Unlike Sonic Team's other upgrades, Samba 2K both adds and subtracts from the original formula. Gameplay mechanics and goals are all exactly the same as in the original, so to get the scoop on that, check out the Samba de Amigo museum page. This page just covers the Ver.2000-specific changes and enhancements.    The most significant addition is the new Hustle mode. Before starting any game, you're given the option to play in Original mode or Hustle mode. Original mode's the same old same old, but when doing the Hustle, shaking takes a backseat to swinging. While there's still a bit of rattling to the direction of (green) Rhythm Dama, for the most part you'll be playing follow-the-leader to Pose's maraca swinging shenanigans. Swinging is exactly what it sounds like: move one or both maracas back and forth between two of the indicator points at varying speeds, and every once in a while you'll be prompted to make a complete circle around all six indicators. (When using the standard control pad, "hustling" is done by rotating the D-pad in the pattern of Pose's swing.)

   All but two of the original songs is back. "Mas Que Nada" and "El Mambo" are mysteriously missing, but Sega was able to talk Sony into allowing them to include "The Cup of Life" and "Livin' La Vida Loca." Download songs notwithstanding, there are fourteen new additions, including "Vamos A Carnaval!" and "Mambo de Verano", two original songs produced by our main maestros at Wavemaster. Here's the complete song list, with the new additions listed in bold:

   To the terror of Samba fans everywhere, the feared Challenge mode returns, and it's badder than ever. (God, just let me DIE!) Sure, it doesn't seem so bad at first... it's not easy, but no harder than the original Challenge mode from Samba 1. Until, of course, you actually clear what seems to be the entire series of challenges. In Samba 1, this rewards you with the game's credits -- not much, but at least your torment was over and you had bragging rights. That was back when Sonic Team was kind and merciful. This time around, you unlock a whole new fucking Challenge mode that's even harder than the first. Welcome, children, to hell.

   And if you think clearing all that makes you badass, try this little number:

   The Survival mode, unlocked after clearing the Maracas Star level in Challenge mode, is the mother of videogame endurance tests. You start what on the surface seems to be a normal Original mode game, where you can choose any one of the songs you've unlocked or downloaded. Once you begin, however, you'll note that you have a life bar represented by a line of maracas. You'll also note that every time you miss a beat, the life bar shrinks. When your life bar hits empty, it's game over. The object is to clear through as many songs as you can on the same life bar. Now, if you're a reasonably experienced player (and you'd have to be to unlock Survival mode in the first place), you're in for a bitch workout. (Unless you're using the regular controller, of course, in which case I have nothing to say to you.)

   The Mini-Game mode is back, but gone are the five timed challenges of the original. Instead, the lot of them are replaced with a single sub game: volleyball. Amigo's making his way through five increasingly difficult opponents (Linda, Bingo & Bongo, Chumba & Wamba, Rio, and Pose) in a bizarre volleyball marathon. The screen is divided into two segments with a net right down the middle. All you see of your character are two floating hands: one is controlled with the left maraca, one with the right. Move the maracas around to move the hands. The rules are just like real volleyball: don't let the ball hit the ground on your side of the net, and you can only touch it three times. You can simply knock the ball around by moving the maracas around, or you can spike it by shaking the maraca as you hit the ball. In order to do the power spike technique: when the ball is on your side of the net, shake one maraca until that hand starts flashing, then hit the ball with the flashing hand to send it exploding into your opponent's side. This technique is nigh unblockable, and is the only trick later opponents will fall for.

   The 19 artificial maraca sound effects of the original are back, but this time you don't need to meet any requirements to unlock them. There are also 9 different noises you can apply to Hustling: the default is Hi, with additional selections including Viva, Samba, Wao, Ha, Soiya, Yeah, Hey, Whistle, and Love.

   That's all the new stuff, but the transition from Samba to Samba 2K was not without casualties. As pointed out above, the inexplicable absences of "Mas Que Nada" and "El Mambo" from the song list are notable mentions. While the ever-popular Love Love mode returns in all its horny glory, the Battle mode is reduced to a memory. The five mini-games of the Party mode are history, replaced with a single (rather uninspiring) volleyball game. While the enhancements mostly make up for the losses, it's kind of odd to make an 'upgrade' which removes cool old features that didn't disrupt the balance.

Random Mode -- At the difficulty selection screen, shake the left maraca 15 times low.

Rocky Road: The Theme of Rocky, "Gonna Fly Now," is literally the theme song to the original 1976 boxing flick, Rocky. In the movie, an underdog Italian-American boxer named Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) faces the fight of his life against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. The match is set up as a bicentennial publicity stunt by Apollo's managers, who assume the fight will be a sure thing against such a born loser as Rocky. But "born loser" Rocky trains viciously for the impending match, and although he ultimately loses in a split decision by the judges, he fights with the heart of a champion. The movie became a smash hit, receiving 3 Academy Awards and earning a permanent place in America's pop culture.

Rolling Start: In 1994, Sega released an arcade racer utilizing their state-of-the-art Model 2 board. The game was Daytona USA, which would become the spiritual successor to OutRun, particularly in its catchy music. Let's Go Away is the game's main theme.

Jet Set: Smilebit broke all the rules and made their own with the hip, stylized Jet Set Radio for the Sega Dreamcast. Players control members of the GG's, a street gang in a future Tokyo where off-the-wall skating separates the cool kids from the wannabes. With a stylized cel-shaded look and a hip soundtrack to match, JSR turned into a cult hit that has become synoptic with the entire Dreamcast era in the same way that NiGHTS symbolizes the Saturn. Let Mom Sleep is the game's showcase theme song.