The introduction of arcade games in the 80’s revolutionized the video gaming industry.  These simple games were creative and provided the base of the concepts on which video games are being produced nowadays.

Dance Dance Revolution is the most successful game ever made. Dance Dance Revolution® is the pioneering series of the rhythm and dance genre in video games. Players stand on a “dance platform” or stage and hit colored arrows laid out in a cross with their feet to musical and visual cues.

The Gameplay

The core gameplay involves the player moving his or her feet to a set pattern, stepping in time to the general rhythm or beat of a song. Arrows are divided by 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, and so on (with differing color schemes for each), up to about 1/32 notes. During normal gameplay, arrows scroll upwards from the bottom of the screen and pass over a set of stationary arrows near the top.

When the scrolling arrows overlap the stationary ones, the player must step on the corresponding arrows on the dance platform, and the player is given a judgment for their accuracy (Marvelous, Perfect, Great, Good, Almost—close miss, Boo—complete miss). Longer green and yellow arrows referred to as “freeze arrows” must be held down for their entire length, either producing an “O.K.” if successful or an “N.G.” (Not Good) if not. Dance Dance Revolution® contains songs with Shock Arrows, walls of arrows with lightning effects which must be avoided, which are scored in the same way as Freezes (O.K. / N.G.). If they are stepped on, a N.G. is awarded, the life bar decreases, and the steps become hidden for a short period of time.

Strategy

Successfully hitting the arrows in time with the music fills the “Dance Gauge,” or life bar, while failure to do so drains it.

Difficulty Levels

If the Dance Gauge is fully depleted during the game, the player fails the song, usually resulting in a “Game Over.”

Interface and Controls

In the arcade game version, the players stand on an arrow pad and step on the arrow direction they want. In the home version of the game, arrow keys can be used to play the game.

Dance Dance Revolution® has been given much critical acclaim for its originality and creativity in the video gaming market. It is still played and enjoyed by people everywhere.