You're bound to walk into an arcade somewhere and find a giant machine with flashing lights and a metal floor pad. This isn't any normal machine, as there is no normal arcade joystick or buttons in sight, and the only action on screen are multicolored flashing arrows. To the untrained eye, this game looks like a cheap gimmick. If you're lucky enough however you might walk into the same arcade and see the machine in action. Nerds across the country can be found stomping their feet at lightning fast speed without missing a beat. Players will literally fall off a machine screaming for water, panting for breath, and then jump back on the machine for another round. Many times, it's the only acknowledgeable form of physical activity gamers will sometimes admit to engaging in. Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) started a craze that has kept gamers hooked to arcades with its high-paced songs combined with innovative gameplay.

Thankfully for the gamers who blow through twenty dollars at the arcade in two hours, Dance Dance Revolution was released on the PlayStation consoles for home use. Gamers could finally practice their favorite songs and dance steps in the comfort of their homes before heading out to the local arcade to show off their groove. The fourth installment of this high classic has finally been released on the PS2, and it's about time. Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 (DDRE2) offers the awesome soundtrack of techno and trance hits that gamers over the past few years have fallen in love with, while still offering new material to learn.

New to the madness, and scared to learn? Don't be!

Dance Dance Revolution has obtained the reputation as a difficult game amongst the non-coordinated, but after seeing gamers move so fast that their legs look detached from their bodies, it's easy to see how such a game could be scary to try. Thus the novelty of DDRE2; you can play in your home and fail without wasting your tokens, or looking like a complete ass in front of total strangers.

The simplicity of DDRE2 is uncanny. Gamers simply need to press the corresponding arrow on their dance pad (sold separately) with the scrolling arrows on the screen at the exact right time. The viewport has four darkened arrows at the top of the screen, known as the step zone, which differ greatly in appearance to the colorful scrolling arrows. The right time to stomp the pad arrives when a colored arrow aligns itself with the step zone. Executed perfectly, the dance meter will fill slightly. Multiple successful executions of steps results in a full dance meter and a high score. When steps are not properly executed or missed altogether, the dance meter depletes itself. If it reaches zero, the song stops, and you have thusly failed.

Songs can be played at four main skill levels. "Beginner" allows a player the opportunity to try a song with minimal arrows that are placed a large distance apart. This level of skill is for gamers who have never even attempted to play a DDR game before. "Light" is the next level, where the arrows are multiplied and sometimes follow one right after another in sequence. Combos, where two arrows must be pressed at once, are introduced as well. "Standard" is where gamers who have played before can get a better grasp of the game. Arrows appear at the same rhythm of the notes in the songs they correspond to. This level of play takes all before it and ups the ante by adding eighth notes, making the movement between arrows faster. "Heavy" should only be attempted by veteran players. The arrows move at an insane rate up the screen. Those with a weak heart need not apply, as the constant gasping for breath may lead to a heart attack.

You may choose to switch things up a bit, adding special options to your gameplay. This can be done through the options menu. Before starting a song, players can chose to change the arrows and their effects. Altering the speed of the arrows makes the arrows climb the screen faster. Boost starts with the arrows at normal speed, but gives them a slight boost in speed as they reach closer to the step zone. Appearance allows the arrows to appear halfway up the screen, disappear halfway up the screen, or not appear at all. Changing the scroll option changes the step zone position to the bottom of the screen. These modes of gameplay can change your entire gaming experience altogether.

So it's a lot of dancing. I get it, but can't you change it up a bit?

When starting a new save file, gamers will notice the selection of songs to be very limited. In past installments, simply playing through the levels at varying difficulties unlocked more songs to play. DDRE2 introduces a new way of unlocking tunes. Dance Master mode requires gamers to navigate through a series of missions and complete the goals of each new song in order to move on. Once a new song is completed, it can be purchased at the store. Money is earned through awesome dancing throughout the levels.

Workout mode is what physical fitness buffs dream of having in video games. Dance through your favorite songs and track how many calories you have burned at the same time. You can change your personal workout settings and view your work out history as well. Advanced mode allows skilled players to test what they've got to offer as they play through a number of songs without the dance meter refreshing at the beginning of each new song. Far from advanced mode? Lesson mode is a relaxed setting which offers an excellent tutorial that will help you learn how to play the game. Other features include edit mode, where you can edit the steps of your favorite songs, the shop where you can buy new songs and other features, or the "My Room" section that tracks your progress throughout the game.

Gamers can opt to play with only the standard PS2 controller, but to recreate the arcade-style gameplay, players can plug in a home dance pad. DDRE2 also allows gamers to use the USB EyeToy camera, adding new hand moves that work the same way as the arrows; hand icons scroll up the screen, and the player must throw their hands into the air when the hand icons reach the step zone. The ability to see yourself groovin' on the screen is also nice, but the EyeToy looses fun value when you're moving at lightning speeds and sweating all over the place.

DDRE2 now offers online capabilities, which allows gamers the option to play from home with other friends. There are two ways to experience DDRE2: head-to-head or through the new ranking system. Head-to-head competitions play out by first scanning your memory card. The longer you've been playing, the higher your rank will be. Playing against someone online is fun, but does not offer the joy of dancing against them live in an arcade. At least you wont feel embarrassed when you lose because it won't be in front of a huge crowd of people.

It's hot, but it's just not happening…

To a novice dancer, DDRE2 sounds like a great buy offering tons of replay value, but to veteran players such as myself, the new format is boring. The majority of gamers that purchase a home version of DDR use the game for practice, either for competition (I know, it's sad) or so when they attend arcades they don't waste their time and money practicing the new songs. The new Dance Master mode forces players to play through certain songs to reach new songs on a set skill level. This means that gamers who play on a "heavy" setting will have to play through levels with a "beginner" or "basic" skill level to reach their favorite songs and unlock them. Songs can be unlocked by playing through songs already available in Free Play Mode (the mode that allows you to get up and start grooving right away) but the time this takes does not even make it worth it. Although the replay value increases immensely with this feature, the process is time consuming. Just hand the controller to your little brother and pay him to do the work if it ticks you off bad enough. Except for this fact, DDRE2 is almost the exact same game as it has been in the past. Those that have enjoyed previous installments will enjoy this sequel and its collection of pulse pounding hits.

The music selection offers favorite tunes (originals and remixes) as well as many tunes heard on the radio today. Beyonce, Britney Spears, Fatboy Slim, Sean Paul, and Christian Aguilera are just a few artist whose songs appear in techno remix form as fully playable levels. The sound quality is superb, offering the right amount of bass and treble for the techno hits and will have you literally dancing out of your seats. With over 70 songs and 100 minutes of dance music, everyone is bound to find something they enjoy.

Overall, new players to the series will definitely enjoy DDRE2 and may find themselves fully emerged in the dancing simulation. Hardcore fans will enjoy the game, but more after they spend the time to unlock the songs. Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 is a must play for all, even those who aren't hardcore gamers simply because it offers what other games do not: the chance to get up out of your seat, move around, and still have a good time in front of the TV.