Review: Dance Central 2

Words by: Jennifer Allen | Posted on: Saturday 5th November, 2011 | Filed under: Game Reviews, Retail Games.

The dance battle is on. Which dance game should you buy ready for Christmas? Do you go with the fun but inaccurate Just Dance 3 that Dave reviewed last week, or do you go with Dance Central 2, sequel to the Kinect based smash hit of last Autumn? The decision is nowhere near as easy as you’d think. Ultimately it’s down to what you want from a dancing game. Do you want to mess around with friends and have a good laugh as you dance to silly pop hits? Or would you rather learn to dance like a pro? OK, Dance Central 2 doesn’t quite manage the latter but it goes some way nearer to achieving that goal than Just Dance 3 to the detriment of fun at times.

Backtracking a little, Dance Central 2 is a pretty impressive dance simulator indeed. It builds upon the success of the original Dance Central. For those who haven’t played it before, it’s the most accomplished dance game available for any console. Tracking the player’s moves at all times, not just how their hands and legs react, it takes someone with some cool moves to master the game. Or at least that was the case with the original. This time round, players of all abilities get a chance to learn how to dance.

Thanks to an improved version of Break It Down, the training mode, it’s possible to learn each move slowly and steadily. Moves can be slowed and sped up accordingly with customisable move lists ensuring that players stand a chance of figuring out how to get their groove on. This is precisely the mode that players like me need. You see, I can’t dance. While my hand to eye co-ordination is pretty spot on thanks to years of gaming, once all my limbs are involved, it’s an entirely different matter. Break It Down did genuinely improve my moves a little and I can see how plenty of practice would pay off with such a tool. Impressive going for any game.

Further improvements are present in the structure of the game. There’s a career mode that gives a sense of purpose to the entire single player experience. There might not be any sign of a weakly explained story to guide players through the paces but it does enable players to face off against a series of dance crews as they work their way through the game’s playlist. The playlist is an eclectic mix with a heavy focus on dance tracks. Recent hits like Lady Gaga’s Born This Way are there as well as classics like Haddaway’s What Is Love and the cheesy but fun Hot Stuff, courtesy of Donna Summer. Other tracks are less gripping however and, compared to the frivolous nature of Just Dance 3′s playlist, Dance Central 2 doesn’t immediately hook party gamers.

In terms of skills, Dance Central 2 wins outright. A variety of different moves can be learnt here with increasingly complex steps possible depending on the difficulty level and the track selected. This is where Dance Central 2 comes into its own with Kinect functionality reading everything possible, unlike Ubisoft’s hit making it easy to cheat with a flourish of manic arm waving. In particular, it makes two player Battles and dance off sections much more challenging and all the more satisfying to succeed at. Two player functionality is improved upon in all areas with proper drop in/drop out co-op available during all modes, including the career mode. It makes for an immediately more enjoyable experience than the solitary nature of the original Dance Central, providing you can find a friend keen to be a dance master as much as you.

That’s the problem with Dance Central 2. It’s so accomplished that sometimes it seems to forget to simply kick back and have fun. Just Dance 3 might be much less technically accomplished but it is heaps of fun. It’s the ideal game to load up and have a laugh with mates after a few drinks. Dance Central 2 takes work and practice. It’s rewarding but it does feel like effort at times (the fitness element to it will certainly help there). For those players looking to learn a new skill and who love dance music, this is a no brainer. This is a fantastic simulation of the dance experience. For the family and casual gamer, Just Dance 3 might be a little more appropriate.

About Jennifer Allen

Jen's been playing games for longer than she can remember (20 odd years) and has been writing about them for 4 years. In her spare time she likes to pretend she can train her guinea pigs to do tricks. She should stick to chocobos.

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