Konami helped pioneer the dance game craze with a little series called Dance Dance Revolution. Featuring frenetic foot-stomping to musical and visual cues, DDR created a formula that survived the test of time with each new release in both arcades and homes. With DanceMasters, Konami takes familiar mechanics from the popular franchise and ditches the dance pad, producing a clumsy entry in the dance genre that offers nothing more than a mediocre experience.
Richard Worrall writes: "Think of dance games, and what comes to mind? There’s a fair chance that Konami figures quite prominently. From arcades to homes, their heritage in rhythm action (and dancing titles in particular) is long-standing. It’s no surprise then, now that dance mats have arguably had their day, to see Konami quickly adopting Kinect as the natural platform for what many consider as their genre.
It would be unfair to point solely to Dance Evolution for this problem, of course; Dance Central has similar issues. The choice between the two games comes down to your confidence as a dancer or, failing that, your determination to learn. Dance Central correctly guesses that most early adopters of Kinect probably aren’t accomplished dancers. If you’re not the typical Xbox couch potato, Konami’s offering presents a rich and worthwhile challenge. Just be warned: Konami expect you to keep up with their pace."
Konami announces details and screenshots for the new Costume Pack DLC for their Kinect title DanceMasters.
"Had it not been for Harmonix's take on the dance genre, which adds more flair, a more stylish interface, and an infinitely better track list, Dance Evolution would have been a fine addition to your rhythm game collection."
