Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
North American cover art
Developers	Konami Hudson Soft
Publisher	Nintendo
Director	Yukihiro Yamazaki
Producers	Hitoshi Yamagami Hirotaka Ishikawa
Composer	U1-Asami
Series	Mario Dance Dance Revolution
Platform	GameCube
Release	JP: July 14, 2005 NA: October 24, 2005 EU: October 28, 2005 AU: November 24, 2005
Genres	Music, exergaming
Mode	Single-player

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, known in Europe and Australia as Dancing Stage Mario Mix,^[a] is a 2005 music video game co-developed by Konami and Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the first Dance Dance Revolution game to be released on a Nintendo video game console outside Japan.^[1] The game was first announced in January 2005,^[2][3] and was released later that year in Japan on July 14, North America on October 24, Europe on October 28, and Australia on November 24.

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix predominantly features characters, music, and locations from the Mario franchise. The game was bundled with a dance pad controller.

The game received average reviews, with praise towards its blending of Dance Dance Revolution and Mario elements, music, and accessibility, but criticism towards its low difficulty level compared to other Dance Dance Revolution games and short story mode length.

Gameplay

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix follows the gameplay formula established in all prior Dance Dance Revolution games.^[1] The game features several gameplay modes: Story Mode takes the player through a linear progression of tracks, framed as a story of Mario and Luigi traveling the Mushroom Kingdom to retrieve the missing Music Keys. Once a track has been cleared in Story Mode, it becomes available for play in Free Mode, which allows up to two players to dance simultaneously.^[4] The player can purchase items at Lakitu's shop during Story Mode that can be used to assist them if they are struggling.^[5] Some stages feature "Mush Mode" rules, which replace the traditional arrows with Mario enemies that feature unique mechanics.^[6] Special minigames will also appear during Story Mode, providing alternate gameplay styles such as jumping up on a flagpole or hitting Goombas that emerge from pipes with a hammer.^[7] Like the tracks, these mini-games will be unlocked for free play in Mini-Game Mode once they have been cleared in Story Mode.^[6] Once the player completes Story Mode for the first time, they will unlock Story Mode EX, which features a slightly altered selection of songs.^[6] Additional difficulty levels can also be unlocked.^[5]

The game was packaged with a Mario-themed dance pad, though the game also supports traditional GameCube controllers.^[7] Standalone dance pads were sold exclusively through Nintendo's online store.^[4]

Plot

In Truffle Towers, Waluigi attempts to steal the four Music Keys, which contain the power of music and can grant wishes. However, when opens their chamber door, three of the Music Keys scatter across the Mushroom Kingdom, leaving him with only one. Seeing the keys scatter, Toad rushes to tell Mario or Luigi, depending on the player's choice, who agrees to help retrieve the missing Music Keys. The player character accompanies Toad across the Mushroom Kingdom on the S.S. Brass, a flying airship made from musical instruments. They retrieve each of the Music Keys: one from Waluigi in Truffle Towers, one from a Big Blooper inside a whirlpool, one from Wario's carnival, and one from a giant Freezie atop a snowy mountain.

After collecting the four Music Keys, Toad and the player return to Truffle Towers to restore them. They are intercepted by Bowser, who steals the keys and escapes. The player character pursues Bowser to his castle, where he challenges them to a dance-off. The player defeats Bowser, who admits he only wanted the power of the Music Keys to fix his tone deafness. Feeling sorry for Bowser, the player character uses the keys to turn the area around Bowser's Castle into a green field. Toad realizes the keys were always meant to be used to instill people's souls with music and make the world happier, and everyone dances together.

Music

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features 29 music tracks, including remixes of both tracks from previous Mario titles and public domain classical music.^[5] Only one track is initially available, while the remainder are unlocked by clearing them in Story Mode and Story Mode EX, or by purchasing them from Lakitu's shop.^[7] The following table lists the tracks in the order they appear in Free Play.

Reception

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.^[9] It gained a aggregate critical score of 71.70% on GameRankings.^[8]

GameSpot gave the game a 7 out of 10 and wrote "With a short story mode that serves as a fun, linear introduction to sequential stomping, Mario Mix is suitable for a child, or for an uncoordinated friend."^[6] IGN gave the game an 8 out of 10, saying, "Mario and friends bust some moves in Konami's updated take on an old dance formula."^[4] Phil Theobald of GameSpy, gave the game three out of five stars, saying "Mario and Luigi get out on the dance floor to save the Mushroom Kingdom. Come on, it's time to go do the Mario!"^[7]

During the 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, DDR: Mario Mix received a nomination for "Family Game of the Year", which was ultimately awarded to Guitar Hero.^[12]

Notes

References

External links

• Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix at Nintendo.com (archives of the original at the Internet Archive). Accessed on 2005-05-20.
• Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix on Mobygames