DanceDance Revolution II

Review

Common Sense Media says

Fun exergaming, but song lyrics and videos age it up.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that DanceDance Revolution II is a dancing game played by placing your feet on a dance pad controller. It uses modern music videos from artists such as Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Yaz, Natasha Bedington, Bruno Mars and Selena Gomez. Some of these can feature sexually suggestive or violent actions as well as suggestive clothing and lyrics. To get the full experience from the game in multiplayer, more than one dance pad would be needed. The game will let players use a Wii-mote, but playing that way isn't as enjoyable as playing the game on a dance pad.

  • Positive messages2
    While exercise is at the core of this game, some of the songs have suggestive lyrics and graphics that detract from the overall message being conveyed. Nelly's song, "Just a Dream," is a look at a failed relationship and the positive take-away from this is that the song takes an honest approach without affixing blame.
  • Positive role models0
    While the on-screen avatars that you copy to perform dance moves are clearly modeling positive behavior in being active and enjoying dance, there are also decidedly negative images conveyed via the music videos shown in the background of the game. From a lingerie-clad woman dancing on a pole (in Ne-Yo's "Beautiful Monster") to fighting, kids will be exposed to some negative role models. By linking the music videos to the entertaining elements of the game, the game can be seen as creating false impressions that the negative behavior depicted is, in some way, entertaining.
  • Ease of play3
    There are four difficulty settings, and while the basic mode is relatively easy to perform, the expert setting and the exercise programs can be challenging with the movements coming fast and furious.
  • Violence3
    In one music video that plays behind the animated dancer and the scrolling moves that must be emulated, Ne-Yo (during the song "Beautiful Monster) staggers down an alley and then gets involved in a martial arts fight that includes punches to the face of his opponents. There is no blood, but these are depictions of violence inflicted upon real people.
  • Sex3
    Suggestive imagery is not part of the main game, but rather is found in the videos that accompany the songs. These videos show women dressed and posing provocatively (as in Miley Cyrus' "Can't Be Tamed") and Rihanna's "Only Girl."  In one song, Rihanna starts off by singing "I want you to love me like I'm a hot ride, Be thinkin' of me doin' what you like" while gyrating her hips. The lyrics go down the path of thinly veiled double meanings after that, such as "Take me for a ride, ride, ride, Oh baby take me high, high, let me take you by surprise, oh make it last all night, night."
  • Language2
    The language in the videos can contain words like "hell" (in Miley Cyrus' "Can't Be Tamed").
  • Consumerism1
    Some of the videos contain street images with signs advertising various products.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    In Ne-Yo's "Beautiful Monster" video, he staggers around like he is drunk before engaging in a martial arts-style fight with two people in a back alley.
  • Privacy & safety0
    No safety concerns: DanceDance Revolution II is played on one console, and while up to four people can participate, there is no online component.
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What's it about?

In DANCEDANCE REVOLUTION II, players select a game mode -- exercise or dance -- and then try to score the most points by matching the direction arrows on the screen to identical symbols on a dance pad. By playing the game with their feet, players dance as they game. The higher the difficulty level, the more the player is required to move. Scoring high points accumulates and unlocks new songs (with corresponding music videos).

Is it any good?

 

DanceDance Revolution II is both an exercise game as well a party game for teenagers. The music used runs the gamut from older songs (like Donna Summer and The Human League's "Don't You Want Me") to more modern music that can be provocative. The formula is basically unchanged from previous games, but even so, this is a still a challenging workout. The graphics are decent, and the controller is quite responsive. Those that have older versions may not feel the need to invest in a new game, unless they enjoy dancing to newer music.

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What families can talk about

This review was written by Michael Lafferty
Teen, 14 years old
December 16, 2011
AGE
10
 
10+
it says everyone 10+ right on the box!!!
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This review was written by Michael Lafferty
Platforms:Nintendo Wii
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Exergaming
Developer:Konami
Release date:October 13, 2011
Price:$29.99-$49.99
ESRB rating:E10+ for Lyrics, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
This review was written by Michael Lafferty

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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.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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