Once every blue moon, a game rolls around that is so awesome, so amazing, and so remarkable that it is responsible for creating the next big game phenomenon. These games, usually released in the arcades, are responsible for sucking out every single one of our quarters, until we have no more money left to feed the addiction. We have all seen it before: Pong, Pacman, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong the list goes on and on. In 2001, Konami Arcade Division introduced another such game to US arcades. That game of course, is "Dance Dance Revolution."

After it had become popular at videogame halls across the country, Konami decided that it was time to reach a broader audience and released several incarnations of its popular dance game for the PSX, PS2, and most recently, the Xbox. To their dismay, however, gamers soon realized that unlike the heavy-duty metal platforms found at the arcade, the plastic pad bundled with the game made dancing on higher difficulty levels almost impossible.

Enter Cobalt Flux, the maker of the closest available thing to a metal arcade platform and the savior of "Home Dancers" everywhere. Utilizing heavy-duty sheet metal and lexan plastic, gamers may soon find it unnecessary to deposit quarters into their local machine every time they feel the need to get their groove on. How close does this pad come to its arcade counterpart? "Keep On Movin'" to discover why this "Trip Machine" is a "Superstar." (If any of the aforementioned song titles sound familiar, or this desperate attempt at cleverness is found amusing, you, dear reader, are undoubtedly addicted to DDR.)

DESIGN, PACKAGING, & DURABILITY:

One of the most striking features of the Cobalt Flux dancing platform is its design. Constructed out of aluminum, Lexan plastic, and wood, this sleek dancing platform looks as good as it plays. In order to prevent damage during shipping, this 40-pound monster is heavily packaged in Styrofoam, and the panels are covered with white "static-adhesive" plastic. One of the heaviest gaming peripherals to date, the extra weight of the platform ensures that there is not movement during dancing, regardless of what surface it is placed open. To ensure absolutely no movement, the Cobalt Flux also comes packaged with four adhesive holders, similar to sand paper, which can be applied to the bottom of the pad. This comes in handy, especially during more difficult songs, such as "Max 300," and "Sakura," which were nearly impossible to successfully complete on a plastic home pad. Arrow graphics are lustrous and attractive, making it possible to simply leave it lying where it was after playing. Not that it would be easy to move the platform once it is set up anyway.

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest aspects of the pad is that it is pre-assembled, shipping in one piece from where it was constructed in Salt Lake City, Utah, right to your door. This means that even the tool illiterate and fearful are capable of experiencing home pad metal goodness right out of the box. Even better, every pad that leaves the assembly facility is pre-tested, ensuring that it will work right out of the box. Those afraid that the pad may suffer damage during shipment may rest easy, due to the fact that the platform is heavily packed in Styrofoam. In case something dire should occur to the pad while it is being transported or shortly after it is received, Cobalt Flux offers a six-month warranty on any platform sold, stating that they will "unconditionally repair your Cobalt Flux platform free of charge, provided that you return the platform in its original packaging and pay shipping expenses one way." Sound pretty good, right? But just how durable is the pad?

While the official website states that the Cobalt Flux is able to support dancers weighing up to 250 lbs, "unofficial" marketing tests conducted by the company have shown the dancing platform being run over by an SUV, only to be reconnected to a Playstation immediately thereafter, and work perfectly. The inner workings of the pad sport an extremely solid design, with little room for wire movement. This means that the pad is, for all intents and purposes, virtually indestructible, and that unless it is submerged in liquids and short circuits, will continue to work until you are too old to play DDR any longer. All of this stability also allows for something gamers were not able to play with at home before… shoes, which help emulate the arcade feel even more.

Those worried that the platform's panels may be too closely aligned, therefore making it impossible to tell where you currently are on the pad, may lay their fears to rest since a small one to two millimeter gap exists between the panels. This lets the player sense where he is at all times. Also, unlike the soft plastic pads that players have been forced to play on until now, the dimensions of the Cobalt Flux conform to arcade platform standards, making it possible to improve your scores quickly, and easily.
SCORE: 10/10

PLAYABILITY & MAINTENANCE:

Featuring eleven activatable buttons, as well as a control box for menu selection, the Cobalt Flux is easy to set up and use. Simply remove the pad from its packaging after you have received it, peel off the white "static-adhesive" protective covering from the panels, connect the control box to the pad, and connect the pad to your PSX or Playstation 2.

