DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix

DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution 7thMix
Japanese PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami
Series	Dance Dance Revolution Bemani
Engine	7thMix, 7thMix PlayStation
Platform(s)	Arcade, PlayStation 2
Release	Arcade JP: March 27, 2002 PlayStation 2 JP: April 24, 2003 NA: September 23, 2003
Genre(s)	Music, Exercise
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Cabinet	Custom
Arcade system	Bemani System 573 Digital
CPU	R3000A 32 bit RISC processor
Sound	PlayStation SPU
Display	29" CRT (Raster, 256x224 & 740x480)

DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix (DDRMAXダンスダンスレボリューションシックスミックス, Dī Dī Ā Makkusu Dansu Dansu Reboryūshon ShikkusuMikkusu^?), sometimes abbreviated as 6thMix (シックスミックス, ShikkusuMikkusu^?), is the 6th game in the Dance Dance Revolution series of music video games. It was released in the arcades by Konami on October 19, 2001 and for the PlayStation 2 on May 16, 2002 in Japan. 6thMix contains a total of 42 songs, all which made their first arcade appearance on this release. 11 of these songs were previewed in various console releases prior to 6thMix. It was the first in the series to feature Freeze Arrows.

The interface used is a recoloring and smoothing of the song wheel interface first introduced in Dance Dance Revolution 5thMix, with the addition of changeable sort settings and a longer time limit.

DDRMAX was intended to be the Next Generation of Dance Dance Revolution. As such, there are many changes. First, the difficulty levels were renamed. Basic' was renamed 'Light', 'Trick' was named 'Standard', and 'Maniac' was named 'Heavy'. They are also given Japanese difficulty names in conjunction: 楽 (raku), 踊 (you), and 激 (geki), respectively. Their color codes—orange, fuchsia and green, respectively—remain the same. Also, all songs from previous versions have been scrapped in 6thMix (although the prototype version of this game had some songs from previous DDR versions), intending the game to start from scratch. Many past songs do return on 7thMix and later releases, however.

Core gameplay remained mostly the same on 6thMix and 7thMix, with the addition of Freeze Arrows and a new scoring system:

Freeze Arrows appear as green arrows with a long extension. If they are held for the entire length successfully, a O.K. is scored. If it is not held down for the entire length, a N.G. (no good) is scored. Freezes affect the life bar. Scores are calculated with 2 distinct scoring systems, the long-score system used to determine rankings, and an independent dance point system now used to determine the grade.