arcade sensation so elaborate (the coin-op version, pictured, looks like a miniaturized version of the Saturday Night Fever dance floor) that users might never have guessed an affordable home version was possible. Not only was it possible, it has spawned a hit series of games available for use on all the main gaming platforms. A roll-up mat contains sensors that track players’ dance steps, seeing how well they match up with on-screen instructions that grow increasingly complex.

Various musical themes have been introduced for DDR, like a new Disney Channel package targeted at tweener fans of sensations like Hannah Montana. Others are more broadly accessible, though: The SuperNOVA edition has something danceable for most pop music fans, be they American Idol followers (Kelly Clarkson), indie rockers (Franz Ferdinand), or ’80s junkies (Let’s Dance, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun).

Incidentally, for newbies: Once you’ve bought a DDR set, which comes with one dance pad and a disc of songs, you can buy other versions of the software as standalone discs without the controller. You can also buy a pair of pads, making the game competitive between two players dancing at once — in our experience, that’s the best way for players to keep their energy up enough to make the game a regular workout.

Versions of DDR for different consoles make use of each system’s special features and some, like this “Extreme” release, take advantage of the Eye Toy, a separately sold device intended to make getting off the couch

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