Parents' Guide to Just Dance 2018

They say you should "dance like no one's watching" -- well, now you've got the perfect excuse to do just that, as it's time once again to get off the couch and get your virtual groove on. Admittedly, Just Dance 2018 isn't exactly groundbreaking, following the familiar formula of the past few games in the series, right down to the decision to get players to download the companion app on their smartphone to use as a motion controller. Just like with previous games, those motion controls aren't exactly anywhere close to precise. In fact, you can easily just sit on the couch and wave your phone around, and still break out high score after high score. Then again, more adventurous types willing to put in the actual and intended effort might wind up with lower scores, but will have a blast making a fool of themselves ... especially in a party atmosphere with friends willing to have fun looking just as goofy.

While Just Dance 2018 did play it safe this year, not straying too far from what fans expect, it did manage to toss in a few interesting new twists. One, meant to draw in a new generation of virtual dancers, is a Kids mode. This mode has a kid-specific playlist of performances, easier difficulty, and LOTS of positive reinforcement, perfect for young and inexperienced newcomers ... and even the occasional self-conscious adult. Switch owners also get an added bonus with the new Double Rumble mode, which gives players specific rhythm challenges that require the simultaneous use of two Joy-Con controllers (one in each hand), as well as the system's unique HD Rumble feature. Neither of these additions reinvents the wheel, but they still add a bit of variety to the gameplay. Unfortunately, there's still a huge push to get players to sign up for Ubisoft's Just Dance Unlimited subscription service. While the game does include more than 40 tracks baked in, it never misses an opportunity to remind you of the 300+ library of tunes waiting for you, if you're willing to shell out a little extra money either monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Still, there's enough content in the main package to get friends together, move to the beat, and start up a mini-rave party on a whim.