New to Dance Games for exercise

[pex]

Greetings all!

What is the best dance game and dance pad for an utter newbie that wants a more enjoyable workout (PS2)?

I'd like it if I could get the game and pad for $100 or less, but will spend more if necessary.

I've read through your forums and it seems everyone has a favorite game/pad. I'm a bit lost, so I'm asking for your help. =)

Thanks in advance!
John

[Grant.]

For most enjoyable workout, you'll have the easiest time finding Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2, it's the most recent release. Also, you can get a mat for around $20 at your local gaming store.

[Nuggets]

For the absolute best, you'll have to spring much more than $100. But since you're still new to this, you probably don't want to shell out all kinds of money for the " best ". Just go for a soft pad that you can use ( like Grant said, they might even have them at your local gaming store(s), so check that out ). See if you like DDR enough to stick with it for a long while, because you'll need to be sure that you like it before you go investing hundreds of dollars into the metal pads. All in all, it should be quite easy to get the game and pad for under one hundred bucks.

I would recommend DDR Extreme 2, because it is the newest release for PS2 and you can still buy the game ( with the official Konami dance mat included ) on the internet for anywhere from 60 to 75 bucks. There are some websites selling just the game without the dance mat, so watch out for that. Make sure that it says that it includes the dance mat, and that it just doesn't add some weird off brand mat sold personally by their website. If the price for the game is only around 40 dollars, it's probably only just the game by itself without the dance mat. Here are some websites:

www.american-home-electronics.com/products/B0009Z3K1C/electronics/PlayStation2/ps2_ddr_extreme_2_with_dancepad.html

Circuit City has it but they are out of stock. Here's their website anyway though, just in case you want it seeing as how they're the only recognizable name that I could see. I've never used any of the other ones for online ordering before:
www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=133375&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&BV_SessionID=@@@@1351374823.1134445469@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddghglghgfcfngcfkmdffhdfki.0

newsite.pagecomputers.com/store/Product_accessoriesx.asp?catalog%5Fname=Unclassified&category%5Fname=32g32c302s1287&product%5Fid=928057

You might be able to still find the game and dance mat packaged together in your local gaming stores or places like K-Mart or Wal-Mart ( assuming that Your walmart is a lot better than mine, which never has any video game packages like DDR ). Possibly you even have a Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. near you. If not, check the net.

This is a long post.... Sorry for information overload . Here's to hoping it was helpful.

Edit: The URL link things weren't working, so just copy paste them into your address bar.

Edit 2: Taking the URL links out didn't make them stop showing up dementedly. So, just erase the spaces that the board randomly put into the hyperlinks. I think in the first one it's right at the end and there's a space like this: " dancepad .html ". It should be connected there, no space. The other one puts a space in between all of those numbers. Sorry, I don't know how to fix it O.o.

[pex]

Many thanks all for the help!

One last question:

One member of our household has a fused ankle - I.E. no movement of the left foot. He gets around just fine, but will he be able to play this at all without getting really frustrated?

I might have to pass on this- I don't want him to feel left out.

Thanks again!

[Grant.]

Ummm, I think you need full mobility of waist down :/

[abrannan]

Yeah, unfortunately there's a lot of fast direction changes and odd stresses put on your ankle while playing. If he'd have trouble playing basketball, odds are DDR would present a problem (more so at the higher levels of play than on beginner or light)

[crazybabydoc]

A limited mobility person can likely play most songs on the Beginner level.

And of course you could always show your friend the video of the amputee that plays.

[orangina]

I agree that DDR2 is the best to buy. I bought two pads several years ago and play by myself or with one of my daughters. The nice thing is you can play at one level and they at another AT THE SAME TIME!
I would recommend purchasing quality pads because of the cushioning. I have the redoctane ignition pads.