What makes a stepchart enjoyable?

[iGalaxy]

In your opinion.

Here's my opinion:

Steps that flow with the rhythm of the song.
1/8, 1/12, 1/16, 1/24 runs that are readable, playable, fun, and don't include a ridiculous amount of crossovers. (Such as the end of TMPH.)
No jump runs. (personal preference)
No steps/jumps (Got To Be Real, FELMO, NGOO, Unreal, etc.) that are thrown in as a cheap difficulty boost.
Freeze notes where freeze notes should be.

[Rene_A]

steps that allow you to move good with the song, for example 10s such as max300, legend, and unlimited are fun to do because it feels good with the song.
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[Shippo]

Yeah like the max songs (not like Xepher >< Good song but terrible steps)

[AA Bob]

- Interesting rhythms
- Patterns that flow (I hate EotC)
- Fast runs that are challenging but fun (e.g. LoM, PSMO, Unlimited - not HDVO)
- Slow patterns that are easy but not boring and repetitive

And most importantly...being synced correctly.
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DDR/ITG videos

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[Daniel]

When the chart is written in a way that the music guides it's creation.

[Russo`]

The Stepchart I think is really good is Ub3r r4v3, I mean the steps GO with the song. I really duno what to say but that. It just has to go with the song to make it feel like you kinda in the song.
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[Da-Risin-Smoke]

Something that flows and you can't double step.
EG: Doubles stepcharts such as Pick Me Up and Tango Expert (ITG3) and the works.
Concerto singles(r21)
Exotic Ethnic
That's enjoyable like beer and wine.

Something just focusing on more harder.
Like liquor.
Such as: Energizer, PSMO, FELMO, Pandemonium, you know.
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Groovestats

[Zonic]

They fit the music (adding freeze where there could be, stepping exactly to music, 1/16th & 1/32th where they should be)

No cheap steps (i.e NGO Challenge w/ all it's jumps)

Rhythm of steps isn't boring

[tekkie]

-The difficulty needs to match the difficulty of the song (like CSFILSM and not like Ska Ska no 3)
-The steps need to flow (like Holic and not like Konoko whatever)
-Jumps should be used only when they fit nicely (like Paranoia and not like Sweet Sweet Love Magic)
-Naturally, it needs to be synced right (like pretty much all songs and not like D2R)

That should cover it.
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[#Infinity]

Being a veteran DDR simfile author myself (and having just ranked 3rd out of 50 entries in Best-Mix Tournament), these are the key aspects I pay close attention to when deciding the enjoyability of a stepchart:

- Step patterns that are creative and unique that still pack an energetic punch to hold your attention throughout.
- Double-steps are used occasionally to add more surprises into the chart, but not so much as to hurt the chart's flow.
- Patterns are defined and consistent, follow a natural rhythm while still changing things around a bit along the way so they aren't repetitive.
- Breaks should be included so that each individual phrase stands out as being fun, however they should not ruin the chart's balance.
- Steps generally alternate by following mainly the background rhythms, but also the main melody and vocals as well, but never anything that's difficult to hear or awkwardly-phrased.
- Preferred difficulties may vary, but whether or not the step patterns are awkward to foot is particularly more important. So Deep is a tough 9 footer, yet the patterns flow really smoothly for me, while some of the easiest charts from Club Mix mainly are awkward imo.
- Ensure the syncing is as accurate as possible; however faster charts tend to be more enjoyable when they're slightly (and I mean slightly) early because the player's mood should be a bit more excited and thus more focused and eager to step to the notes, while more laid-back stepcharts work better if they're slightly later than usual to allow the player to "sink into" the song's groove and melody.
- Gimmicks work sometimes, but since they generally take major risks, it's usually best not to use them unless you can still somehow tie them into the chart's balance and focus.
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[Da-Risin-Smoke]

^Yep, he's got it!
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Groovestats

[KingofLight06]

To me a chart is enjoyable when I have fun playing it. Pretty simple.
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[HumanBeing]

I'm going to have to agree with other posters that synchronization is key.

Also, songs that are too long and repetitive make for boring accompanying stepcharts (usually). So, songs that aren't too long and stepcharts that aren't overly-repetitive are key as well. Yes, you inevitably will have repetition, but the more minimized this is, the better.

The steps have to flow with the music. Pretty much if it is sync'ed correctly, this is also true.

A few interesting parts in the song make for an enjoyable stepchart. I like stops in the song which go with the beat of the song (Chaos would be an extreme example, but Burning Heat also has that near the end, as do others)

I like variable speed songs. It is so much more interesting when the arrows speed up (or slow down) for part and then go back to what they were or change again, provided it goes with the music.

Enjoyable song. If you flat-out cannot stand a song, you probably will not enjoy the stepchart for it either, no matter how good of a stepchart it is by other measures.

Overplayedness. If something is overplayed to you, you probably won't like it as much as a "fresh" song/stepchart.
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[ʎɐb sı ʞ01ɹǝɥs]

Almost any chart can be enjoyable as long as the song doesn't have the word "ska" in its title.