DanceRush Stardom needs a Western arcade release
Konami, will you be my little butterfly?
For those of you not in the know, DanceRush Stardom is the newest Bemani rhythm/dancing game from Konami. You've got that picture in your mind? Good. Now erase that image, because Dance Rush is a bit different than Konami's prior dancing games. At the very least, it's not Dance Dance Revolution. While still very dependent on the player's foot movements, DanceRush makes a point to differentiate itself. DanceRush is totally unique.
DanceRush operates on a rather large, touch-sensitive pad divided into long columns, as opposed to utilizing directional-buttons like DDR. This pad recognizes when players tap, hold, or slide their feet in certain locations. It even recognizes when the player jumps or performs "down" notes (also known as crouching to us laypeople). To make things ever more interesting, two players can stand on one dance pad, with the first player in the front and the second player in the rear. (Hence the vertical length of the pad.) Two cabinets can be linked for 2v2 team battles. The joke going around the Internet is that DanceRush is Chunithm for your feet, but that's honestly not a bad analogy.
What makes DanceRush even more interesting is how easy Konami has made it for players to record and share their gameplay. The built-in camera can record your movements (and blur out background figures) and add neat little effects over your feet. Naturally, you'll need an e-AMUSEMENT card to save the footage and upload it to online platforms like YouTube, but it's still totally cool stuff.
Simply reading about the DanceRush concept was enough to get me excited—looking at the cabinet had me sold. It is so clear to me that this is Konami's next big rhythm game. Even as a very casual Dance Dance Revolution player (in other words, I'm not very good), Dance Rush has me frothing at the mouth. (Ew?) It just looks so fun, so unique, so stylish!
That's why it's rather disappointing that there hasn't been word of full Western release yet. So far, the only confirmed U.S. locations are in the Round1USA chain of FECs. And sure, it's better nothing. But wouldn't it be a miracle if Dance Rush received a full release in Western territories?
Listen, I know the DDR craze fizzled out in the U.S. in the late-2000s. I know rhythm games aren't a sure bet in our arcades like they used to be. But DanceRush is just...different. It's so special and attractive and interesting that it's bound to hold players' attention in arcades. It's the kind of gargantuan, flashy, expensive experience that FECs like Dave and Buster's love. It CAN attract players. Heck, it can attract an entire crowd!
When I say this game can attract crowds, I really mean it. DanceRush is a spectator game, no doubt about it. Not only is it cut from that same DDR cloth of competition and socialization, but it's also a lot flashier. Just look at the danged thing. It's gigantic, and it's covered in pulsating LEDs. Konami clearly designed DanceRush to turn heads. And because Dance Rush is so acutely in-tune with free-styling, I imagine the joys of spectating this game are nearly endless. See it for yourself; it is truly a spectacle. Just look at the colors exploding at his feet!
Regardless of how I feel, we need to be at least somewhat realistic. There are in fact some hurdles in bringing DanceRush to Western territories. For one thing, at least in the U.S., it takes a LOT to get newbies to try these types of games. In our American society, we sure love staying inside our houses. Going to the arcade and jumping around in front of other people can be rather intimidating. Compounded with the difficulty curve, it can be hard to justify bringing a game like DanceRush to the West, especially when operators know that most players will approach it cautiously.
Furthermore, there's the sheer fact that this is likely to be a very, very expensive game. Showcase arcade cabinets don't come cheap; it's quite likely that this bad dude is gonna go upwards of $10,000. It's hard to get operators to buy games at that price if the earning potential is uncertain. If U.S. distributors can't get people to sign on, we might never see DanceRush outside of the holy Round1USA facilities.
No matter how unrealistic it may be, I think DanceRush should receive a full Western release. The response from American gamers, at least where I stand, has been very positive. And though I may just be some 16-year-old on the Internet, I think Konami has a real gem on their hands. Why not share the love with us, Konami?
And now, a song I wrote my for my dad, Hideki Hayakawa.
Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Where's my samurai
I've been searching for a man All across Japan Just to find, to find my samurai Someone who is strong But still a little shy Yes I need, I need my samurai
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colours in the sky
Ay, ay, ay, I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colours in the sky
I've been searching in the woods And high upon the hills Just to find, to find my samurai Someone who won't regret To keep me in his net Yes I need, I need my samurai
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colours in the sky
Ay, ay, ay, I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colors in the sky
Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Where's my samurai?
Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Where's my samurai?
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colors in the sky
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colors in the sky
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colors in the sky
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colors in the sky
Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Where's my samurai?
Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Ay, iyaiyai Where's my samurai?
Ay, ay, ay I'm your little butterfly Green, black and blue Make the colors in the sky
Merry Christmas. I love you all.