Dance game for GameCube?

January 26, 2006 10:40 AM

We have a family GameCube and the kids want a dance game. Apparently Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix will be unavailable in North America for several months, and when I go to Best Buy and look at all of the stuff I feel old and confused. Could you suggest a good GC compatible dance pad (that I could pick up retail) as well as DDR-type titles for the GC so my kids can get happy? Thanks --chris
posted by cgk to Computers & Internet (15 answers total)

There is only one dance game currently available for GameCube: MC Groovz Dance Craze. It's bundled with a dance pad, and it looks like it got pretty lousy reviews.

(Sigh) The life of a Nintendo-owner…
posted by designbot at 10:52 AM on January 26, 2006

Actually it looks like DDR: Mario Mix was officially released in the US in October, but for some reason nobody has it. Copies are going for over $100.
posted by designbot at 10:58 AM on January 26, 2006

Head over to http://www.ddrfreak.com.

I don't know for sure if they can give you a more encouraging answer, but if anyone is going to know, it will be them.
posted by de void at 11:00 AM on January 26, 2006

Mario Mix has been released in the US. I got a copy back in October from Best Buy. It's much easier than a standard DDR game (which makes it perfect for me) and includes a lot of fun remixes of old video game tunes. The Mario Mix dance mat is also of higher quality that some of the generic ones. If you can find it in your area, I would recommend it.
posted by pomchkn at 11:15 AM on January 26, 2006

Mario Mix is the only real choice for Gamecube owners. The Mad Catz games are utter crap.
posted by Remy at 11:18 AM on January 26, 2006

If you have a decently-sized computer monitor (say, 19" and up) you should just download the excellent free software StepMania and pick up an Xbox dance pad + Xbox->USB adaptor for $25 on eBay.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:23 AM on January 26, 2006

The issue is that Mario Mix, near as I can tell, sold out some time ago. The disc+pad is now going for $100+ used on Amazon and EBay.
posted by skynxnex at 11:35 AM on January 26, 2006

Another vote for Mario Mix, but even though the game is scarce right now, it will be back. Nintendo underestimated just how well the game would sell and didn't produce enough dance pads. It'll be back on store shelves sometime in the Spring, I hear.
posted by Servo5678 at 11:42 AM on January 26, 2006

Mario Mix is the only real choice here, though I hear that compared to the PS2 editions of DDR, the game is quite easy: Gamespot's review says that Mario Mix's "superhard" mode is equivalent to vanilla DDR's standard mode. My sister bought the Mad Catz dance game back when it came out, and managed to return it opened for a full refund because of its sheer crappiness.

(P.S. This falls under the category of "not answering your question," but it's worth mentioning that I bought a PS2 for the sole purpose of playing Dance Dance Revolution, and don't regret it. There are four DDR games for the PS2 that are readily available, and each of those games has a wide difficulty range from very easy to very hard.)
posted by Prospero at 11:57 AM on January 26, 2006

Joystiq claimed that there were dance mat production issues with DDR Mario Mix. A Nintendo rep told them they were mistaken, but it's unclear if they were mistaken about the issues or about the theory that DDR:MM would be discontinued.
posted by Plutor at 11:58 AM on January 26, 2006

There are four DDR games for the PS2 that are readily available

I've been looking for a PS2 dance mat/game for a few weeks now and can't find one anywhere. I'm in Canada so my options are somewhat limited... Amazon and the box stores have the product listed but not in stock (XBox bundles seem easier to find but I don't have an XBox). Any tips on where else to look for these 'readily available' DDR games?
posted by Gortuk at 12:24 PM on January 26, 2006

Gortuk/ Whereabouts are you? I'm in TO and I found mine at The Toys R' Us for $20. I believe Bestybuy has one as well, bundled with a dance game. Last time I checked at EB there weren't any - just one for the Xbox.

Ebay.ca has a bunch of softmats for decent prices, and ships within the week. I bought a couple of soft ones that are ok, and you probably can't find better prices if you walked into a store and bought one.
posted by Sallysings at 12:58 PM on January 26, 2006

@Gortuk: I don't know if these guys ship to Canada (I don't see why not), but try here, or here. (I got my dance pad from Buy 'N' Shop and I recommend it.)
posted by Prospero at 1:37 PM on January 26, 2006

Another not-answering-your-question, but Playstation2 is far and away the platform for DDR games (and all music/beat realted games). I believe we have 8 different DDR games for our system, though a couple might be for the Dreamcast (sigh). Even the latest Kareoke Revolution has a dance function. If the kids are really into the game, look for a used PS2 cheap on ebay. There are a lot more dance mats available for the PS2 than for other systems, as well. I'm afraid the GC just isn't going to come through for this genre.
posted by team lowkey at 3:46 PM on January 26, 2006

I've heard from multiple sources that they lost the manufacturer for the Mario Mix dance pads, hence the scarcity.
posted by Mach5 at 8:57 PM on January 26, 2006