DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION (1998-Present; Arcade & multiple consoles, primarily PS1/PS2) While there are many ways arcade machines can surpass other forms of gaming, my experience with one particular series and genre stands alone with life-changing skill progression and the magic of spectacle! Dance Dance Revolution or “DDR” for short, drew attention with its mere presence – wielding colorful flashing lights, massive speakers, and the iconic dance floor controller! The first time I played it was in an arcade in Japan, and I did not do well.
DDR’s earliest iterations were brutally difficult and lacked instruction, but those issues were addressed in future releases, which older cabinets could upgrade to. I imported the console version, but the home environment didn’t do the arcade machine justice even after I upgraded to hard foam or even metal pads. I eventually found a machine at the local nickel arcade where I was finally able to grind for hours at a time – jumpstarting me into a personal gaming journey unlike any other!
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