There are enough of these out there that you won't have to pay full price for it, which you absolutely shouldn't - they're not worth it. This isn't the best option for the long term, but personally, it's what I'd recommend to start with. Odds are, you'll find yourself cutting your teeth on a secondhand DDRGame metal pad. While I started playing on soft pads as a kid, they're the literal worst experience, and won't help you learn the basics you'll need to get good. Now, if you happen to live close by, you can stop reading - it doesn't get much better than a real cab.įor home play, pick up an entry-level metal pad - preferably from CraigsList or eBay. Drop a few bucks, play a few sets, and see if you like what the game's offering. Whether it's an old Extreme cab (there are practically billions in the most random places) or a newer entry, it doesn't really matter. That said, players who have touched them have described the pads as the next best thing to an arcade cabinet, so they'll likely be worth the wait.įirst off, start by finding a local cabinet. However, the project has been slow-going, and the community is a bit disappointed with the lack of progress in recent years. Impulse Platforms is also planning a premium metal pad that'll run somewhere in the $400 - $800 range.
But these pads don't come easy - the cheapest is the Omega 4X, which goes for $375 before shipping. They come in 4, 5, and 9 button varieties, and are much-loved by people who own them. Precision Dance Pads, who is currently taking orders for their 2020 wait list, offers their signature Omega pads. Unfortunately, the best options are also the most expensive. I haven't had the nightmarish experience others have, personally, but mine is also heavily modified. Otherwise, you'll probably find one of DDRGame's notoriously fickle metal pads, in which case you'll have to test your luck. If you're lucky, you can hit CraigsList and find an old RedOctane or Cobalt Flux pad - long considered the standard as far as home pads are concerned. Getting a good dance pad in this day and age is a feat. Related: How The PlayStation 2 Got Me Moving Before Nintendo Ever Did Again - it's important to locate a machine before you make any sort of trek anywhere.
While Dave & Busters got their hands on kits to upgrade existing A cabinets to A20 ones, a lot of locations simply don't have a DDR cab in general. Most vitally, however, Round1 was initially the sole NA distributor of A20, meaning that they're more likely to actually have a cabinet. While they're not as widespread as Dave & Busters, they're a significantly better experience for actual gamers, and often take better care of their cabinets - from my experience, anyway. For those not in the know, Round1 is a chain of Japanese arcades that have recently branched out to North America. That includes Dance Dance Revolution A, and in some cases, Dance Dance Revolution A20.īut if you want to play A20, you're better off heading to Round1. The prolific entertainment giant has long dominated the North American arcade scene, and while they're a far cry from an actual good arcade, they get plenty of newer cabinets. Dave & Busters almost needs no introduction.