''Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2'', or simply Ultramix 2, is a

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

rhythm video game Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to pr ...

released on November 18, 2004 by

Konami , is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company, video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machin ...

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

markets for the

Microsoft Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the nam ...

Gameplay

Music

Ultramix 2 has a unique songlist compared to previous releases on other console systems. Rather than focusing on songs pulled from specific arcade versions, there is more emphasis on completely new material. This is also the first DDR release to feature licenses from ''

A Different Drum A Different Drum was an independent record label and online store based in Smithfield, Utah, founded in 1996. The label specialized in synthpop and related genres. A Different Drum has released hundreds of albums, singles, and compilations and ...

'' records, a trend that would continue on throughout the Ultramix and DDR Universe series, as well as the arcade release of

Dance Dance Revolution X ''Dance Dance Revolution X'' is a music video game developed by Konami. A part of the ''Dance Dance Revolution'' series, it was announced in 2008 for Japan and on May 15, 2008 for the North American PlayStation 2. The arcade version was announced ...

. This is also the second DDR game to utilize downloadable content after its predecessor, allowing users to download song packs off of

Xbox Live The Xbox network, formerly and still sometimes branded as Xbox Live, is an Internet, online multiplayer video game, multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft. It was first made available to the Xbox ...

. A large portion of the new songs were ported over to the Japanese

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

release,

Dance Dance Revolution Strike The ''Dance Dance Revolution'' series started in 1998 and has grown to a large set of games in the franchise. This list of ''Dance Dance Revolution'' games documents games released, including systems, formats, and regions for which the games were ...

Downloadable content

Music sampler

''Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 Limited Edition Music Sampler'' is a bonus music CD featuring songs from the game. These samplers are available only to those who reserve the game before its release, typically at a

GameStop GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. The company is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operates 4,5 ...

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retail outlet.Konami Insider News – December 2006 Page 2
/ref> The CD contains tracks taken directly from the game as well as unique

remix A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...

es done by Konami's

in-house Outsourcing is an agreement in which one company hires another company to be responsible for a planned or existing activity which otherwise is or could be carried out internally, i.e. in-house, and sometimes involves transferring employees and ...

artists from a broad range of musical styles. Known to

as V-RARE SOUNDTRACK-4 USA, the V-RARE moniker had first been used by Konami to release similar albums in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

to commemorate

Bemani , stylized as BEMANI, is Konami's music video game division. Originally named the Games & Music Division (G.M.D.), it changed its name in honor of its first and most successful game, ''Beatmania'', and expanded into other music-based games, mos ...

game releases there and still are to this date are. In Japan the music CDs are usually bundled with a given game upon release. To date Konami has released 13 V-RARE discs in the US to promote various Dance Dance Revolution game releases and has released them through various video game and non-video game vendors such as GameStop, EB Games,

Toys "R" Us Toys "R" Us is an American toy, clothing, and baby product retailer owned by Tru Kids (doing business as Tru Kids Brands) and various others. The company was founded in 1957; its first store was built in April 1948, with its headquarters loc ...

, and

Burger King Burger King (BK) is an American-based multinational chain store, chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. Headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the company was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida–based res ...

. Of the tracks that comprise this CD the more notable ones are MAX 300 (Super-Max-Me Mix) a remix of MAX 300 from the Japanese DDRMAX

arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated game machine ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade game's hardware ** Arcade system board, a standardized printed circuit board * Amusement arcade, a place with arcade games * ...

and is also one song of many that marks the first time Konami has allowed outside talent to remix their in-house music, and In My Eyes (Midihead Remix) which introduces Bemani fans to Midihead, an artist that also goes by the name

Monolithic A monolith is a monument or natural feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock. Monolith or monolithic may also refer to: Architecture * Monolithic architecture, a style of construction in which a building is carved, cast or excavated ...

and has been well received by DDR fans for his unique vocals and song structure.

Reception

Promotions

References

External links

''Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2'' official website
{{DanceDanceRevolution 2004 video games Dance Dance Revolution games Multiplayer online games Video games scored by Jesper Kyd Video games developed in the United States Xbox-only games Xbox games