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Parents' Guide to

Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3

By Erin Bell, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Quality dance game featuring artists' music videos.

Game Xbox 360 2008
Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3 Poster Image

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What’s It About?

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION UNIVERSE 3 continues to build on Konami's music video dancing game series for the Xbox 360 by adding more than 65 new songs; the ability to personalize a dancer with more than 200 clothing items, hair styles and skin tones; and an extensive Edit mode where players can create custom dance routines, video sequences, and DJ playlists.

Players use a special dance mat controller to play the game by stepping on the correct pads (left, right, up and down) that correspond with arrows that scroll down the screen in time to the music. The game offers a varied songlist of music from the '70s and '80s (The Jackson 5, Devo) to the present day (Moby, Jamiroquai) in various styles from dance and rave to disco, swing and pop.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

DDR Universe 3 boasts crisp, high definition graphics, and each song is accompanied by the artist's music video in the background, making it one of the most visually appealing DDRs to date. That combined with depth of gameplay, adjustable difficulty, and fun multiplayer modes make it a great addition to the Dance Dance Revolution canon.

Some of the best modes include the Quest Mode where you'll travel through Dance Dance city completing dance-off challenges to work your way up to Champion. Game Mode, which is unique to the Xbox 360, is similar to the traditional arcade mode where you complete songs of your choice in stages. Another great feature is that you can track your weight and calories burnt in Workout Mode. And for newbies, there's a Training Mode where you can learn to dance using guides like handclaps, a metronome, and speed adjustments. Party Mode is a collection of fun multiplayer modes. There's even a whacky single-player mode called Quad Mode where one person uses four dance mats, plus a Freestyle mode where players can use any steps they want as long as they stay on beat. All in all, there is something for anyone who wants to dance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how dancing can be a good way to stay in shape. What are the differences between the musical songs that create disco, swing, and reggae and what makes them different from each other?

Game Details

  • Platform: Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Release date: October 21, 2008
  • Genre: Exergaming
  • ESRB rating: E for Mild Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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