Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 [PS2]

When the original Dance Revolution first debuted, many thought it would be a flash in the pan. After all, how popular can a video game be if it requires constant physical movement? Very. Now in its ninth iteration, Dance Revolution Extreme 2 battles with the quintessential problem that every long running series faces--keeping things fresh without alienating its fanbase.

For those not familiar with DDR, the premise is simple. Four arrows scroll up the screen as music plays. Step on the arrows and stay on beat to increase your score and progress through the game. Higher difficulty settings mean more complex arrow patterns, but aside from that, gameplay is rather consistent.

Extreme 2 starts you off with a mere 24 songs, holding back the remaining 50 as unlockable goodies. Unlike past games, where songs were revealed according to a set pattern, Extreme 2 allows players to earn points and purchase the songs of their choice. While the hardcore will no doubt want to get them all, being able to unlock a favorite track right away is a nice touch.

The overall songlist is arguably the best one in a DDR game yet, featuring a wide mix of songs that include both new licenses as well as popular favorites. Delerium's "Silence (Airscape Remix)" makes an appearance, along with Sean Paul's bohemian "Get Busy" and the old-school dance anthem "Pump Up the Volume" by M.A.R.R.S. Also notable is the inclusion of the smile.dk song "Butterfly (Upswing Mix)." Debuting on the original US arcade game, "Butterfly" was the unofficial DDR theme song. It was planned for release on the PlayStation version of the game but pulled at the last minute due to a licensing issue.

All of the standard modes are here, with a Free Play option, Challenge mode, Edit, Training, Workout, EyeToy and Lesson modes, but the two big additions are Dance Master and the ability to go online. Dance Master introduces a story to DDR for the first time, as it challenges players to move from city to city across North America, competing in local DDR tournaments along the way. Do well and you'll increase your rep and build your fan base. It's an intriguing idea, and fun at times, but the execution could have used a bit more polish. Hopefully the next iteration will be a bit more engaging.

Online play is something that PlayStation 2 owners have been requesting ever since it debuted on the Xbox and it has finally arrived. Offering both head-to-head play as well as a ranking mode, it's a nice way to find an opponent in the wee hours of the night.

A solid update for the series, DDR Extreme 2 is sure to please fans, as well as new players, but the lack of anything really new doesn't bode well for the future. Both In the Groove and Pump It Up: Exceed have taken the same basic formula that drives DDR and given it a twist, making things feel fresh. It is this kind of revamp that the DDR series needs if it is going to survive long term.