When will I get better at the moves???

[Headmeister]

I just purchased the PS2 and the DDR Max with the RedOctane mat last week. I've been playing so much that I have to give my body a rest because I'm a bit achey. I've done all the lessons and tutorials, and they weren't a problem.

So I went on to the Game mode, light, and I've been choosing anything in the 1-4 range. I can get usually A's or B's on those, if not AA's. But when I try anything above that, I'm TOTALLY lost - I can't keep up. It says you can change the skill level of these harder songs by pressing the ^^ or vv arrows, but when I try to figure out what arrows they're talking about and nothing seems to change the difficulty level.

So I guess my question is two-fold:

1. How do I change the skill level of harder songs that state I can ghange them?

2. When will I be able to get past these easier songs - it seems like my feet will never move fast enough to do them.

Thanks for all your answers, and for your time...

-Headmeister

[Jsn]

When you have a song selected to play push up or down twice to change its difficulty... That means changing it to beginner or standard. Not what you're hoping for, I think.

You just need to keep practicing. You'll get them eventually... Just keep trying.

[ravevampyre]

I had been stuck on lightmode for quite a long time, and then I started working my way up to standard mode, but I find it hard for me still to do standard mode, so I usually have to do training mode on a certain song for a while before actually trying it at regular speed. Those half-steps can drive you crazy, but after a while you'll have an easier time reading the arrows, and your feet just follow your brain.

[Headmeister]

I've tried changing the level of the *beginner* songs so that they were easier. I know, I know, you're saying "how easy do you want them???" But I'm talking about the hardest ones in the Light Game Mode. I think they're really hard!!! I thought that maybe I could lower them down to a 1-4 range, but no such luck. I guess I'll be stuck on beginner mode for a looooong time... I can't even IMAGINE anyone actually doing the heavy mode... they must be an octopus on speed in order to be able to hit all those steps!!!!!

Thanks!

[psisar]

Headmeister said:

I've tried changing the level of the *beginner* songs so that they were easier. I know, I know, you're saying "how easy do you want them???" But I'm talking about the hardest ones in the Light Game Mode. I think they're really hard!!! I thought that maybe I could lower them down to a 1-4 range, but no such luck. I guess I'll be stuck on beginner mode for a looooong time... I can't even IMAGINE anyone actually doing the heavy mode... they must be an octopus on speed in order to be able to hit all those steps!!!!!

Thanks!

You can't change the level any easier than beginner. What you can do though is practice on beginner until you feel you're good enough to try out light. When you first upgrade to light mode, take it easy. Only play on songs with 5 feet or less, and keep playing. If you stick with it, you'll be suprised how quickly you get the hang of it. I first started playing DDR about a month ago, and I'm already getting A's on standard... that's with playing everyday, for about 30 mins - an hour a day.

If you're having trouble reading the arrows, try plugging your controller into your console and play like that for a while. It will help you learn to read the patterns of the arrows. Also I'm not sure about the version you're using, but use the practice mode. Don't get discouraged - you'll be doing great in no time

[Headmeister]

Ok, I think I might be a little confused... I have DDR Max, and to my knowledge, in game mode, there are only 3 options: light, standard, and heavy.

Is there a beginer mode I'm unaware of? Or is that the tutorial practice lessons? I have mastered those, and I'm doing the 1-3 or 4 feet songs in light game mode. But is there a Beginer game mode? If so, I didn't see that option.....

[Headmeister]

Hey psisar, BTW...

I guess you're a Wayne Dyer fan... so am I ;D

[psisar]

Sorry my bad... I've only played DDR Ultramix 2 for Xbox, which has a beginner mode on it. Didn't mean to confuse you

Either way the point still stays... keep practicing. Keep playing on light for a few weeks, and you'll get the hang of it. Don't get discouraged if you suck after a few weeks, everyone had to learn, and some learn faster than others. Just have fun, thats the whole idea isn't it?

Update: Awesome... I'm a sucker for insightful quotes. I'm also a sucker for the Simpsons

[nonskanse]

Just keep on playin!

Seriously, I was on 5-6(with bad grades) "feet" 2 months ago and I did my first 9-footer (got a C! and on the 2nd I got a D, ah well) a couple days ago.

Tip:
In DDRMax, there's nothing below easy mode, but if you try some songs you CAN handle with a slightly faster tempo, the half-arrows get easier. So try something pretty fast with no-half steps, since you are good at reading full arrows, and then try something a little slower with some half steps.
Try to alternate feet as much as possible even if you have to turn sideways a little!

And remember, you'll get better fast without thinking about it, given some *time*.

[abrannan]

Unofrtunately, DDRMAX is probably the least friendly game for new players, but it's not anything you can't work past.

With DDR you have a few skills you're trying to execute at the same time. You should try to isolate these skills and work on them one at a time to get you the most improvement for the least frustration. If you haven't completed Lesson Mode, do that first. Then work through the skills I've outlined below.

