DDR Ultramix 3 Review

DDR Ultramix 3 is easily the best Ultramix game and is among the best DDR games released in the US. That is a pretty bold statement, but it is true for a number of reasons. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, there are more modes than ever before, and casual players are actually embraced rather than shunned. If you are a DDR fan there is all of the goodness you would expect here, and if you are new to the series Ultramix 3 is a great game to start with.

Newbie Friendly

I covered the basics of Dance Dance Revolution and talked about the different types of dance pads in my review of Ultramix 2, so check it out if you are new to the series. I think at this point, though, most people know what DDR is about.

Ultramix 3 adds a bunch of new features into the mix along with the traditional arcade, online play, and workout modes that we have come to expect from the series. What is interesting is that up until this point the DDR games and overall community have been content to just keep it a niche title and not really bother to attract casual gamers. That all changes in Ultramix 3 because the new modes are very newbie friendly and the soundtrack has more mainstream and recognizable songs than ever before, which is great because not all of us are Japan obsessed, J-pop loving otaku. There is still a lot of dance, trance, and J-pop along with mixes of fan favorite tracks from previous DDR games that will keep fans happy. When there are more songs you like you will actually want to dance and play more which can only be a good thing. You can see the partial song list here: Ultramix 3 track list.

Gameplay Modes

The new modes added in Ultramix 3 make this the biggest DDR yet. They also make this the best DDR for casual players. In addition to standard single player modes and online play that we have seen in the last two Ultramix games, we now have a quest mode where you move from city to city taking on different dance routines and try to become the best dancer in the nation. Freestyle mode is sort of strange because there aren’t any steps to follow – you just dance however you want and the game rewards you for completing certain combos and doing different things. Odd in a world where competition is king, but it is a nice feature if you are a casual player. There is also a jukebox mode where you can just sit back and listen to all of the great music in the game. Party mode also makes a return and has things such as bomb style where you juggle a bomb back and forth with an opponent by completing combos or attack style where you attack and defend with combos and fancy dance moves. There is a lot to like here and a ton of stuff to do and pretty much everything is fun. You can adjust things so they aren’t too difficult which makes the experience overall very enjoyable for experts and novices alike.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, Ultramix 3 isn’t too spectacular but it doesn’t have to be. Just like in previous games, there will be dancers onscreen and videos playing in the background, which is pretty cool, but you are usually too focused on the arrows to enjoy the rest of it. It keeps spectators entertained, though. One cool thing is that some of the background videos are sequels and continuations of videos from previous games. Very nice.

Sound is the most important aspect in Ultramix 3, and as I have said I am very happy with the soundtrack. So many good songs to dance to and all of them sound great. One thing of note: The downloadable song packs for Ultramix 1 and 2 work with Ultramix 3, but players have reported that there are sync problems and other issues that render them almost unplayable. All of the Ultramix 3 songs work just fine, but the old song packs are wonky. Keep that in mind if that is an important feature for you.

Bottom Line

Overall, DDR Ultramix 3 is a very enjoyable game. I’m no DDR expert, but of the games I have played I like Ultramix 3 the best. Now, I know that the DDR hardcore have some issues with the game and think the song list is too mainstream, but as far as I’m concerned expanding the audience of DDR is a good thing and this is the absolute right way to do it. More songs that people actually recognize, easier steps, more modes – all of these things make the game more fun for the non-hardcore. The fact is that most of us aren’t going to complete every song on the hardest difficulty and memorize every step so it doesn’t make any sense to keep this series locked up to where only an elite crowd can enjoy it. Hardcore players might not like it as much, but I’m personally thrilled than Konami decided to break a few eggs to make this delicious omelet. DDR fans will likely buy it no matter what, but for casual players or people new to DDR, I highly recommend Ultramix 3 for a purchase.