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Dance Central 2 Review for Xbox 360

Dance Central 2 Review for Xbox 360

Dance Like No One’s Watching

Ever since Dance Dance Revolution came to arcades, the dancing genre has been something of a quiet phenomenon. Whether you like to move it, move it, or just want to burn some serious calories, there is a wealth of dance games at your disposal. But which one reigns supreme? Well, if you’re looking to learn real dance moves and get a serious full-body workout, look no further than Dance Central 2. The game has the moves, the tracks, and the training tools to entertain both novice and expert players.

Dance Central 2 has a very minimalistic interface that lets you jump onto the virtual dance floor instantly. Those who played the first game should feel right at home here, but if you are new, Dance Central 2 has a whole bunch of new tools to help you find your groove. When you first select a song, you can either choose to play through it immediately or go through the Break it Down tutorial mode. This all-new mode shows you exactly what moves are in the song, challenging you to perform them yourself three times in a row to make sure you’ve got them down before launching into a song. This mode is great for players who are new to Dance Central, or just want to perfect their moves before playing to maximize their potential score.

Dance Central 2 Screenshot

Once you are actually in the main dance mode, you’ll have to perform the specified dance moves with the on-screen character. If you are doing the moves right, you’ll see some positive indicators on the dance floor. If not, the on-screen character will have a red outline to show you what part of the body isn’t moving to the music correctly. The body tracking in Dance Central 2 is amazing; every shoulder shrug, step to the left, and head bob is tracked with extreme accuracy. This is great if you are a dance pro, but if you are a newbie trying to learn the ropes, you might be surprised at how hard it is to accurately execute what seem like simple moves.

However, if you don’t mind going through tutorials and perfecting your moves, there is quite a bit of content to explore. The game’s main story mode is a “dance battle” mode that pits you against rival crews. The story mode isn’t terribly long, but it’s silly enough that you won’t mind a replay or two with friends. The story mode also lets you choose which songs to dance to, so you really don’t have to worry about repetitious moves.

Dance Central 2 Screenshot

If you don’t want to play the story mode and you are tired of dancing in the game’s exhibition mode, Dance Central 2 also has a fitness mode that is designed to keep players in shape. This mode is probably the least interesting of those available, but if you are tired of working out with Your Shape, UFC Personal Trainer, or any one of the other countless fitness games currently available for the Kinect, this is a good way to work up a serious sweat.

One of the most exciting new features in Dance Central 2 is the drop-in/drop-out second player option. Everything from the exhibition mode to the story mode can be played with two players simultaneously. Dance Central was already quite the party game, but the ability to play with two people outside the strictly two-player mode is a great way to make the full game feel like more of a group-centered experience.

Dance Central 2 Screenshot

But no matter whether you are playing alone or with friends, Dance Central 2 is undeniably fun. The game is extremely accessible for new players with the exhaustive training and tutorials, but it’s still challenging for veterans with scores of new moves and extremely sensitive body tracking.

The game also has a great soundtrack. Though the back of the box boasts that you can play 100 songs right now, only 44 are on the disc (the others need to be imported from the original Dance Central or purchased separately). However, these 44 songs feature a great mix of old and new hits. Popular songs like Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” and Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” are instantly recognizable, but the game also features some hits from decades past, including Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative” and Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love.” Oh, and just for fun the game also includes “What is Love” (from A Night at the Roxbury ), but don’t worry, you’ll have to do more than just bob your head.

Dance Central 2 Screenshot

Visually, Dance Central 2 is on par with its predecessor. The game’s has its own exaggerated visual style and sports an almost cel-shaded look. The game’s real strength, however, is in its animation, which is incredibly detailed. Because you rely so heavily on watching the characters move to the music, the animation has to be spot-on, and this game has an impeccable sense of rhythm. The visuals are also bolstered by the game’s minimalistic hub, which doesn’t overcomplicate the interface.

If you’ve played the original Dance Central, you know pretty much what to expect from the sequel. However, Dance Central 2 is far from a carbon copy of its predecessor, introducing tons of new moves and modes to help players get into the groove. The dance itself hasn’t changed, but the steps have been updated, and at the end of the day, that’s all this franchise really needed. If you want to dance like a crazy person in the middle of your living room, you can do no better than Dance Central 2. So go ahead. Dance like no one’s watching!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.0 Graphics
Visuals are highly stylized, and animation is top-notch. 4.5 Control
Body tracking in Dance Central 2 is the most sophisticated I’ve ever seen on the Kinect. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The soundtrack has a great mix of new hits and old favorites. 4.3 Play Value
There are plenty of songs to dance to in the exhibition mode, and newbies will appreciate the exhaustive training mode. 4.2 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • It’s Party Time! Team up with your friends to dance collaboratively with all-new simultaneous multiplayer features. Players can drop in or out at any point during a song, so the party never has to stop!
  • Pump up the Volume! Dance Central 2 features an unparalleled soundtrack of more than 40 new dance hits and classics. The new, fully integrated in-game Music Store will allow players to expand their song library by importing their Dance Central song list for Dance Central 2, bringing the number of songs available at launch to more than 100 tracks!
  • Kick it with the Crews! Dance Central 2 features a variety of new characters and fan favorites paired up as dance crews, each with custom outfits, backup dancers, and signature venues.
  • As Real as It Gets. Dance Central 2 provides detailed feedback for each player and, for the first time, enables voice commands within the practice process!

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