Oh where art thou, Random Thingamablogger?
Well actually, I've just been out the back testing Ubisoft's sequel to
Just Dance. Yes,
Just Dance 2. Now let's just make it clear that I've never owned or played Ubisoft's
Just Dance, so this review should be read independently of
JD.
So let's get it started.
Graphics
First of all, the visuals are great. I haven't played Xbox's
Dance Central (mainly because I don't have an XBox and I think I would want to heavily reconsider buying a whole new console as well as a camera and dance game since that would hurt my pocket
and make Bill Gates happy) but there's something very cool and retro about those neon colored avatars in gear that always suits the song compared with the really try-hard anime-like avatars from
DC. You basically just follow/copy/mimic the actions on screen as shown to you by your dance coach (sort of like looking into a mirror).
Gameplay
The gameplay for
DC is probably better though, when it comes to motion-tracking technology. All
JD2 has for motion-sensing control is the Wii Remote, which you hold in your right hand. But this really is a step-up from the old
Dance Dance Revolution games since it's unlikely you'll slip on a dance mat ever again. That's probably because
DC uses a camera to track even tiny movements from your body, which sounds pretty cool, like a new type of scanning machine. Well, actually, that idea's not really new. Remember
PS2's Eye Toy line-up? It's just that they never focused on capturing precise movements. The motion-tracking teachnology for
JD2 is good, but it's not perfect. Sometimes you know you're doing the right move and it won't register (a 'miss') and sometimes you'll be totally out-of-sync with the dance coach and it'll register as an 'OK', 'good' or 'perfect'.
Choreography & Tracklist
The dance moves for
JD2 were all carried out by real-life dancers with the obvious aim of making most of those dance moves actually feasible for your average person. All in all, the choreography is excellent. It's all a little bit of silly fun really. Some of the choreography is hilariously outrageous. But sometimes laughing is good for you, even if the game is a bit on the shallow side. As for the tracklist, this is totally one of the best set tracklists I have seen for a long time. Especially for a dancing game. Most dancing games feature club songs (that your typical mainstream music listener) but this has a track for everyone - ranging from A-Punk's
"Vampire Weekend" to The Pussycat Dolls' "
When I Grow Up". There is even an option to display lyrics so you (or your friends) can sing along too.
Just Sweat
This little section of the game actually lets you use the power of dance to help you sweat and burn off those calories. The programs range from mild to intense (and yes, that means a lot of sweat) and depending on what songs you cover (some are more calorie-burning than others) you'll either do something from 1 song a day to about 6 songs per day. Yes, for a week. Now I can see why dancers have such nice bodies.
Lasting Appeal
I would have to say, the lasting appeal of
JD2 would have to depend on how you actually use
JD2 and how much you like dancing. And I suppose I like dancing. The fact that they've actually added a store to purchase new content (new songs and dances) is something of a nice feature, keeping the game alive. It's a little bit hard to keep playing on your own though - since there are no unlockable items or difficulty levels. I've yet to play this multi-player but I think that's when the party comes to life. But you know, at times I find myself just wanting to grab the Wiimote and start dancing to
It's Raining Men, or something. And at times, I find myself giving in.
