DDRMAX2 V-Rare Promo CD Rated (by me, late as always)

[Robert H. Magnusson]

Forgive the old news here, but I'm out here in the Fry's-less Midwest, and just now managed to win an eBay auction for the DDRMAX2 soundtrack/sampler. At first, I was expecting it to be more along the lines of the Toys R Us exclusive DDRMAX soundtrack/sampler, which had no songs other than what was in the video game (even Look To The Sky [True Color Extended Mix] was looped in the Information screen), but with added extended tracks. The moment I heard i feel..., I knew it was a different version of the song. The chorus doesn't have as much instrumentation behind it, and the bridge is doubled in length. Likewise, Bad Routine and Tomorrow Perfume (one of my favorites) are slightly extended and remixed (or maybe the DDR versions are the remixes - are what I'm hearing the Beatmania versions?). Do It Right (80s Electro Mix), Kakumei, Vanity Angel, and I Need You are exactly as they sound in the game (minus announcer, of course). However, the disk is literally twice as long as its predecessor because it has not one but FIVE extended remixes, including Kind Lady (Funk Disco Extended Mix), where Interlude obviously came from; Do It Right (Harmonized 2Step Extended Mix), which is basically the song repeated three times, once with minimal instrumentation under the lyrics, once mixed with richer instrumentation, and finally with richer vocals; Look To The Sky (Trance Extended Mix), a quite minimal but ethereal mix of the System S.F. hit (now referred to as SySF. - has he/she changed names like RevenG?) (I find it interesting the inclusion of Do It Right 2Step And Look To The Sky, as neither appears on MAX2.); Kind Lady (Future Trance Mix), which like the Look To The Sky mix, has much more of a minimal, sci-fi / trance sound but builds up to the unspeakably catchy music of the game's end credits; and i feel... (New Age Hope Mix), a short, extra minimal mix putting the lyrics in front of a calm piano melody.

In all, I can very strongly recommend this disk - I'm giving it 8 feet (Exorbitant, I think - can anyone still remember THOSE ratings?) out of 10.
_________________

[dj-Luminus]

Yes the MAX2 V-Rare has some really cool songs. Although old, yes it is a great CD. I really enjoy the Look to the Sky, Kind Lady, and i feel... remixes.
_________________

[stardf29]

I do know that i feel..., Bad Routine, and Tomorrow Perfume had to be cut down from their BM IIDX versions for DDR, so it's very possible that what you're hearing is the original BM IIDX versions of the song.
_________________

News Flash!
Piano Concerto No. 1 "Scorpion Fire" rivals Kakumei as Best Bemani Song Ever!