What Is DDR?: Difference between revisions

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; ONE MORE EXTRA STAGE / ENCORE EXTRA STAGE
; ONE MORE EXTRA STAGE / ENCORE EXTRA STAGE
If the EXTRA STAGE was cleared by completing a specific condition (different for every game), an ENCORE EXTRA STAGE can be played. It was first introduced as ONE MORE EXTRA STAGE in DDRMAX before being renamed ENCORE EXTRA STAGE in SuperNOVA2. The ENCORE EXTRA STAGE was removed in DanceDanceRevolution (2013) after being used in nine arcade games, but was temporarily revived via a bug, then later officially returned in DanceDanceRevolution (2014) onwards.
If the EXTRA STAGE was cleared by completing a specific condition (different for every game), an ENCORE EXTRA STAGE can be played. It was first introduced as ONE MORE EXTRA STAGE in DDRMAX before being renamed ENCORE EXTRA STAGE in SuperNOVA2. The ENCORE EXTRA STAGE was removed in DanceDanceRevolution (2013) after being used in nine arcade games, but temporarily reappeared via a bug, then later officially returned in DanceDanceRevolution (2014) onwards.
 
== Song Selection ==
== Song Selection ==
[[Image:DanceDanceRevolution Music Select Screen.png|thumb|Music Select Screen in DanceDanceRevolution (2014).]]
[[Image:DanceDanceRevolution Music Select Screen.png|thumb|Music Select Screen in DanceDanceRevolution (2014).]]
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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.
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.


Similar to most other rhythm games, the songs featured in a DanceDanceRevolution game are usually short, ranging between 1:30 and 2:15 in length. Only in DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX and DanceDanceRevolution X (known as Xmix) that long versions were in the game. In order to create more complexity in the game, the BPM of the songs can either be constant or vary during the song. Additionally, a feature known as a stop (a moment where the arrows stop scrolling on the screen) was added in DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX.
Similar to most other rhythm games, the songs featured in a DanceDanceRevolution game are usually short, ranging between 1:30 and 2:15 in length. Only in DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX and DanceDanceRevolution X that long versions (known as Xmix in the latter game) were in an arcade game. In order to create more complexity in the game, the BPM of the songs can either be constant or vary during the song. Additionally, a feature known as a stop (a moment where the arrows stop scrolling on the screen) was added in DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX.


For the first few games, KONAMI opted to use mostly licensed songs from the popular nonstop mixed compilation series, Dancemania by the label Intercord Japan (now i-DANCE). Some original songs (known as KONAMI originals) made by the game staff were also included in the song list. As the years progressed, the ratio of original songs overtook the number of Dancemania licenses. This also includes covers of songs or licenses mainly from Japanese and international artists that are included in the game but in a smaller proportion. With the addition of more rhythm games in the BEMANI series, songs from the other games got transplanted to DanceDanceRevolution as well.
For the first few games, KONAMI opted to use mostly licensed songs from the popular nonstop mixed compilation series, Dancemania by the label Intercord Japan (now i-DANCE). Some original songs (known as KONAMI originals) made by the game staff were also included in the song list. As the years progressed, the ratio of original songs overtook the number of Dancemania licenses. This also includes covers of songs or licenses mainly from Japanese and international artists that are included in the game but in a smaller proportion. With the addition of more rhythm games in the BEMANI series, songs from the other games got transplanted to DanceDanceRevolution as well.
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=== Level ===
=== Level ===
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.
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.
DDRMAX is the only arcade DanceDanceRevolution game to not rate its songs, instead only using the [[GROOVE RADAR]] as a difficulty indication (detailed in a section below). Almost all of its songs received official ratings in later songs, though.


=== DANCE LEVEL ===
=== DANCE LEVEL ===
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; <span style="color:#eb1eff;">CHALLENGE</span>
; <span style="color:#eb1eff;">CHALLENGE</span>
: Added in [[AC DDRMAX2|DDRMAX2 -DanceDanceRevolution 7thMIX-]], this last difficulty is aimed at very experienced players seeking to go beyond the above difficulty. CHALLENGE is also often referred to as 鬼 (Oni). In DDRMAX2, this difficulty was exclusive to select songs during some Nonstop Mode courses, as well as its ONE MORE EXTRA STAGE song, and even in modern games appears on a minority of songs, often with different unlock conditions compared to corresponding EXPERT charts. Typical range is 13 to 18 with 19 being the maximum and 5 being the minimum. A few songs have ''only'' a CHALLENGE chart and no other difficulties, more often than not indicating that the song selection itself is a special take on or a special remix of another song. Due to an anachronism, some older songs have a CHALLENGE chart slightly easier than their HEAVY/EXPERT chart, due to the CHALLENGE chart previously being restricted to Nonstop Mode (course) or Challenging Mode (boss course) play. In addition, the Shock Arrows (SA) added in DanceDanceRevolution X are found in CHALLENGE charts only, and an icon is displayed on-screen to notify the player of their presence in the chart. Some Shock Arrow CHALLENGE charts are intentionally a lower difficulty than their corresponding EXPERT chart, either because the Shock Arrow chart is a modified lower difficulty chart or because the Shock Arrow chart is intended to follow a certain choreography, or is otherwise meant to highlight a special use of Shock Arrows in some way<!-- better description? referring to stuff like Right on time (Ryu☆Remix) -->.
: Added in [[AC DDRMAX2|DDRMAX2 -DanceDanceRevolution 7thMIX-]], this last difficulty is aimed at very experienced players seeking to go beyond the above difficulty. CHALLENGE is also often referred to as 鬼 (Oni). In DDRMAX2, this difficulty was exclusive to select songs during some Nonstop Mode courses, as well as its ONE MORE EXTRA STAGE song, and even in modern games appears on a minority of songs, often with different unlock conditions compared to corresponding EXPERT charts. Typical range is 13 to 18 with 19 being the maximum and 5 being the minimum. A few songs have ''only'' a CHALLENGE chart and no other difficulties, more often than not indicating that the song selection itself is a special take on or a special remix of another song. Due to an anachronism, some older songs have a CHALLENGE chart slightly easier than their HEAVY/EXPERT chart, due to the CHALLENGE chart previously being restricted to Nonstop Mode (course) or Challenging Mode (boss course) play. In addition, the Shock Arrows (SA) added in DanceDanceRevolution X are found in CHALLENGE charts only, and an icon is displayed on-screen to notify the player of their presence in the chart. Some Shock Arrow CHALLENGE charts are intentionally a lower difficulty than their corresponding EXPERT chart, either because the Shock Arrow chart is a modified lower difficulty chart or because the Shock Arrow chart is intended to follow a certain choreography, or is otherwise meant to use Shock Arrows in a special way.


=== GROOVE RADAR ===
=== GROOVE RADAR ===