I'm not sure that comparison is all that valid. Little in DDR just removes all but the on-beat (quarter) notes. All of the controls of the game are still in play. Auto-scratch, on the other hand, removes an entire control element from gameplay (the turntable).BakaOrochi wrote:Think of it this way.
Playing IIDX with auto-scratch is like playing DDR with little on. In some songs, it's like playing with no down arrow. If you can learn to pinky-scratch (which I highly suggest you learn early on), then scratching isn't as hard as it seems anymore.
Plus, your accomplishments with auto-s means SQUAT. Would you take someone who says they can FC PSMO with Little on seriously?
Beatmania has a hard learning curve. Don't spoil the game for yourself by turning auto-scratch on. It makes getting off it A TON harder. Learn without it, and don't ever be tempted to use it. If you need to pass songs, turn EASY on, and put the gameplay level to 1.
Little is more akin to IIDX's Beginner Mode in that it has you playing easier patterns of the same songs (and of course DDR has a Beginner mode that does the same thing, too). If there's any DDR equivalent to auto-scratch (I'd argue there certainly is no direct equivalent), I'd say it would be more like playing 3-panel mode on a Solo machine because it actually removes an entire panel from play.
But a better Bemani equivalent of auto-scratch would be auto-bass in Drummania. In both cases, you have a bunch of controls (buttons in IIDX, drum pads in DM) and then another control that's different (turntable/bass pedal). These auto modes remove that different element.
BTW, I do realize you were probably trying to use DDR as a frame of reference because it is what most people would be familiar with.
I definitely agree with your other suggestions of Easy and lower difficulty as a way to get started if you cannot overcome the frustration of not being able to pass songs early on.