What Is DDR?: Difference between revisions

| Same as STANDARD, except that it enables the STAR SYSTEM for access to EXTRA STAGE, additional SPEED modifiers in 0.25x increments, and the LIFE4 gauge.<br>Can only be selected if using an e-amusement Pass.

| Instead of selecting one song at a time, a set of songs (known as a course) can be selected. Available in select games only.<br>In A20, COURSE is no longer a separate mode, and courses can be chosen from folders in the song list.

Due to the game being an arcade game, it uses a STAGE (ステージ) system to limit the amount of songs played so that other players can enjoy the game. A single song can be played by STAGE. In the earlier games, the number of STAGE possible for a play session was decided by the arcade operator, usually from 3 to 5 songs. In the most recent versions, the game is set to 3 STAGEs (FIRST, 2nd, and FINAL) with a potential EXTRA STAGE if unlocked.

To select a song, the player must browse through the song list of the game using a song selection screen. Throughout the various versions of the game, the song selection interface received four major overhauls. The first version was in DanceDanceRevolution up to DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX: a jukebox-like interface was used. In DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX up to DanceDanceRevolution X, the games used its most well-known iteration: a vertical song wheel. Since DanceDanceRevolution X2, the songs are chosen from left to right in a Cover Flow-style interface. DanceDanceRevolution (2014) keeps the album covers, but switches to a horizontal song wheel. DanceDanceRevolution A onwards utilizes a [[SOUND VOLTEX Information|SOUND VOLTEX]]-esque selection interface, with songs selected in diagonally-slanted rows of three covers each.

Usually, the Song Selection Screen shows for each song its banner, the ratings and difficulties available for that song, its BPM, and any previous high score by the player. In DanceDanceRevolution X2, the series' long-time traditional banners were replaced by album jackets.

In DanceDanceRevolution, songs are rated using a number from 1, being the easiest, to 20, being the hardest. The difficulty number is known as a Foot Level due to a feet icon being displayed next to the rating number for the song in the earliest games. Initially in the first game, the rating was from 1 to 8 and each number had a corresponding name. However, these names were dropped in DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX. The rating was expanded to 9 in DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX and finally up to 10 in DDRMAX2. The whole system was upgraded to its current range of 1 to 20 in DanceDanceRevolution X.

Intended to help or to increase the difficulty of the game, modifiers have been included for players to use since the very first game. The possible options range from changing the color of the arrows or their shapes to hiding the notes on the screen. Usually, the players are free to use any options but on select occasions such as an EXTRA STAGE, the modifiers are set by the game and cannot be changed (LIFE4 in recent arcade games). Also, all ASSIST options can alter the score obtained by the player.

!style="background:#9999ee; text-align: center;" | A and after

| The song was played, but failed (with a Step Grade of E).

| The song was passed using LIFE4 life gauge setting.<br>(added on DanceDanceRevolution (2014))

| The song is cleared via FULL COMBO with Good judgements. Abbreviated as FC.<br>(Added on DanceDanceRevolution (2013); prior to 2013, Good judgements break combo hence this clear does not exist)

| FULL COMBO (Green)

| The song is cleared via FULL COMBO without Good judgements. Abbreviated as FC or GFC.

| This song is cleared via PERFECT FULL COMBO (all Marvelous!!!, Perfect!! and O.K. judgements). Abbreviated as PFC.

| The song is cleared via MARVELOUS FULL COMBO (all Marvelous!!! and O.K. judgements, and with a maximum score of 1,000,000). Abbreviated as MFC.

After each song completion, an evaluation is performed on the player's performance. It typically includes a list of each timing judgement with how many of them were obtained, the max combo, the calories burned (since DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA2), a global score, and a letter grade. If the player clears the song, the word CLEARED (except for [[Tohoku EVOLVED]], which displays "Pray for All" instead) appears before the evaluation screen. The same happens when the song is failed with the word FAILED appearing.