What Could Have Been: DanceDanceRevolution

What Could Have Been: DanceDanceRevolution

A list of things missing, removed, or changed around in DanceDanceRevolution games before their final release.

DanceDanceRevolution

• Files for an unused male dancer are hidden within the game's data.
• Graphics for Dancemania BASS#1 and Dancemania SPEED albums can be found in the game's data, suggesting they were to be displayed alongside the other images of Dancemania albums in the advertisement section for i-dance compilations in the attract sequence.
• An unused graphic that displays the text "MUSIC FROM" would've presumably used above the CD titles that appears on the game's song selection screen.

DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX

• Unused graphics for PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME and KEEP ON MOVIN' alongside unused CD images for EL RITMO TROPICAL, stomp to my beat, and PARANOiA MAX～DIRTY MIX～ appear in the game's data.
  • The same unused graphics for PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME is also found in the data of DanceDanceRevolution Best of Cool Dancers.
  • A background animation from the first DanceDanceRevolution game can be found alongside BRILLIANT 2U's early graphics in the data.
• Placeholder graphics for the ROULETTE option and for the STEP BATTLE songs can also be found within the game's data.

DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX with beatmania IIDX CLUB VERSiON

• Unused graphics for BRILLIANT 2U, EL RITMO TROPICAL, and stomp to my beat are present within the game's files.
  • The same unused banners for BRILLIANT 2U and stomp to my beat are also present in the data of DanceDanceRevolution Best of Cool Dancers.

Dancing Stage featuring TRUE KiSS DESTiNATiON

• An unused icon graphic for the Step Up mode can be found in the game's data. This mode would later be added to Dancing Stage featuring DREAMS COME TRUE.

DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX Ver.KOREA2

• Every song added in this version has an internal code following the pattern of "korX", where X is an alphanumeric character from 2 to D. 1, 3, 4, and B are skipped over, meaning that at least 4 songs were cut from the game prior to release. It is unknown what any of these songs were.

DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX PLUS

• Unused CD titles for the Dancemania SPEED#4 and Dancemania WINTERS2 albums are found in the game's data.
• Early versions of 4thMIX's background animations are present within the game's data.
  • One of the early background animation sprites is used as a basis for MY SUMMER LOVE and ONLY YOU's graphics.
• Full stepchart and graphical data for TOTAL RECALL by ULTIMATE HEIGHTS, a song that had previously appeared in beatmania 5thMIX -Time to get down-, can be found in the game's data.

DanceDanceRevolution Solo 2000

• DanceDanceRevolution Solo 2000 has additional step data for two other, harder difficulties in 3 Panels mode, but they're left unused as that mode only has one difficulty available. Almost all songs those extra two charts, save for NONSTOP G and NONSTOP I (the 3 Panels TRICK and MANIAC charts are the same) and NONSTOP H (all three 3 Panels charts are the same).

DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX

• Early concept art showed different songwheels, one of them eventually was used in 5thMIX, and another in UNIVERSE.
• Early versions of the game's interface can be found within the game files, along with different character image assets for the character selection screen.

DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX PLUS

• According to an interview by Aaron Chmielowiec (from the website aaronin.jp) with a former DanceDanceRevolution staff member, DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX PLUS was going to have its system upgraded to allow for 60 FPS instead of the usual 30 FPS during gameplay. This idea was not implemented until the next release as the developers wanted to have a more stable engine with less bugs.

DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX CS

• Several graphic files for songs from the Solo series and DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX VER.KOREA that never appeared in the final game can be found in the game's data.

DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX

• According to an interview by Aaron Chmielowiec (from the website aaronin.jp) with a former DanceDanceRevolution staff member, DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX was going to include SOLO stepcharts, but the idea was cancelled due to negative feedback from players.
• Early versions of the game's interface can be found within the game files, including a brighter interface during gameplay, different loading, style select, and ranking screens, a blue "CLEARED" graphic, and different animations for the characters from the ones seen in the final game, along with larger spacing between the character names.
• CD titles for the Dancemania presents CLUB THE EARTH II, Dancemania SUPER TECHNO and Dancemania WINTERS ROCK GROOVE albums can be found unused in the game's data.

