Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 Bundle Review
I’ve been using DDR as part of my exercise routine for over a year, so when Hottest Party 3 came out, I just had to buy it! I was excited to have 50 new songs and curious about the inclusion of the Wii balance board. So, how does it rate?
Tournament Mode: There’s no more maneuvering maps as in HP1 and HP2. HP3 moves you through automatically. It also has 2 different tournaments, one for basic players and one called “Challenge” which requires you to beat songs at the Difficult level or higher. I played the basic one first and unlocked a number of songs, outfits, stages, etc. Then I played on “Challenge” and unlocked totally different things, including additional songs. Tournament mode is feet-only- no hand motions. The tournament itself is rather short. You can probably beat the entire thing in about an hour if you really know how to play DDR. But you won’t unlock everything by playing tournament mode. For HP3, you unlock more items simply by playing. After every song, you will accumulate DDR Points. After you reach a certain amount of DDR points, you will unlock something. I haven’t figured out exactly how many points you need to unlock the next thing. DDR points are kind of random and confusing, but an interesting concept nonetheless.
Hypermove Mode: For HP3, using the wiimote/nunchuck along with the dance pad is a mode, not an option to turn on and off. If you liked the inclusion of hand-motions, you’ll probably be playing this mode a lot. The hand-motions have changed a bit since HP1 and HP2. There’s a new “flicking” motion that doesn’t really register very well. This is obviously a kink that will hopefully be worked out in HP4.
Wii Balanceboard Mode: I’d call this “lazy mode.” Don’t pick up your feet, just lean. It’s kind of like Wii Fit’s skiing/snowboarding activities. You lean forward, backward, left and right as the arrows appear on the screen. It will also have you doing hulahooping moves. There’s only two difficulty levels – Beginner and Basic. Balanceboard Mode also has you doing handmotions, which doesn’t always register with the game. Perhaps it’s useful as a cooldown or if you just want to listen to the HP3 soundtrack without getting all sweaty. Oh yeah, and not every song you unlock is available for Balanceboard Mode. So, you might be out of luck on some of your favorite songs.
Workout Mode: I spend a lot of time in this mode. A *GREAT* addition to HP3 is that it tracks your calorie burn and weight loss. When you first enter into Workout Mode, the game will ask you if you want to use the Wii Balanceboard to record your weight! FABULOUS! After you weigh yourself using the balanceboard, you can see your BMI, ideal weight, and a chart that tracks your progression. I love this feature and those of you who use DDR to lose weight will definitely appreciate this as well. Workout mode has 3 sub-modes – you can do feet-only, hypermove (feet and hands), and even balanceboard mode. It’s the same as HP1 and HP2, though, in that you can set your goal (time, calories, free play) and choose your songs or courses you’ve unlocked.
DDR School: This mode requires a brief discussion. Unlike HP1 and HP2 where you were pretty much on your own on learning how to play the game, DDR School breaks down the game piece by piece. It has a number of lessons, including the VERY BASIC step left, step right….but it also contains lessons about hand movements, using the balanceboard, AND gimmicks. My gripes with the lessons are that 1) it’s the same song for a good 16 out of 18 lessons; 2) the gimmicks lessons are useless as the gimmick arrows are NOT mixed in with regular arrows, so they don’t really prepare you for playing with gimmicks; and 3) There is no lesson on hitting “cut notes”…those annoying 1/8 to 1/32 beat notes. I’ve been DYING to figure those out since HP1. I’ve tried playing songs with those notes, but they barely appear on the BASIC level and on DIFFICULT level, it’s too hard to practice. Perhaps I should invest some time in Training mode.
Soundtrack: Konami has interesting music taste. It has an intriguing mix of music from the 80s, 90s, and today. For example, you’ve got Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and then Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.” Many songs have the actual music video, which is awesome! I’ve also really fallen in love with some of Konami’s original music, particular the song “Celebrate Night.” FUN!! The downside to the soundtrack is that there are very few songs in the 120-150 BMP range. Songs that you’d think should be fast-paced are not and it’s kind of disappointing when you really want to just rock out!
Miscellaneous comments: I didn’t address Free Play mode, but it’s the same has HP1 and HP2. As always, I praise DDR for having a number of options to increase or decrease the difficulty of play. You can change arrow speed, turn on/off jumps, cut notes, gimmicks, and of course…simply change the difficulty! The game has a great deal of re-playability as long as you don’t get sick of hearing the same songs over and over.
If you’re new to DDR, buy Hottest Party 3 first. If you’re buying this for your kids, I wouldn’t worry too much about song lyrics or videos included in this game. You might be hesitant to have a child under 10 watch the Pussycat Dolls “When I Grow Up” video or the “Bonafide Lovin’” video that plays in the background. But for the most part, the game is absolutely appropriate for kids 12+. And with the ability to change how hard the game is, any level of player can understand and be successful at playing DDR.
I can’t wait for the next DDR!!! But in the meantime, I’ll be playing Hottest Party 3. It’s a fun game and a great way to lose a few pounds!
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 Bundle Feature
- Extensive new modes, including a fresh new Workout Mode, fun new Story Mode, Kids Modes with much simpler controls and Lesson Mode (DDR School) to practice timing and the direction of arrows so that new dancers can learn the basic.
- Game bundled with DanceDanceRevolution dance pad floor controller for Wii with additional controller compatibility including: Wii Remote/nunchuck and Wii Balance Board.
- Exclusive gimmicks such as the Hip Roll and Bump Arrows appear in-game and built-in fitness functionality allows you to punch while moving your hips to get a workout in while playing.
- Costume customization of your DanceDanceRevolution dancer, including your importable Miis.
- Game include 2-4 local multiplayer support in versus mode and contains 60 tracks on disc, including major licensed master original Latin tracks.
