 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Dance on Broadway
- Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3
- Price: $19.99
- Genre: Music
Common Sense Media says
Dancing game has great music but lackluster controls.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Dance on Broadway is an interactive dancing game that requires players to move and shake their controllers in a manner corresponding with dance instructions that appear on the screen. Unlike other music games, which run the gamut from country to rap, all 20 tracks in this game are from Broadway musicals. The majority of these songs are family friendly, though a handful tend toward lewdness (the word "ass" appears in one song). Play is focused on performing dance routines; there is no karaoke aspect to the game. We reviewed the Wii version of the game.
What's it about?
DANCE ON BROADWAY lets players dance to some of the most classic and timeless songs that have appeared on Broadway stages over the past 50 years. Players select an avatar and then follow that avatar's dance moves -- with Wii Remote in hand -- to score as many points as possible. There are 20 songs to choose from, which is smaller than many music games but tightly focused on a single genre. The game encourages players to get up off the couch and move around to burn calories while listening to their favorite musical numbers and performing what can sometimes be an intense upper body workout. Up to four dancers can play simultaneously on the same screen.
Is it any good?
Despite a nice collection of Broadway tunes and a novel concept, Dance on Broadway does not deliver a strong performance. Although players are asked to follow the movements of their avatar dancer, they are scored based on whether or not they correctly perform a much more basic maneuver. This can be an issue in songs that are very energetic and fast, making it difficult to follow the dancers and match the required controller movements at the same time. In the end, players will either have to choose whether to follow the avatar's moves, which are more fun but will lead to a lower score, or the simplistic arrow commands at the bottom of the screen. We were also left unimpressed by the presentation. Those hoping for a visual treat similar to what one would see on a New York City stage will no doubt be disappointed with the game's nonsensical, uninteresting background graphics, which have nothing to do with the songs being performed. Dance on Broadway is noteworthy for the fact that it celebrates Broadway music -- something not many games can say -- but it is not a worthwhile gaming experience.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how to incorporate active video games into their children's regular routine. Can video games help create an active lifestyle? Can you think of other fun ways to stay active?
Discuss the messages typically found in Broadway showtunes. Are they different than those found in most pop/rock songs?
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Music |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | June 15, 2010 |
| Price: | $19.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E10+ for Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes |
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