DDRMAX -DanceDanceRevolution 6thMIX-

• Mockup screenshots showed songs from previous mixes, which were cut in the finished product as well as a different song banner for NORI NORI NORI.
• Freeze Arrows had their own judgement, "FreeZe!".
  • The graphic for this judgement can be found in the data of arcade and console games up until DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME2, DanceDanceRevolution STR!KE, and Dancing Stage Max, and even went under through some changes in Dancing Stage EuroMIX2 and DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME.
• A shoshinsha mark graphic that would've been used to indicate songs that have a BASIC chart with a rating of 2 or lower goes unused in the game's data.
  • Like the unused "FreeZe!", this graphic can be found in the data of arcade and console games up until DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME CS (Japan).
• According to an interview by Aaron Chmielowiec (from the website aaronin.jp) with a former DanceDanceRevolution staff member, the screen filter option introduced in DanceDanceRevolution X was going to appear in DDRMAX. However, the graphics team didn't like the idea of the artwork being covered.
• Unused graphics that presumably would've been used to indicate a Long Version song on the songwheel can be found in the game's data, implying that Long Version songs were planned at some point during development.
• An unused GAME OVER/THANK YOU FOR PLAYING screen is hidden within the game's files.

DDRMAX2 -DanceDanceRevolution 7thMIX-

• Several early versions of title tags that would've appeared on the songwheel for 革命, MORE THAN I NEEDED TO KNOW, and Spin the disc appear in the game's data.
• Early versions for TRANCE DE JANEIRO (SAMBA DE JANEIRO 2002 Epic Vocal Remix)'s graphics are found in the game's files. Most notable, these early renditions of the song's graphics removes subtitle of the song.

DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME

• As the first DanceDanceRevolution game to introduce the MARVELOUS timing judgment, it was originally intended to be used in all modes. However, negative feedback towards its usage in location tests resulted in the idea being scaled back. In the final release, MARVELOUS only appears on courses.
  • MARVELOUS timing would finally be added to all modes in DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA2.
• Early in EXTREME's development, there were several rounds for fans to vote on a BEMANI crossover to add over to the game. Nominees included Across the nightmare, Cat Song ～Theme of UPA, DJ BATTLE, FLOWERS for ALBION, Morning Music, THE SAFARI, Threshold Lebel, Waza, and WITHOUT YOU AROUND. The winning song was Across the nightmare, and to date none of the other nominees have ever appeared in another DanceDanceRevolution title.

DanceDanceRevolution EXTRA MIX

• Early renditions of the game's menu screens, much closer in appearance to those of the previous home release, can be found in the game's data.
• Unused data of PETIT LOVE is found hidden within the game's data.

DanceDanceRevolution KONAMIX

• The title screen was originally based on DanceDanceRevolution 5thMIX, as seen in a pre-release build.
• In the pre-release build, the music played in the style/character select menus originates from DanceDanceRevolution Solo 2000 instead of DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX like the final game.

DDRMAX -DanceDanceRevolution-

• The demo featured no foot-scale, just like its arcade counterpart.

DDRMAX2 -DanceDanceRevolution 7thMIX- CS (Japan)

• Full Double charts for Kind Lady(interlude) can be found in the data, suggesting that the new CS songs might have been planned to have full Double charts instead of only CHALLENGE charts like in the final release of the game.

DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME CS (Japan)

• Unused audio previews of A MINUTE (Extended Mix), IT'S RAINING MEN (Almighty Mix), MORE THAN I NEEDED TO KNOW, SENORITA (Speedy Mix), and THERE YOU'LL BE can found within the game's data. Notably, none of these songs have ever appeared on any Japanese console release of DanceDanceRevolution.

DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME CS (America)

• One of the pre-release builds showed a interface resembling the arcade version, as well as featuring dance characters from Party Collection.
  • The E3 2004 build resembles much more of the final release, but still contains a few differences, as the interface in the demo is simpler.
• Assets for the ENCORE EXTRA STAGE exist within the game's files, however, they go unused since there is no such thing in the actual game.
• Sweet Sweet ♥ Magic and CANDY♥ were going to be featured on this game. They made it into the following game instead. Similarly, unused data for LOOK AT US (Daddy DJ Remix) appears in the E3 demo for this game, but made it into EXTREME2 instead.
• Information for both White Lovers and HYPNØTIC CRISIS can be found in the game's data, but are otherwise inaccessible.

DDR FESTIVAL -DanceDanceRevolution-

• BEGINNER charts for many of the ULTRAMIX songs can be found in the game's data, whereas in the final game they don't appear. Some of these would later appear in later titles, however.

DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA CS (America)

• Timepiece phase II / 佐々木博史
  • This song, along with ME AGAINST THE MUSIC and Übertreffen, appeared on the DanceDanceRevolution master songlist. However, unlike the other two, it has yet to appear in the DanceDanceRevolution series.