Sadly, while the control box supplied with the pad certainly appears like a handy addition in theory, the short cable supplied with the box makes it nearly useless. Since the player must constantly bend down in order to use the two activatable buttons found on the control box, no stamina or time is saved, and therefore the player may just as well navigate the menus with his arrows and triggers found on the pad. Since the connector cable used to attach the pad to the control box, which in turn connects it to the console is merely a five pin analog connector found in many PC stores, this problem is easily remedied with the purchase of an extension cable. The other problem with the control box is that is it rather flimsy, housed in a shell of thin hollow plastic, and could be easily broken if accidentally stepped upon or not handled carefully. Because this is the only way to connect the pad to the console, however, gamers may find that they may be ordering a new control box from the manufacturer if such an accident were to occur. Luckily, these are the pads greatest, and only downfalls.

That being said, the pad's response time is fantastic, putting anything previously offered by manufacturers of plastic home pads to shame. The platform is also hypersensitive, sensing even the smallest pressure applied to any of the nine panels found on the platform. This is beneficial to "light steppers," who have adopted a style of playing allowing for minimal movement in order to retain maximum stamina. Coupled with the pads weight, this makes for the ultimate home dance experience. Does all of this responsiveness and sensitivity lead to greater scores? You bet.

During the first round of playing, the number of greats on most songs dropped below ten, leading to many double, and triple A's, the highest dance rating which can be achieved. Compare this to the home pad, where over a hundred greats on even the easiest of the "Heavy" songs were extremely common. This stability also makes it possible for gamers to tackle something they never thought possible at home… the dreaded "Oni" mode, which allots four "lives" to gamers during play, and detracts one every time a note under "great" is registered. This allows for practice at home, which can then be transformed into bragging rights at the arcade, after you have shown off to your friends at the arcade.

Maintaining the pad is a breeze, thanks to the detailed "Owner's Manual" supplied with the platform, which offers step-by-step instructions on cleaning and storing your pad. A comprehensive troubleshooting section is even contained, which helps fretting owners solve problems regarding the control box, the platform itself, or any other small problems they may be encountering.

The manual suggests that the pad is cleaned internally every few months. While this frequency depends on the cleanliness of the place you decide to place your pad, as well as the cleanliness of the footwear the dancer is sporting, every owner will at one time or another have to open their platform up in order to give it a good scrub down. Luckily, the manual also outlines how to this quickly and easily, leading you through everything from plastic removal to drying time. This makes the maintenance of the pad quick and easy.
SCORE: 9.0/10

VERSATILITY:

Thinking ahead, the designers included the ability for the pad to transform into a platform for another popular dance game, "Pump It Up." The owner needs simply to open the central panel of the platform and remove the small wooden peg holding up the metal. After this is done, the platform gains another activatable button. This is a stroke of genius, allowing for an even greater longevity to the pads life.

Since many gamers are also prone to using PC emulators in order to play all of their favorite DDR songs on their computers, the platform is also compatible with a variety of PSX/PS2 to USB converters, including the most popular "Level Six EMS Bemani Adapter." Setup for this is quick and easy, need the gamer to simply plug the PS2 connector from the control box into the converter.

Best of all, there is no hit in response time, and while this may be due to either the converter itself or the platform, the use of all of these accessories together and popular DDR emulation programs such as "DWI" or "StepMania," make it possible for gamers to play any of their favorite songs at home, as well as those to which they may have designed step files themselves.
SCORE: 10/10

VALUE:

Though the platform is without a doubt the closest thing you can purchase to an arcade platform, all of that dancing goodness comes at a hefty price. While the $299.00 price tag is fair, considering construction, manufacturing, printing, and shipping, and warranty costs, it is also responsible for driving off any potential buyers except for the hardcore fans of the dance game genre. The value of this pad is really dependent on the player. Those obsessed with Konami's dance craze, will drop the money without batting an eye. For those who are merely casually acquainted with the genre, and rarely play at the arcades, this pad is probably not for you. Myself falling under the first example, let me state that this pad is without a doubt worth every penny. Though it would have been nice for the pad to come with a support bar, which can be attached to the back of the platform, a chair works just as well, helping me achieve better dance scores than I have ever done before.
SCORE: 10/10

For those dreaming of playing DDR properly at home, the Cobalt Flux is God sent. Sporting a durable design, sleek look, and a weight that makes it impossible to be moved, this dancing platform is the zenith of what can be purchased by home dancers anywhere. Though the control box hinders the player from attaining a complete "arcade feel," any complaint which was previously mentioned is minor, and does not hinder actual game play. If reaching high scores by stepping onto arrows is your thing, and you have always been looking for a home pad capable of successfully emulating the feeling you get whenever you step into an arcade, look for the Cobalt Flux to bring you one step closer to transforming your Playstation into the Dance Dance Revolution Machine you have always wanted.