Pump It Up: Exceed

[abrannan]

It sort of slipped in under the radar, but PIU:Exceed is now out for the PS2. $59.99 for the game + mat combo (Standard soft mat, no other option at this point). Both Gamestop and EBgames are running trade-in deals right now (Gamestop is up to an additional 40% in trade in value, EB games is an extra $3 per games when you trade in 3, $4/ea for 4, or $5/ea for 5 games). Looks like EBgames deal is better (unless you're trading in recent games). I've got a stack I'll be taking into EBgames tonight to pick up the pack. Look for my first impressions review by the end of the weekend.

[SSC]

Cool... I guess I could handle a soft mat... I've been wanting to try PIU...

[RogueM]

I have watched people play the game in the arcade and the song content/graphics seemed comparable to DDR. I have always been a little scared to hop on, but now I am ready to take a turn at it.

Maybe more calories would be burned with an extra button, and I am up for a new challenge. So i guess I will buy it tonight too.

I have a couple of questions---- I gather I cannot use the pad I already own (CF) so you have to use their mat. Is the mat going to be the quality of the DDR mats that are bundled with the game? cuz I can wear one out in like a month and a half. Also how do you guys think this game compares with DDR and ITG. Having never played the game I have no basis. I will probably buy the game anyways just because when I like something I have to own it all. ;D

Thanks for your input.

M

[abrannan]

michelled said:

I have watched people play the game in the arcade and the song content/graphics seemed comparable to DDR. I have always been a little scared to hop on, but now I am ready to take a turn at it.

Maybe more calories would be burned with an extra button, and I am up for a new challenge. So i guess I will buy it tonight too.

I have a couple of questions---- I gather I cannot use the pad I already own (CF) so you have to use their mat. Is the mat going to be the quality of the DDR mats that are bundled with the game? cuz I can wear one out in like a month and a half. Also how do you guys think this game compares with DDR and ITG. Having never played the game I have no basis. I will probably buy the game anyways just because when I like something I have to own it all. ;D

Thanks for your input.

M

Actually, I've seen somewhere that you can mod your CF (There's actually a center button on the CF, but it's deactivated), and you may need a custom Control box to handle the right inputs, but it's theoretically doable.

As far as the game goes, the 5 arrows aren't as hard to handle as you might think. What I find harder (in the arcade anyway) is the fact that arrows are colored by position, not by rhythm (Up diagonals are always orange, down diags are blue and center is yellow). This makes it harder to read rhythm patterns, and makes the x2 and x3 modifiers all the more valuable.

Music-wise I don't care for it as much. There's more techno-classical (ala V), which is good, but the K-pop just doesn't grab me.

Still a dancing game is a dancing game, and this is the only one that's available in an arcade near me.

[MATS]

iam getthing this

[abrannan]

Okay, so here's my first impressions (After an abbreviated first play session, I'm having a "migraine week")

Take the PIU arcade cabinet and bring it into your home. That's what you've got here. No surprises, no curveballs. It's as close to the arcade as I've ever seen a dance game be (But then again I've not yet seen an ITG cabinet).

Arcade mode is 3 songs + one bonus, same modifiers as the arcade and everything. At the end fo arcade mode (provided you didn't fail) you get a 16 character code to enter your scores on piugame.com.

Home mode is essentially event mode from DDR, play as many as you want, but no internet ranking.

There's the standard Oni and nonstop modes as well, but I didn't get into those.

Unlocks are handled by passing the song in the mode it's available in (Home mode unlocks arcade mode, and vice versa). There's also three different music "channels" or folders of songs, which I think a lot of people are going to miss unless they're familiar with the arcade.

Visually, it's the prettiest Dance game, in my opinion. The background videos are crisp and bright, and the game even has an unlockable video mode to watch them. The interface is slick and industrial, just like the arcade. With my widescreen TV, all I need is some sound-reactive neon on my speakers and I've got the full arcade experience.

The included soft mat is of excellent quality, very similar to the RedOctane ITG official Mat. Good surface, non-slip even on carpet, and seems to hold up well. My only gripe is that it has all 9 arrows, so there's nowhere to stand during the game.

Overall, it's a very solid game, but lacks the little extras that DDR and ITG had to push it over the top. Dance game nuts will want it, as will those who are looking to play in the arcade, but it may be out of the mainstream a bit. This one is destined for some serious markdowns in the next few months, so unless you must have it now, you may want to wait a bit.

[MATS]

everyone play vook and turky dance. i dont have the game yet but when i play it i will play them over and over again

[agent709]

I want to keep PIU sacred to our friday nights. Plus you kinda need the bar to do some of the things, hehe

[blueshirt3k]

Does Exceed have any sort of workout/exercise mode or even a calorie count?

[xstatic]

according to game informer - NO

[abrannan]

Nah, all it's got is an overall pedometer, so you'll know how "far" you've gone. It links to some unlocks as well (at 1km, 2km, and 10km, IIRC). Like I said, very basic game, good arcade conversion, but lacking a lot of the features that we've come to know and love with DDR and ITG.

[MATS]

Pump features half double mode which is the best thing since the internet.

[sakura]

pump it up is okay at the arcade but to hard for me to rember. i already have to have a siezure on 4 notes how could i do it on 4 diagnol notes and the center. its gonna take a while to get used to it.