DanceDanceRevolution ULTRAMIX

• ULTRAMIX was initally planned for the PC, and was meant to be a sequel to DanceDanceRevolution (PC). Screenshots of this game resembled more of its predecessor, and featured a new cast of dancers. However, it ended up shifting development to the Xbox, and the overall design was re-worked. This may explain why ULTRAMIX had very few new songs, due to its development.
  • Two of the scrapped characters reappear in ULTRAMIX3's Quest Mode.
• Unlike other DanceDanceRevolution games, ULTRAMIX does not have a HOW TO PLAY section in the game's attract demo. Despite this, unused image assets for said screen can be found in the game's data.
• INSERTiON (Machine Gun Kelly Mix), BALLAD FOR YOU～想いの雨～, HYPNØTIC CRISIS, Kind Lady, THE EARTH LIGHT, サナ・モレッテ・ネ・エンテ, SO IN LOVE, and La Señorita Virtual all have unused sets of charts within the game's files. Most of the unused charts from pre-DDRMAX songs are almost identical to their original charts, with the exception of added Freeze Arrows, suggesting that the ULTRAMIX team may have planned to update said charts.
  • Kind Lady and La Señorita Virtual are the exceptions to the above as Kind Lady's unused charts removes Freeze Arrows instead, marking the missing Freeze Arrows with regular arrows at the end of where each Freeze Arrow would end, implying that these unused charts are test files; while La Señorita Virtual's charts are unchanged with the exception of newly added BPM adjustments.
• Graphics for Do It Right, ECSTASY, GENOM SCREAMS, Groove 2001 and TRIBAL DANCE (Almighty Mix) can be found within the game's files.

Dancing Stage Unleashed

• Much like DanceDanceRevolution ULTRAMIX, Dancing Stage Unleashed also has its share of early chart data hidden between the files. Songs that have such charts are CALL ME, EBENEEZER GOODE, HEART OF GLASS, JERK IT OUT, NU FLOW and SIZE OF A COW. An early chart for UP THE BRACKET is also referenced in the main executable, though it is not actually in the data.

DanceDanceRevolution ULTRAMIX2

• Early concept art featured a songwheel similar to that of the previous ULTRAMIX.
• Early gameplay videos showed EMI using LADY's body and a more revealing outfit.
  • LADY was originally to use her model from ULTRAMIX as well, according to pre-release screenshots. Several UI elements (like the images of AFRO and LADY) from that game were also used as well, along with a different BG clip playing in the menus.
    • In the final version of the game, the images of both AFRO and LADY that appear on the Single/Double Play selection screen sport their new outfits, but with the facial features of their previous appearance in ULTRAMIX. This suggests their ULTRAMIX appearances were to be used, but the final game redesigned their models.
• Banners for BOOM BOOM DOLLAR (K.O.G G3 MIX) and g.m.d. appeared on the game's website but the songs themselves were not included in the final game.

DanceDanceRevolution ULTRAMIX3

• Drivin' appeared in a screenshot in ULTRAMIX3's website, and later in ULTRAMIX4's manual. However, the song finally appeared in DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA, suggesting the Japanese arcade team wanted the song to debut in the arcades first.
• ULTRAMIX2 renders of the dancers were used in some of the menus.
• The free DLC songs 250bpm Jondi&Spesh remix and Love Me Do The Acolyte's remix are listed as Song Pack 25 and 26 respectively. This suggests ULTRAMIX 3 (and its later sequel ULTRAMIX4) were going to each have six packs like the first two ULTRAMIX titles, for a title of 24 packs plus the two free DLC packs. The final release of ULTRAMIX3, however, only has three song packs, and ULTRAMIX4 only has two.

DanceDanceRevolution ULTRAMIX4

• In the E3 demo, the songwheel was very different, resembling more of its predecessor.
  • In both the E3 demo and trailer, the judgement font was directly lifted from its predecessor.
• Listen To Your Heart Furious F. EZ Radio Edit used BROKEN MY HEART Cusimo & Co. Starlite Remix's graphics.

DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE

• In the E3 trailer, the judgement fonts were lifted from ULTRAMIX2, much like ULTRAMIX3 (and ULTRAMIX4, to a certain extent) did as well.

DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3

• Senses was originally going to appear in this game until it got replaced by its remix.
• Alice's music video might have been planned to be used in-game as evidenced by its jacket using a still from said video.
• EMI originally was set to appear in the game. However, the final release does not have her as an playable character; her outfit is available for custom dancers instead.

DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY

• In a pre-release demo, what was shown originally was very different from the final product. It initally featured AFRO and EMI in the character lineup, and the dancer models were adult-sized unlike in the final version where they were smaller. Routines and graphics were carried over from DanceDanceRevolution MARIO MIX and DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA. It was also to feature CHALLENGE difficulty.
  • Lips of an Angel
  • Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
    • These songs had different vocalists and banners.

DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY3

• A Brighter Day originally featured a different jacket that displayed an white outline of an butterfly against an orange background in the E3 demo.
• Nearly all the sound effects were taken from HOTTEST PARTY 2.

DanceDanceRevolution (2010)

• The title screen was different from what was seen in the final product.
• Let's Get Away credited the artist to just NAOKI.
• Several other placeholder elements from HOTTEST PARTY3 appeared as well.
• The gameplay mode header originally stated STANDARD/SINGLE style instead of NORMAL style.
• Several stages from previous HOTTEST PARTY games are found unused in the game's data, suggesting they might have been planned to return in this game.
  • Along with the returning stages, another unused stage featuring geometrical shapes with neon lines was found hidden in the data. This stage did not previously appear on any other HOTTEST PARTY game.

DanceDanceRevolution II

• The game initally used the classic 1-10 scale on its development, and lacked CHALLENGE charts.
• There are some placeholder graphics and sounds from the previous game as well. The title menu is an exact replica of the previous game, for example.
• The difficulty could be selected from the song selection menu, instead of after picking an song and its short or full versions (if it has both available).
• POSSESSION and Sky Is The Limit lacked their videos.
  • In addition, POSSESSION was not labeled as a boss song.

DanceDanceRevolution (PS3)

Changes from E3 2009 version

DanceDanceRevolution (PS3) was announced at E3 2009. What was shown was drastically different from the final game. First, the songlist was based on DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY3 while the interface resembled more of DanceDanceRevolution X2, and had dance stages and characters in it. The game also originally featured Octo-Mode as a full-fledged gameplay style (complete with full difficulties for all songs) instead of appearing only on CHALLENGE charts for a few select songs. Furthermore, the game was also to feature custom themes, Edit Mode and DLC from all the mainline arcade games up to this point (along with DanceDanceRevolution S). While the DLC made it into the finished product, the song packs were based on the US PS2 releases instead (and even then, the DLC was incomplete as seen below).

DLC packs

Evidence for several DLC packs that were planned but never released can be found in the game's data, including Greatest Hits packs based on the following DDR CS games:

• DDRMAX -DanceDanceRevolution-
• DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME CS (America)
• DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME2
• DanceDanceRevolution X CS (America)
• DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY
• DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY2
• DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY3 / DanceDanceRevolution X2 CS
• DanceDanceRevolution ULTRAMIX series
• DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE series
• DanceDanceRevolution (2010)

DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME2

• In one of the trailers for this game, there was a different interface shown alongside from what was shown in the final game. The interface resembled that of Dancing Stage Fusion. This may imply that Fusion's interface might've been the original interface for this game instead.

DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA

• MAX.(period) and Colors Midihead's Sapphire Mix were slated to appear in the game, as evidenced by the master songlist.
  • MAX.(period) would appear later in DanceDanceRevolution (2014) as the ENCORE EXTRA STAGE song of the Replicant D-ignition event.
• Mockup screenshots show songs that never made it into the final game, most of them were from the ULTRAMIX series.
  • The judgement font was lifted from STR!KE as well.

DanceDanceRevolution Disney Channel EDITION

• Data for CUTIE CHASER(MORNING MIX), DYNAMITE RAVE, ON THE JAZZ, Red Room, Brilliant R•E•D, ORION.78 ～civilization mix～, Keep Ya Body Movin', Senses, and Istanbul Café can be found in the game's files, including complete background videos; however, the songs are found nowhere in the final game.

DanceDanceRevolution X2

• In an article, a picture from the game showed a dance stage that never made it in the final game.

DanceDanceRevolution (2013)

• A new mode, called "TAG Play", is added in the location test that replaces VERSUS play. The mode is essentially the same as Versus Play, except that the game rewards the two players that hit arrows on both pads at the same time with "Synchro-Bonus" points. While the player's individual scores are unaffected, these points are tallied to form the "Team Score". Players do not need to select the same difficulties for this to work. This feature is removed in the final release.

DanceDanceRevolution (2014)

• According to the JASRAC database, Surrender (PureFocus remix) was slated to appear in this game, however, it has yet to appear on any arcade release of the DanceDanceRevolution series as of this writing.

DanceDanceRevolution A

• Stepchart and audio data for Twinkle Wonderland could be found in the game's files until all evidence of such was removed in an update at an unknown date. The song was made officially playable in DanceDanceRevolution A20 PLUS on December 10th, 2020.