What Is DDR?: Difference between revisions

Following the naming convention started with beatmania, each new DanceDanceRevolution games had the suffix MIX added after the version number. That system was kept from [[AC DDR 2nd|DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX]] until [[AC DDRMAX2|DDRMAX2 -DanceDanceRevolution 7thMIX-]]. The games released after that received unique names: [[AC DDR EXTREME|EXTREME]], then [[AC DDR SuperNOVA|SuperNOVA]] and its sequel, [[AC DDR SuperNOVA2|SuperNOVA2]]. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series, [[AC DDR X|DanceDanceRevolution X]] was announced as the successor to SuperNOVA2 and spanned two sequels: [[AC DDR X2|X2]] and [[AC DDR X3|X3 VS 2ndMIX]]. In 2013, the arcade game returned to its core name DanceDanceRevolution. The 2013 version is known as [[AC DDR 2013|DanceDanceRevolution (2013)]] while the 2014 to early 2016 version is known as [[AC DDR 2014|DanceDanceRevolution (2014)]]. The current version is known as [[AC DDR A20 PLUS|DanceDanceRevolution A20 PLUS]].

Depending on the timing accuracy of the player, various text-based judgement can appear on screen. From highest to lowest:

* <span style="color:#f0d3a1;">'''Marvelous!!!'''</span> is the judgment obtained when the step hits perfectly on the arrow. While it was introduced in [[AC DDR EXTREME|DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME]]'s Course mode, it was later added on every Play mode in DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA2. The accuracy for this rating is higher than a Perfect.

* <span style="color: #f6ee1f;">'''Perfect!!'''</span> is the judgment obtained when the step hit the arrow exactly on the beat.

* <span style="color: #25ea17;">'''Great!'''</span> is the judgment when the step hits the arrow slightly before or after the beat. Prior to DanceDanceRevolution (2013), it was the last rating that didn't break a combo count.

* <span style="color: #1ba1ff;">'''Good'''</span> is the judgment for a step that hits the arrow more than slightly off-beat. Since 2013, this rating doesn't break the combo anymore.

* <span style="color: #f47514;">'''O.K.!!!'''</span> is the judgment obtained when a freeze arrow is hold successfully or when shock arrows pass the STEP ZONE without being stepped on.

* <span style="color: #fe1d23;">'''Miss...'''</span> (also known as Boo in SuperNOVA and select American CS games) is the judgment for a step either hit too late, or not at all.

** <span style="color: #757474;">'''N.G.'''</span> (No Good) is the judgment obtained when a Freeze Arrow is missed or Shock Arrows are stepped on. N.G. is now counted as part of Miss but is still shown on screen during gameplay.

** In older games, hitting a step off-beat would get the step rating Boo (known as Almost in SuperNOVA and select American CS versions). That step rating was merged with Miss in DanceDanceRevolution X2.

Since DanceDanceRevolution X2, the game can display a judgment timing indicator (判定タイミング表示) on screen: <span style="color: #ca00cd;">'''Slow'''</span> when the arrow was stepped after it matched the STEP ZONE arrows and <span style="color: #311aa3;">'''Fast'''</span> if the step was pressed before the arrows met the STEP ZONE properly. Getting a Marvelous judgment or higher (O.K. included) won't trigger the timing indicator. This feature can be disabled by the arcade operator and thus, it is not available on every arcade machine. Beginning with DanceDanceRevolution (2014), the Fast/Slow indicator can be enabled by purchasing an e-amusement Basic subscription plan.

The existence of a judgment better than "Perfect" can be thought of as an anachronism: as the game uses frame-based timing, a Perfect on the first 30 fps arcade cabinets literally meant frame perfect. After the series transitioned to 60 fps, the Perfect timing window was changed to 2 frames to keep gameplay consistent and comparable, allowing the introduction of a new frame perfect timing window smaller than the original.

The timing result influences both the score and the player's DANCE GAUGE (ダンスゲージ). Continuously missing (Miss) or receiving timing judgments lower than Good (except O.K.) will drain the life gauge. After a while, if the player doesn't improve, this could lead to the game ending prematurely (getting a "Game Over", thus failing the song). A visual cue exists to help identify when the life meter is low; it goes from being rainbow colored (no misses in a while) to green and/or blue (a few misses) and finally to red (danger). Also, audio cues that help identify when the player is in danger of failing include a booing audience and the announcer encouraging the player to stop missing notes. The gauge usually starts at half its capacity and is shown in green and/or blue by default. If the DANCE GAUGE is set to GRADE, it will always be colored yellow except when in DANGER. Prior to DanceDanceRevolution (2013), the DANCE GAUGE was known as the dance meter in the game tutorial.