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 Bundle Overview
Taking the revolution to another level! DanceDanceRevolution enhances the entire series’ across all platforms! DanceDanceRevolution is sure to be the life of the party and get you into shape with outrageous multiplayer fun, huge smash hit soundtrack, entirely new modes and more! There is now a DanceDanceRevolution for everyone!
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 Bundle Specifications
DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3 is a dance/party game for Wii that takes the long-running DDR party to the next level. Bundled with the game’s iconic floor peripheral, and including controller support for the Wii Remote/nunchuck controller configuration, and for the first time the Wii Balance Board, it is sure to be the life of the party and get you into shape. Game also include local 2-4 player multiplayer support, a diverse 60-song soundtrack, entirely new modes and more.
Classic DDR gameplay.
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Exercise and balance board integration.
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2-4 player support.
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Mii support and customization.
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Game and controller included.
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Gameplay
As with all DanceDanceRevolution (DDR) games, gameplay in Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 consists of the player mimicking as closely as possible the movements flashed on the screen in the form of directional arrows and other prompts. The goal is to do this as best as possible to gain as many points as you can, maintain a healthy “dance gauge” (your life bar) and get a good grade for each dance routine. Yet Hottest Party 3 for Wii sets itself apart from previous versions in this by including new input methods. The game bundle includes the familiar DDR floor peripheral for registering dance steps, which make up the majority of the game actions, and like earlier DDR versions for Wii, also includes Wii Remote and nunchuck support. What is new is the game’s Wii Balance board integration. The balance board is an optional accessory (sold separately), and allows for a whole new way to play in workout mode among others. The game also features 2-player local versus multiplayer support, Mii integration and new costume customization functionality and new game modes.
Song List
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 is backed by a massive list of 50 foot-stompng songs and remixes to move your body to. They include both tracks produced in-house by game publisher Konami and original pieces, now including major licensed Latin hits. Songs include:
- “A Brighter Day”, Naoki feat. Aleisha G.
- “Baile La Samba”, Big Idea
- “Be With You (Still Miss You)”, NC ft. Eddie Kay
- “Bonafide Lovin’”, Chromeo
- “Boogie Wonderland”, Earth, Wind & Fire
- “Brilliant2U”, Naoki
- “Celebrate Night”, Naoki
- “Closer”, Ne-Yo
- “Crazy Control”, D-Crew with Val Tiatia
- “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House”, LCD Soundsystem
- “Detroit Rock City”, Kiss
- “Disturbia”, Rihanna
- “Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)”, Enrique Iglesias
- “Dream on Dreamer”, Brand New Heavies
- “Dynamite Rave”, Naoki
- “Enjoy the Silence”, Depeche Mode
- “Feel Good Inc.”, Gorillaz featuring De La Soul
- “Freeze”, NC ft. NRG Factory
- “Good Times”, Chic
- “Gotta Dance”, Naoki feat. Aliesha G.
- “Heatstroke”, Tag feat. Angie Lee
- “Hungry Like the Wolf”, Duran Duran
- “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”, Pitbull
- “I’m Coming Out”, Diana Ross
- “Ice Ice Baby”, Vanilla Ice
- “Just Dance”, Lady Gaga featuring Colby O’Donis
- “Keep on Movin’”, NM
- “Kimono Princess”, Jun
- “La Camisa Negra”, Juanes
- “La Libertad”, Cheryl Horrocks
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- “La Receta”, Carlos Coco Garcia
- “Lesson by DJ”, UTD & Friends
- “Lesson2″, MC DDR
- “Lesson3″, Dr. DDR
- “Let’s Get It Started”, Black Eyed Peas
- “Love Again”, NM feat. Mr. E.
- “My Prerogative”, Bobby Brown
- “Never Gonna Give You Up”, Rick Astley
- “One Step at a Time”, Jordin Sparks
- “Paradise”, Lea Drop feat. McCall Clark
- “Pluto the First”, White Wall
- “Pocketful of Sunshine”, Natasha Bedingfield
- “Pork and Beans”, Weezer
- “Praise You”, Fatboy Slim
- “Roppongi Evolved ver. A”, Tag Underground
- “Roppongi Evolved ver. B”, Tag Underground
- “Roppongi Evolved ver. C”, Tag Underground
- “Sacred Oath”, Terra
- “Shine”, Tomosuke feat. Adreana
- “So What”, Pink
- “South Side”, Moby featuring Gwen Stefani
- “The Space Dance”, Danny Tenaglia
- “Takin’ It to the Sky”, U1 feat. Tammy S. Hansen
- “This Night”, Jun feat. Sonnet
- “True Love (Clubstar’s True Club Mix)”, Jun
- “Viva la Vida”, Coldplay
- “What Will Come of Me”, Black Rose Garden
- “When I Grow Up”, Pussycat Dolls
- “You Are a Star”, Naoki feat. Anna Kaelin
- “You Got It (The Right Stuff)”, New Kids on the Block
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Key Features
- Game bundled with DanceDanceRevolution dance pad floor controller for Wii.
- Additional controller compatibility includes: Wii Remote/nunchuck and Wii Balance Board.
- Exclusive gimmicks such as the Hip Roll and Bump Arrows appear in-game.
- Built-in fitness functionality allows you to punch while moving your hips to get a workout in while playing.
- Costume customization of your DanceDanceRevolution dancer, including your importable Miis.
- Inclusion of 60 tracks on disc, including major licensed master original Latin tracks.
- Extensive new modes, including a fresh new Workout Mode, fun new Story Mode, Kids Modes with much simpler controls and Lesson Mode (DDR School) to practice timing and the direction of arrows so that new dancers can learn the basic.
- 2-4 local multiplayer support in versus mode.
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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 31, 2010 10:48:07
