After many versions of this game I’ve finally resided to the fact that I certainly cannot nor shall I ever, dance.

That doesn’t mean I can’t have fun though.

Shame of the game

I think the layout of the mat is very improved over the previous versions. Now, I’ve been out of the game for sometime with DDR, but the mat is certainly better to grab onto nearly any surface. That was always my complaint with previous versions. Too slick and they slide everywhere on the floor. Thankfully, this is not the case with Supernova 2. The controls are nice and in place and don’t seem to move much at all, unless you’re a bad dancer like myself. Think Steve Martin at the beginning of The Jerk. That’s me.

I digress, controls aside, the updated song list for this version of DDR is a bit lacking. I won’t beat around the bush on this one. I found a handful of songs I liked and the rest I just didn’t care for. What happened to the original Konami techno? What happened to the unknown artists who can really carry a kickass beat? Where are these people? Apparently they’ve replaced them with the likes of Bobby Brown and Britney Spears. I’m sorry, I just cannot dance to them, not even if someone paid me good money.

Anyway, if there was anything I was disappointed about regarding this title, it would be the music. And that’s a 31 year-old fellow saying this so maybe it will work with other people, maybe my friend Jack, but certainly not with me.

Are you in a good mode?

Now, onto the positives. I like the game modes. You get the regular DDR mode which allows you to dance until your heart is content, but you get a couple of new ones that make it interesting. First, you have the Hyper Master Mode, which is basically the regular version, but with an action game type of twist. You work your way through multiple round and eventually reach a boss. The mode is incredibly difficult and isn’t for the dance weak of heart. I found this mode to be particularly intriguing, simply because it was well thought out for a dancing game. Generally, DDR’s main beef is simply to dance the night away, but it’s nice to see another dimension revealed on a very popular title.

The workout mode has always been a favorite of mine. When you can cross working out with actually having fun, and believe me they don’t cross paths too many times, you have some fun. The other modes include Advance Mode which is really made for the footloose fellow or lady who has been around the block with the DDR games of the past. My friend Jack belongs in this category. The Training Mode is great. It helps first-time players and younger players slowly get into DDR Supernova 2.

Of course, all of these modes are nice and all, but the mode that truly poses a challenge to real hardcore DDR fans is the online mode. I tested these waters once, and I will confirm, once again, that I cannot dance at all. I am shamed and probably will never be invited to parties at E3 type events again.

Final Breakdown

I think that DDR: Supernova 2 is fine. I think that the music is a good portion of the game and I didn’t enjoy it almost at all. Now this doesn’t mean the game is a total loss, in fact it’s fine. I just wish that the music was more of a variety, something that all ages could enjoy. No offense to Justin Timberlake, but it will be a very chilly day in hell before I shake my booty to anything he’s doing. That music just isn’t my style.

If you can forgive the music then what you’ll find is a game loaded with nice modes that might just make this one worth the price of admission. Be forewarned though, if you’re excited about the online component you’ll want to hold yourself back until you’re completely confident of your dancing abilities. Otherwise you’ll be eaten alive or danced alive.