Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix

I’ve always appreciated the idea of combining exercise and fitness with video games, so after Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix was released, it quickly earned a coveted spot in our game collection.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Dance Dance Revolution line of games, suffice it to say, they’re basically dance simulators for the living room. Instead of using a standard game controller, you play the game using a large dance pad on the floor. The gamer, standing on the pad, steps on arrow sensors (pointing up, down, left and right) in synch with moving arrows shown on the television screen, which are timed to co-inside with the background music.

The concept works wonderfully, and it’s not uncommon to play a DDR game until you’re physically unable to play any longer. It certainly qualifies as exercise, akin to a basic aerobics program.

Upon startup, it’s immediately clear Mario Mix is designed for younger gamers, with the game’s difficulty initially optimized for DDR novices. Dance steps are simplistic (early modes use the left and right arrows only), and while the routines do become challenging eventually, the game never does reach the insane difficulty levels found in other Dance Dance Revolution games.

In my household, this has proven to be both a good and bad thing. Good, as my son - never having enjoyed mainstream DDR games - is now quite the Mario Mixer. I’ve noticed his coordination has improved considerably, which I credit to the game’s accessibility. Bad, as his teenage sister (a Mario fan since age three) played the game only once or twice before going back to her Playstation 2 DDRs. She’s since warmed up to the game, but scoffed at the easy gameplay early only.

For whatever reason, higher difficulty levels in Mario Mix must be unlocked by playing through easier routines. Until her brother had unlocked these harder settings, my daughter didn’t consider the game much fun, as it was far too easy for her skill level. I can’t help but think, if these higher difficulty levels had been available initially, her first impression would have been far more positive. At the very least, the game would have had a broader appeal.

Unwieldy difficulty levels aside, Mario Mix is a very fun game. The Mario theme is embellished throughout, with a host of characters including Mario, Toad, Waluigi and Bowser. The music consists of remixed Mario music from other games (Dr. Mario, Paper Mario, Super Mario Bros.) along with heavily remixed nursery rhymes. The game features a unique Story Mode, composed of numerous dance challenges and mini-games. It works well, but having to scroll through screens of text during the intermissions can be annoying, especially considering you’re probably standing during the process. (Obviously, reading skills are a benefit for any child playing the game, though there isn’t any real need to understand the story text in order to play.) A Free Mode is also available, similar to other DDR games, where the player can choose the music routine they’d like to play. A mini-game selection makes for a fun distraction (envision Whack-The-Mole via dance pad), and while the game doesn’t sport a workout mode like other DDR games, it does provide calorie tracking, counting the number of calories you’ve burned while playing.

Mario Mix is packaged with a dance pad, which obviously is fundamental for a child’s enjoyment of the game. Thankfully, the pad has been manufactured well, with large, accurate sensor pads and a non-slip bottom. It may slip slightly with fast paced routines on carpeted floors, but overall, it’s of a far better quality than many third party pads. The game can be played with the standard Gamecube controller, but really, where’s the fun in that?

If you’re looking for a healthy activity for the kids – something fun, something fitness – Mario Mix fits the bill.

Summary: Better suited for young players and DDR newbies, Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix is recommended for any family looking to, ahem, mix exercise and video gaming.

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