cant wait for the trid one
this game was so much fun, i was kinda sad though that the unlocking part ended so fast, it only took me half an hour to unlock all the things

Better than the first, still could use improvements
DDR2 fixes some of the problems from the first version. First, it actually saves your settings (I personally got tired of having to turn off the hand markers every time I started up the game). Also, it allows you to start the groove arena over as a different user if multiple people want the challenge. And other seemingly broken aspects of DDR1 are also fixed -- the timing of arrows, difficulty level, etc actually WORK. I wish this had been the case in the original release. There's also more help for beginners, like bars to show the beat/arrow timing you can turn on, and the ability to slow down the song and arrows to take on a new challenge.

The songs - well, there's a mix of good and not so good. But I think that's to be expected. I got tired of dancing to the same songs over and over, so it's refreshing and welcome. It also seems like they're targeted towards easier play, with less difficulty on Difficult and Expert level. I haven't unlocked every song yet.

The graphics look better - both the dancers and stages. The Mii addition is kind of funny, but not that bad. You get a choice of certain Mii bodies to stick with your head, some better than others.

Basically this is what DDR1 should have been. If you've got DDR1 and felt shorted, I think you'll be glad to pick up DDR2. And if you're a beginner, I'd skip DDR1 and go straight to this version.

great!!!
i love all the stages tis game has to offer, it's a great game,i had so much fun playing with friends

Third Party Pads Do Work; Deserves More Than A 2
This game is fun (as our first DDR game) and is great for using as a day-to-day workout and for improving balance/coordination skills. The songs are simply ok as expected but more than do the job.

To counter the claims that 3rd party pads that don't work and the supposed proof that point to forums using the pirated version -- I had no trouble at all getting the Psyclone Essentials Universal Dance Pad to work with this. Grab them at Circuit City for $13.96 -- they seem to be better than the original pad so far.

First DDR-for-the-console purchase. It was ok... COULD BE SO MUCH MORE
After purchasing my first console DDR - that being Hottest Party 2 for the Wii and playing around with the various things in it, here is what I think.


Only 50 songs? Ever since playing on a friend's PS2 DDR (I think it maybe one of the Extreme titles) I felt that it had more songs to choose from than Hottest Party 2. Also, I felt that the song list could use more of the japanese arcade DDR classics and mixes of which I like about DDR - ever since seeing it in arcades as well. It is nice that there is some western songs remixes supposedly for that expanded audience but I felt that there wasn't enough of what made DDR great in the first place. Is it the amount of DVD space the game has compared to the DVD space of the past DDR games for other consoles the reason why more songs haven't been included? *EDIT* The slow songs, I really don't care for. With some of the dance order songs and small groupings, those songs are amongst the mix of it and sometimes messes with the energy I had from the previous songs going into the next. But I guess that somewhat acts as a reprive maybe...


Single Player, Double pad mode. After having a taste of it in the arcades, I was hoping that this DDR version would have it (being Hottest Party 2 my first purchase, with that mode it would give me an excuse to purchase the first Hottest Party for the pad and the unlocked songs that Hottest Party gives). But unfortunately, I am reconsidering - putting off that purchase.


I like the chibi cute characters. Though there is really only one I would always play with (jun). The dance movements are the same with all the characters and it differs with each song so the dancer characters are mostly cosmetic. Something minor that is appreciated. *EDIT* Also a nice touch, the dance motions of the characters are very fluid and doesn't have that robotic feeling. Looking at the credits, motion capture is to be credited for it, a detail that is also appreciated *end EDIT* There is in-game music videos that occasionally replaces the dancers, but I only noticed three of them and while a break from the 3d dancers, it isnt much for what I seen so far. The amount of stage areas is quite nice but if it is at a sacrifice of having less songs or whatever (I would rather have more songs).


I like the Workout modes and having a continuous string of songs going. I also like the group lists in the free play mode too. If there is a way to make your own group list, that option would be complete.


I first began the game with the gimmicks turned on, hand markers turned on, and freeze arrows on. By the end of the Groove arena mode, only the hand markers are left on. Those options are nice but for me in the end, distracting. Distracting by meaning I wasn't fully ready to focus on each of the gimmick mechanics along with using my feet and hands at the same time. Sure it adds a bit of a challenge - the cheap way of increasing difficulty in the DDR world of games - and in this sense, its alright. I am just not ready for that yet.


I love the Wiimote and nunchuck support and this is by far the biggest reason why I purchased the DDR version for the Wii. However, there shouldn't be sacrifices to all what made DDR great in the first place by trimming a bit of that out. Hopefully the next version would give back that classic arcade feeling of the past DDR games with more of the songs that made DDR great in the first place (the japanese arcade stuff) while also keeping the new concepts of the Wii version (hand motions, dancer models). Not to mention, add back in multiple pads to work together.


Cliffs:

Hottest Party 2 is an alright game... *EDIT* Heck, its a game that I really enjoy.

Could use more of the arcade like songs like past console releases.

Would like to see single player double pad mode the next time around if a third game comes.

Needs a fix to third party pads working with the game! *EDIT* Apparantly it maybe a problem for some. Reason I stated this is sometime later if I wanted, I would like to upgrade to some better pads so I would like if there is some form of feedback as to what works and what doesn't.

Wiimote-nunchuck works well and my main reason for getting it. Dont mind the chibi anime characters but got the feeling some models are Americanized chibi (though there is only one I like which is jun)

After reading this http://www.ddronlinecommunity.com/news_posts/51 It makes sense to have a distinct style for each console release and its appeal... However, I am not all for sacrificing things that makes the game, the whole DDR experience, so great just for the sake of each console. I am not about to go out of my way and purchase a completely different and additional platform just for the sake of getting another similar game that I already have. *EDIT* However being that said. This game is still in my Wii ever eince Amazon delivered this to my door (two weeks now) so I enjoyed it despite some critical words about this game. I do enjoy the overall feel of this game and would recommend for those that want that get up and go feeling to get this game.