#36: DDR Max

Oh DDR, how I loved you.

This was rhythm games before plastic instruments were in everyone's closets.  Dance Dance Revolution was a compilation of techno songs and Japanese pop tunes that you had to tap your foot to.  Well, let's not oversimplify.  It was tapping anywhere between 2-27 feet every second.  It was an excellent calorie burner, a decent party game, and an addictive force until you finally couldn't stand the songs.

Before DDR Max, the Dance Dance Revolution series wasn't big in the United States.  It was secluded to arcades and fanatical Japanese game importers.  For DDR Max, Konami went all-in and actually provided games and accessories to retailers in America.  The game wasn't massive, but its saturation was impressive for a niche market.

DDR players generally resembled a skill tree in a RPG cliche.  People had about 3 key skills that they had to take, and then could take a specialization.  The skills tree went:

1. Able to beat a few songs on Easy mode
2. Able to beat a few songs on Medium mode
3. Able to beat a few songs on Hard mode
4. Choose your specialization!
1. Learn every single song on Expert mode and showcase insane rhythms while looking like you can't dance at all.
2. Memorize every single song on Easy backwards.  Turn around, face the crowd, and act like you're really dancing.

The latter received a lot of media and tournament attention.

If only performing DDR was a little more cool.