Another concept is the ability to create a combo (コンボ). After hitting successfully a number of steps (4), the combo number will appear on the screen. Since [[AC DDR 2013|DanceDanceRevolution (2013)]], getting a Good won't break the combo and only getting a Miss or a N.G. can now break the combo.

An alternate scoring system similar to the [[What is beatmania|beatmania]] and its [[Beatmania IIDX Information|sequel]]'s [[EX Score]], which was primarily used in competitions and as an accuracy standard. First used in [[AC DDR EXTREME|DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME]] in the CHALLENGE mode, and [[AC DDR X2|X2]] and later games, which can be enabled through a code. 3 points are awarded for a MARVELOUS!!! and O.K.!!!, 2 points for a PERFECT!!, and 1 for GREAT!.

Since [[AC DDR A|DanceDanceRevolution A]], EX Score is now displayed in the results screen, meaning that the player do not need to input their codes anymore.

| This is the default mode found in every version of the game which allows the player to select one song by STAGE.

| 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.

| Japan || Japanese || 3 songs || PASELI only || PASELI only ||No ||No

| U.S. || U.S. || 3 songs || Yes || PREMIUM only || No ||No

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 player can enjoy the game too. Only one 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.

Depending on the edition of the game, dance steps are broken into 3 to 5 levels of difficulty. Each dance level is also represented by a color. The difference between each difficulty for a song is the sequence of pre-recorded dance steps (known as a chart).

: Added in [[AC DDR EXTREME|DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME]], this difficulty is aimed at newcomers. It usually has a foot level which ranges from 1 to 4, with the maximum being 9. A typical chart can include Jumps and simple Freeze Arrows. This difficulty doesn't exist in DOUBLE Play. BEGINNER can also be known as 習 (Shuu) or カンタン (Kantan) in Happy Mode found in DanceDanceRevolution X2 and X3 vs 2ndMIX respectively only.

: Introduced in [[AC DDR 1st|DanceDanceRevolution]], this difficulty is aimed at people more familiar with the game. The level range is from 3 to 7 with 13 being the maximum and 1 the minimum. Charts include 4th notes, and at times, 8th notes. In DDRMAX to DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME, BASIC was known as LIGHT (楽, ''raku''). For the Happy Mode in DanceDanceRevolution X2 to DanceDanceRevolution X3 VS 2ndMIX, BASIC was known as ふつう (Futsuu).

: Introduced in [[AC DDR 1st|DanceDanceRevolution]], this difficulty is aimed at intermediate players. The minimum difficulty is 4 and the standard difficulty range is 5 to 9 with 15 being the maximum. Charts can have 4th, 8th, and occasional 16th notes. DIFFICULT was known initially as ANOTHER from DanceDanceRevolution to DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX, it was changed to TRICK in DanceDanceRevolution 4thMIX to 5thMIX and became STANDARD (踊) in DDRMAX to DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME. It finally received the name DIFFICULT in DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA.

: Introduced in [[AC DDR 1st|DanceDanceRevolution]], this difficulty is aimed at experienced players, and for many songs is the highest difficulty. The usual interval is 10 to 13 with 18 being the maximum and 6 the minimum. Introduced as MANIAC in DanceDanceRevolution until DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX, it was temporarily named SSR (Step Step Revolution) in 3rdMIX but returned to its former name in DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX PLUS. From DDRMAX to DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME, MANIAC was known as Heavy (激, ''geki'') before receiving its current name EXPERT in DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA.

: 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.

* VOLTAGE refers to the peak density of the steps of the song. It's the highest density of arrows that ever appear on the screen at once.

* AIR refers to the amount of Jumps of the song.

* FREEZE refers to the amount of Freeze Arrows of the song.

* CHAOS refers to the amount of steps that do not match well with the beat of the song.

* STREAM refers to the amount of sets of steps that are right after one another (density of steps), in the song. It is actually determined as the number of steps per minute.

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 steps 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.

For a complete list of scoring systems, [[DanceDanceRevolution Scoring System|see this page]].

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. In case the song was failed, the word FAILED appears before the evaluation screen. The same happens when the song is cleared with the word CLEARED appearing (except for [[Tohoku EVOLVED]], which displays "Pray for All" instead).