The Smurfs Dance Party

Common Sense Media says

Cute Smurfs movie tie-in suffers from clumsy controls.

Age(i)

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Quality(i)

 
(i)
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The Smurfs Dance Party gallery

What parents need to know

Positive messages

The story mode follows the Smurfs movie. The narrative is light and incidental to gameplay, but some positive messages still come through, including making new friends, exploring new places, and teaming up to solve problems. The game also encourages players to get up and move as they dance along to various Smurf-themed and modern pop songs.

Positive role models

This game is about having a bit of casual fun, so there are no dark overtones or characters. Even Gargamel, the well-known villain and opponent of the protagonist Smurfs, is only a little menacing (he teaches players moves to perform in dancing videos). But the focal point of the game is the Smurfs, and they exude positivity in their friendliness and teamwork.

Ease of play

There is no way for players to lose in this game. Kids are scored based on how well they perform the dance moves, but they are never required to reach a certain score to continue. However, the game suffers from clunky controls that make it difficult to play to perfection. The Smurf dancers that players are supposed to imitate are sometimes hard to follow, and the directions that appear on the bottom of the screen are incomplete and confusing. Because of these flaws in the design, this otherwise very user-friendly game becomes a frustrating venture.

Violence & scariness
Not applicable
Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

This game is a direct tie-in to the theatrical Smurfs movie.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Smurfs Dance Party is a dancing game that forces players to get up and move as they follow along with the steps of on-screen Smurfs characters. Songs include originals like the Smurfs theme and "Smurfberry-licious," as well as humorous takes on pop songs such as "Who Lets the Smurfs Out" and "We Like to Smurf It." Players can also expect some unedited pop songs, such as "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and "Just the Way You Are." The worst lyrics include flirtatious words, such as "sexy," but the overall experience remains very kid-friendly. Parents should note that this game is based on The Smurfs movie, and that it could incite in children a desire to see the film.

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Kids say

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What's it about?

THE SMURFS DANCE PARTY includes a story mode which takes players through a brief, truncated version of the Smurfs movie. In this story, the Smurfs find themselves in a weird new place called New York City and manage to find shelter in the home (or as the Smurfs call it, the "mushroom") of a friendly human couple. The Smurfs then search for a way back to their village while unknowingly coming face-to-face with obstacles set by their life-long nemesis Gargamel. Even though the story is presented in full, it is hardly fleshed out and takes a back seat to the actual gameplay and dancing modes.

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

Players should not head into The Smurfs Dance Party expecting a sophisticated dance simulation game. But even with those low expectations, they will likely become frustrated with the seemingly random and disorganized scoring system in the game. Following the dance moves exactly as the Smurfs perform them on screen can result in few or no points, while shaking the controller randomly sometimes provide players with a perfect score.

This is not a recommended title for dance game connoisseurs. However, those who want a simple, casual game related to the movie may enjoy what it has to offer.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about the role of video games in an active lifestyle. How do dancing video games compare to other forms of exercise? Do you feel like you are exercising when playing games that involve strenuous movement?

  • Families can also discuss some of the game's positive themes. How do you cope with being in new and strange places? Do you prefer working together with others, or by yourself?

  • Families can also discuss the role of villains in games. How does Gargamel justify his anger toward the Smurfs?

Game details

Platforms:Nintendo Wii
Price:$29.99
Available online?Not available online
Developer:UbiSoft
Release date:July 19, 2011
Genre:Exergaming
ESRB rating:E for Mild Lyrics (Nintendo Wii)

This review of The Smurfs Dance Party was written by

Mark Raby

About our rating system

  • 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 of any age.

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Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Teen, 13 years old Written bykoko985 August 26, 2011
AGE
2
QUALITY
 

Terrible.

Its stupid and annoying... you want a good dance game get Just Dance. Way better.
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Kid, 12 years old November 8, 2011
AGE
13
QUALITY
 

slipped

in "just the way you are" the word "sexy" got slipped. This is a kids' game, mute the cursing language like the JustDance games!
What other families should know
Too much swearing
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