1. Reading arrows for speed (just keeping up with them on the screen) - To improve this, try playing by controller (so you don't have to worry about the other skills coming up) and/or increasing the arrow speed on songs you can beat (from the song options menu). This will help you learn to read the arrow patterns faster, the faster you read, the mroe time you have to react.

2. Reading arrows for rhythm patterns (quarter, eighth, and triplets) - To improve this, play the song in trainig mode with handclaps on, this will help you get the timing of the steps right for those streams of different colored arrows that are making your brain freeze up when you play. Again play with the controller at first, and set the song speed to 2 or 3 in training mode, and work your way up to full speed (5).

3. Moving your feet - Once you've got arrow reading down, set up a folding chair behind you while you play to give you an impromptu bar that will support your weight. Again, start in training mode at speed 2 or 3 and work your way up. This will help you understand which foot to use when, and work your way through the song.

4. Balance - Take the chair away and repeat the above steps.

This is a great way to help you beat any song at any level. It's unreasonable to expect that you'll just be able to play a song right off the bat the first time. As with any choreographed set of motions (dance, football plays, martial arts kata) you need to go through the motions slowly and work your way up to full speed.

[riley]

One of my recommendations for anyone new to DDR is to play a bit of stepmania on the computer. It teaches you how to read the steps because it's easier initially to hit the keys with your fingers than hit the pad with your feet. I went from being about a 3-4 foot player to a 6-8 feet player because of this. I still don't consider myself very good, but I think it helps alot.

[SSC]

Well just to emphasize something... you bought DDR Max which is considered to be one of the harder console releases besides Ultramix 2.

Playing songs like Orion .78, Healing Vision Angelic Mix, Max 300, Paranoia etc. are all going to be rather difficult... for your whole DDR'ing career.

[Headmeister]

Thanks for all the input... I greatly appreciate it!

As for Stepmania, I've never heard of it (being new to DDR). I'll have to check it out...

And as for buying DDR Max as my first DDR, I didn't know any better - I got it because that's what Best Buy had. Now that I've done some research, I just purchased the older DDR USA for PS1 off eBay. I haven't tried it out yet, but I hear its a favorite so I figured I'd get it.

Even in the week or so since starting this thread, I've gotten way better. I took someone's advice (either from here or somewhere else, I can't remember) to read the arrows as they appear, not as they reach the top of the screen. WOW. What a difference that made. I went from doing 2-3 feet songs to 5-6 overnight. so I know it's going to take a little more practice each time I want to excel to a harder difficulty. I'm just an instant gratification kinda girl...

Thanks!
Heather

[0rion.78]

SheScreamedClaudio said:

Well just to emphasize something... you bought DDR Max which is considered to be one of the harder console releases besides Ultramix 2.

Playing songs like Orion .78, Healing Vision Angelic Mix, Max 300, Paranoia etc. are all going to be rather difficult... for your whole DDR'ing career.

yeah i know....but Orion.78 is such a cool song!! even tho i suck on ice on it but i just like the song.

anywho.....i just got my game today (MAX2) and i'm barely getting the hang of air (two steps at once) i tried a few songs on light and i got my butt handed to me.....royally. got a D on the first song, and failed the second. might be that my dance pad slips alot and my size 13 feet can never stay on the center, but thats life. still burns mucho fat, and i'm happy about that.

[Headmeister]

Update: I received my DDR USA for PS1 in the mail yesterday and popped it in this morning. WOW. This one is much better for me as a beginner. I am also able to change the difficulty level of the songs - something that you're SUPPOSED to be able to do in DDRMAX but for some reason doesn't work on my disc. I also got a memory card - something I didn't have before.

Since starting this 2 weeks ago - and not doing it AT ALL last week due to totally sore knees and feet (I have bad knees - and I've had knee surgery in the past too, so I have to be careful), I've lost a total of 7 lbs! Of course, I've omitted ALL sugars from my diet, and I only eat things that are 10g of sugar or less, and it has to have protein and fiber in it too. I never eat just sugar by itself. What I mean by sugar is that I've throw out anything in my house made with white flour, and I eat nothing "white". Everything is whole grain, down to the bread that looks like pumpernickel with sunflower seeds in it. I can't tell you how great I feel since elimintaing the sugars... What a difference...

See my new ticker below! ;D

Thanks for all your support guys...
Head

[ImpFreak7]

I'm glad you're finding your new game easier for you as a beginner!

I had the luxury of learning how to play DDR in the arcade, so I could watch the pros play and try to dance like them, they knew what songs to do to learn certain moves while you were moving up in difficulty, I wish I could remember what some of them were, but sadly I can't.

One suggestion I would make is keep trying songs of the next highest level, some of these songs will be just as easy or even easier than some of the light songs you are trying, and standard difficulty songs will include more varations in arrow patterns etc, that light songs, even if they are more difficult, just won't teach you.

Don't be afraid to try some standard songs with lower foot ratings, they may just help you advance even quicker.

Keep up the good work!