DanceMasters

A mediocre dance game that doesn't really gets us moving.

Dance Evolution is pretty much the anti-Dance Central : a game thought for advanced dancers, with on one hand a playlist aimed to those who are accustomed to the franchise, and on the other hand many issues that make it more frustrating than fun.

It's basically DDR, but using the Kinect motion controller. Sadly, it's overshadowed by the much more charismatic and dance friendly game, Dance Central.

This is actually an evolution, in that Evolution involves random mutations that aren't always beneficial.

The actual dancing experience is closer to the real deal than Dance Central, but whether you'll actually bother getting into the game is a different matter. The song selection is limited and mainly contains j-pop and eurobeats, and with the overall presentation being highly focused on Japanese pop culture, Dance Evolution ends up feeling just a little too foreign.

Compared to its closest competitor, DanceMasters may suffer from a few questionable and incomplete gameplay mechanics but remains fun, challenging and appealing enough to warrant a purchase. Needless to say, those who preach for the DanceDanceRevolution church will get immense joy out of it.

Anyone can jump in and enjoy DanceMasters instantly, but those looking to truly master the game will find a long, rewarding process ahead of them.

A game only DDR fans can appreciate; for the rest of us there's Dance Central.

Who needs more than one Kinect dance game? Answer: not us, and not you. [Jan 2011]

Dance Evolution is not a bad game, but if you only want a single dancing Kinect title, forget this one immediately and buy Dance Central.

Overall, Dance Evolution is a great attempt at using the Kinect technology to create a rhythm-action game.

The faults are a shame because the basic gameplay works perfectly well and if the technical issues can be ironed out, and the musical horizons broadened, a follow-up could be the real evolution needed.

A great dancing game, a very direct and frantic arcade which will entertain us since the very beginning, without having to learn complicated choreographies.

DanceMasters is not a terrible game, just one that has been overshadowed by its competition.

The tracking is okay, but the track list has been chosen with a lot of courage. Players with a liking for dancing should get Dance Central, but if you're into the reflex-focused gaming like DDR, try Dance Evolution.

I would recommend Dance Central over DanceMasters any day of the week, though there is a certain charm to DanceMasters that will appeal to the folks that frequented DDR-friendly arcades back in the day.

But this game is also clunky, burdened with terrible songs and much too weird for most people. It's a quirky alternative to Dance Central, but not a competitor.

Dance Evolution is a nice game with a "too-much-japanese" track list that could be a big problem for casual players. Despite this problem, Dance Evolution is quite entertaining, due to a design able to mix up the hardcore Dance Dance Revolution experience with new, interesting mechanics.

There's going to be a certain group of fans who absolutely love (lovelovelovelovelove) DanceMasters – it does a great job of translating the spirit of DDR to the Kinect interface.

Though the novel camera feature fuels some goofy fun, DanceMasters only holds lasting appeal for dedicated dance fiends.

As far as Kinect dancing games go, Dance Central is still the better ticket, but if Dance Masters' distinct Japanese feel and set list move you, it may be worth a look.

Dance Evolution is not necessarily a bad game – at the very least it's functional and as a progression for the Dance Dance Revolution series it's certainly heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, in light of quality offer by its main competitor – namely Dance Central – Dance Evolution's attempts come off as somewhat shallow in comparison and unless you have a particular yearning for the style of music and dance routines featured, Harmonix's take on motion-dancing is a far safer bet.

DanceMasters is a fun and lighthearted alternative to Dance Central that can be as challenging as you want to make it.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

If you're not the type to shy away from enthusiastic Wii games, or loved any previous DDR games, then it's worth giving a shot.

For now, Dance Evolution takes advantage of the Kinect and if you're looking for a fun game and like dancing, well my backing dancers... you've come to the right place!

With some killer moves, excellent Kinect tracking, some decent dance tracks and whole lot of attitude; Konami's dance game offers accessible and encouraging entertainment for solo or a group of players. The only real let downs are a lack of recognisable tunes and no learning mode.

"Quotation Forthcoming"