U-Dance

Back to the main review

What’s the Story?

U-DANCE creates a way to get a Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) experience without ever owning a video game console system –- this game is a "plug and play" game that you simply plug into your TV. It also does not need a DDR dance mat because it comes with elasticized motion sensor tags that you just slip over your shoes. In essence, your body becomes the game controller for this game as you dance, jump, and slide to the 12 musical tracks. The game has dances as well as two minigames.

To work, the game comes with a plug-in tower that sits on the floor in front of the TV to receive the signal from your feet. The screen will show foot patterns (dance patterns)that you copy to earn points.

Is It Any Good?

The motion sensors work pretty well and the dancing is more free than what is offered in DDR (where you are limited to always stepping on specific spots on a dance mat). With this dance game you are encouraged to jump, slide, crossover your feet, as well as just move. The pace and difficulty of the dances gradually increases as you unlock the harder songs. Younger kids will have fun with the minigame where you use kicks to knock lounge lizards off the screen.

While there is two-player option, it is not split screen head-to-head competition. Each player takes their turn with the one set of motion tags and scores are compared. Also, there are only 12 music tracks (including "Run It" by Chris Brown and "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna), a very small number compared to more robust DDR titles. Choose this game for families looking for active gaming but who do not own a console gaming system. If you own a console system, the DDR games have more depth.