only DDR series that utilizes the concept. The arrows in question are always left, right, up-left and up-right, however, making it easy to hit two panels with one foot.
[edit] Score/Grade
At the end of each song, a results screen is displayed, showing the number of each step judgment received, a numerical score, bonus points earned, and an overall letter grade ranging from "AAA" (all steps Perfect) to "D" (near failure). If the player manages to pass all of his or her songs, a cumulative results screen is given, totalling the scores from all played stages.
The scoring system in Solo BASS MIX and Solo 2000 assigns base values to each step judgment, with bonus points awarded based on the player's combos. For any particular song, the final score is determined by the following formula:
(P × 500) + (G × 300) + (D × 100) + (C × 300) + (E × 100)
P = number of Perfect judgments received during the song
G = number of Great judgments
D = number of Good judgments
C = longest normal combo (consecutive Perfect and Great steps)
E = longest Perfect combo (consecutive Perfect steps)
Note that for a "jump" (two or more arrows hit simultaneously), each step is judged and counted separately, contrary to most other DDR games.
The possible letter grades are AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D, but the formula used to determine the grade is currently unknown.
[edit] Nonstop Megamix
DDR Solo features Nonstop Megamix songs, each consisting of three separate songs that transition between each other. Each Megamix is about three minutes long, and has step patterns modeled after those of its constituent songs.
This feature is not to be confused with the Nonstop Megamix discs that accompany the Dance Dance Revolution soundtracks.
[edit] Multiplayer
Up to four DDR Solo machines of the same version (either Solo BASS MIX or Solo 2000) may be linked together for Multiplayer mode. To activate Multiplayer, each player must insert the appropriate number of credits into his or her machine, select Multiplayer on the "Select Mode" screen, and choose a team (red, blue, green, or yellow). Players can play against each other individually or cooperatively, or all players can join the same team for full cooperative play. The Dance Gauge in Multiplayer is affected by teammates' mistakes as well as the player's own.
[edit] DDR Solo BASS MIX
Dance Dance Revolution Solo BASS MIX was released on August 19, 1999. The game contains 16 normal-length songs and 6 Nonstop Megamix songs. None of these were featured on any previous DDR games.
The "Dance Gauge" or life bar in Solo BASS MIX is divided into discrete segments, instead of the flowing Dance Gauge in other DDR games. In Expert Mode, there are 6 numbered circles at the top of the screen, which light up when full, and darken when empty. Each Boo and Miss decreases the Gauge by 1, and consecutive Perfects and Greats will increase the Gauge. In Multiplayer Mode, the Dance Gauge may start out with up to 12 numbered circles, depending on the number of players.
Solo BASS MIX has a "Select Mode" screen, which has four options:
- Beginner: The player chooses each song individually, and cannot fail on the first two stages. The "Little" modifier is also enabled by default (but can be disabled).
- Expert: The player chooses each song individually, and can fail a song if the Dance Gauge empties (resulting in a game over)
- Nonstop Megamix: Allows the player to play one of the six Nonstop Megamix songs available. Only one may be played, then the game is over.
- Multiplayer: Only appears if linked to one or more Solo BASS MIX machines. See Multiplayer above.
[edit] DDR Solo 2000
Dance Dance Revolution Solo 2000 was released on December 15, 1999. It retains several of the features introduced in Solo BASS MIX, but streamlines other aspects that were previously unintuitive. The game features a total of 36 songs and 9 Nonstop Megamixes, including 15 out of 16 songs from the previous game, and all 6 Megamixes.
Solo 2000 has a different Select Mode screen. There is no Beginner, and Nonstop Megamix and Multiplayer are both accessible from the Select Music screen. Select Mode instead allows the player to select the number of arrow panels to play with, an option not available in Solo BASS MIX. The following modes can be chosen:
- 3 Panels: Uses the two diagonal arrows and the down arrow. There is only one difficulty for each song. During gameplay, left and right can be pressed instead of up-left and up-right, respectively.
- 4 Panels: Uses up, down, left, and right, like in regular Dance Dance Revolution. Basic, Trick, and Maniac difficulties are available.
- 6 Panels: Uses all six DDR Solo arrows. All three difficulties are available.
If Random is selected on the Select Music screen, and "Let the beat hit 'em" is chosen, it plays an alternate mix of the song, from beatmania IIDX. The step patterns are identical to the normal version.
[edit] Asian version
There is an Asian version of DDR Solo 2000. It is mostly identical, but is missing four songs and one Nonstop Megamix. There is also an Asian version of "DDR 4th Mix Solo". This version does not support the unlock code and is missing some songs, including some Konami originals such as .59.
[edit] Music
Several of the songs from DDR Solo BASS MIX and Solo 2000 were later used in the main Dance Dance Revolution series. Notable songs include:
- DROP OUT became the fastest-scrolling song in DDR until the release of DDRMAX. The steps scroll at 260 BPM, twice the speed of the actual music. The song is best known for its Single Maniac (Heavy) steps, due to the large number of jumps early in the song, and the long stream of 1/8th notes near the end. On games released prior to DDR 5thMIX, low frame rates make this song especially difficult to sight-read.
- PARANOiA EVOLUTION became the second PARANOiA mix that surpasses the speed of 190bpm. This mix is also the same speed of PARANOiA KCET -clean mix-, 200bpm
[edit] Soundtracks
The original soundtrack for Dance Dance Revolution Solo 2000 was produced by Toshiba-EMI under the Dancemania music label. It contains 35 songs from the game, including 15 from Solo BASS MIX, and all nine Nonstop Megamixes.
[edit] External links
- Konami's official DDR Solo website (Japanese)
- DDRers' Stompin' Ground - comprehensive reference website for all Dance Dance Revolution games (Japanese)
| Games from the Dance Dance Revolution series | |
|---|---|
| Japan / Asia: | 1stMIX - 2ndMIX - 3rdMIX - 4thMIX - 5thMIX - MAX (6thMIX) - MAX2 (7thMIX) - EXTREME - Best Hits - Extra Mix - Party Col. - FESTIVAL - Mario Mix - STR!KE - SuperNOVA - Universe |
| North America: | DDR - DDR USA - Konamix - MAX - MAX2 - Ultramix - EXTREME - Ultramix 2 - Extreme 2 - Ultramix 3 - SuperNOVA - Ultramix 4 - Universe |
| Europe: | Dancing Stage EuroMIX - PARTY EDiTiON - Disney Mix - MegaMiX - Fever - Unleashed - Fusion - Unleashed 2 - Mario Mix - Max - Unleashed 3 |
| See also: | Dancing Stage - Disney versions - Game Boy versions - DDR Solo - List of DDR games |
| Related topics | |
| Notable songs: | MAX series |
| Notable artists: | BeForU - Takayuki Ishikawa - Naoki Maeda - Taku Sakakibara - List of Bemani musicians |
