Sound: 10
Graphics: 9
Gameplay: 10
Replay: 7
Multiplayer: Yes, Online and Offline

If you hate any of the rhythm games out on the market, stop reading this because it won't do anything but waste your time. If you are one of the millions of other people who like to stomp or sing to pass the time, keep reading as we breakdown the latest incarnation of the grand-daddy of all rhythm games.

Gameplay: 10

There isn't much to say about the gameplay, unless you have been living in a cave for the last 4 years or so. The idea is to step on arrows on a dancepad on the floor as arrows scroll by to a song. Basically, you want to hit the arrows to the beat to keep your score going higher. Miss too many and you can fail the song. Sounds simple? It can be, but it also can be one of the hardest and most difficlut games to play. This tried and true gameplay received some major upgrades with this relase to help it along and keep it fresh.

First off, the addition of Xbox Live capabilites just gave the game hours of endless replay value. Ever want to play someone when noone else is around? Now you can. Just hop online and find some opponents. The gameplay online doesn't change much either. The game lags very little, if at all. You can even use the communicator to trash talk people, if you got breath left over.

If you don't have Xbox live (like poor me) never fear, Konami has added more to the offline experience too. The designers have taken note and added Battle Mode to the standard two player mode. I was a little wary wondering how they could pull off more than two sets of scrolling arows on the screen, but my fears were dashed after getting used to it. Essentially, you pick from 2-4 people in the battle, and have two modes. Point Battle and Score Battle. The goal of Score Battle is to see who can get the highest point total of everyone playing, while the goal of Point Battle is a little more difficult. You have to match the other people and computer players on their step rating, or you lose a point. If you lose all 16 points, you lose the match.

My only complaints about having more than 2 people on the screen are all the arrows, which gave me a headache after a playing for a just a few minutes, and the size limits. To fit all 4 vertical screens on a TV is less than 32 inches is nearly impossible if you have 4 people jumping around to Tsugaru on heavy. If you are doing this you better have a large room, big TV, and a solid floor since you get enough stomping to be measured on the Richter Scale.

There is also the challenge mode, which teaches players to "suck" all over again. The twist here is they give you a challenge (hence the name) and you have to clear the level meeting their specifications. One level you may only be allowed to touch one arrow at a time, meaning you have to miss all double steps. Another you may have to get all perfects through a section of a song. Some of the challenges are easy, others are quite difficult.
Lastly there is edit mode. Edit mode is just like it has been in all of the other games. It allows you to take a song and change all of the step patterns in it to fit your taste.

Sound: 10

With a music-centered game, you expect it to be good. Well don't worry because the music is just as good as before, if not better in some spots. My biggest complaint about this was all of the remixes. It would be safe to say that at least a quarter of all the songs are remixes of old ones. Don't get me wrong, they sound great, but I just wish more original stuff had come along with it. The other complaint about it is there are only 54 songs total, including the unlockable ones. Sure some of the requirements are hard to attain, but it just doesn't seem fair to Xbox owners that they only get 54 when Max 2 for Playstation 2 gets almost 70. Konami fixed this problem by making new songs with new steps available online for download. Of course the downside is they cost $1 apiece and they come in packs of 5.

Graphics: 9

Face it, in a game like this, it isn't the graphics you are looking at. The background effects haven't gotten much of a makeover. They are still the same scrolling effects with the character doing his or her thing in the background. One video by Masai is shown in the background, but unless you are sitting and watching, you will hardly even notice. The graphics only get a 9 because they are fun to watch and look at, and some are just downright creepy at times, but you don't have time to be staring in a game like this.

Replay: 7

I only give this game a 7 in the replay department because there just isn't enough songs. After you beat challenge mode, there just isn't enough to do unless you have someone to play with, which I don't unfortunately, there isn't a lot to do unless you have Xbox Live to get more content. The game is still a blast but it just needs more from the get go.

Overall: 8.5

This is definitely a game you should own only if you love Dance Dance Revolution. If you have someone to play with or Xbox Live, you should definitely get this game because multiplayer is always a blast. If you don't have either of the things mentioned above, I would play it first, because after you earn everything, and beat everything, the game loses a lot of appeal and makes you wonder why you spent $60 on it.