The amazing popularity of the Nintendo Wii game system has led to the development of a series of games designed to take advantage of the Wii's highly interactive nature. 

 

One of the most popular titles currently available for the Wii is the latest version of the DDR series known as Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party. In this game, participants are asked to use their feet to match the moves being presented on screen. The moves appear on the screen in the form of directional arrows. Using the Wii dancing mat that is part of the game, players use their feet to step in the direction indicated by the on-screen arrows.

 

Part of playing the DDR game on the Wii requires that individuals purchase a mat that is used to perform the moves asked for by the game. In most cases, the Wii dancing mat is included with the DDR game as part of a bundle package. However, the Wii dancing mat can be purchased separately in order to allow for two players to dance off against each other. 

 

Besides being used to play the DDR game, the Wii dancing mat ends up being a larger version of a traditional controller. The directional arrows screened onto the plastic mat can be used in a similar fashion to the directional pad on a traditional game controller. Players can use the arrows on the Wii dancing mat to operate and control the menu and options features much like they would with a traditional controller. 

 

Made out of a soft, durable plastic material, the Wii dancing mat is ready to take on all of the action associated with playing the DDR game. Players can jump, hop, tap and skip on the pad as they play the game – much like they would on the arcade version of the game, without worrying about the mat tearing or ripping. Manufacturers recommend that individuals not jump on the mat with shoes on, as the soles of certain types of footwear can cause it to tear. They also recommend that players not wear socks while playing, as the mat can become slippery during play. The cautions however, take nothing away from the mat in terms of its use while playing the game. Just like the arcade version, players simply use their feet to apply pressure onto a specific directional arrow on the pad in order to carry out the desired moves.

 

The mat is durable enough to be jumped on, yet thin enough to be easily folded and stored once its time to put the game away. Overall, fans of the DDR game will find that the Wii dancing mat effectively replicates many of the conditions associated with the larger arcade version of the DDR game. In most cases, it ends up being a smarter choice, as it is more cost-effective to purchase the mat then to pay $1 per game at the arcade. Additionally, the mat's portability allows it to be easily transported from room to room, or house to house, for your next DDR dance off.     

 

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