Celebs, Gamers Get Their Groove On With Just Dance 2
Maybe it’s the richer gameplay, the sweet new tunes, or enhanced features, but Ubisoft’s latest video game Just Dance 2 for Nintendo Wii is, dare I say, really, really, really fun. This is coming from someone who usually requires a few drinks just to get out on the dance floor, but at the game’s launch party last week, I was a dancing machine – no alcohol required.
Audrina Patridge took a break from her “Dancing With the Stars” rehearsals to host the exclusive Hollywood event. Joining her were fellow dancers Karina Smirnoff, Brandy and Giles Marini, former “The Hills” cast mate Whitney Port, Hollywood VIPs, and yours truly, to experience first-hand the follow-up to the top-selling Just Dance.
Unlike other music and rhythm games – namely Dance Dance Revolution – Just Dance 2 incorporates actual dance moves that engage the entire body, and like its predecessor, features choreographed dance moves for every style of music. Take away the Wii remote and TV screen, and someone playing Just Dance 2 might actually look as if they’re dancing. For those who may be a bit more shy, I assure you that Just Dance 2 is considerably less awkward than breaking out those staccato DDR steps at the arcade. DDR in public can end in a shame spiral but Just Dance 2 is just… fun.
Upgrades from the original Just Dance game include improved Wii Remote movement recognition for more accuracy, support for up to 8 players, four new dances modes – Duet, Dance Battle for teamplay, Party for continuous play, Just Sweat workout mode.
From what I saw, everyone from teens to 40+ adults got a kick out of it, and a new track list (below) featuring a mix of classic hits and current chart-toppers adds to the game’s mass appeal. Even the themes are fun — for example, onscreen avatars are dressed like the Three Amigos for “Viva Las Vegas”.
But do you have to be expertly coordinated to play? When pitted head-to-head in a dance-off, Brandy and Audrina scored 6213 and 5144 respectively, completely smoking dance pro Karina and her score of 1676, so maybe there’s some hope for the rest of us. Scores aside, Just Dance 2 is ridiculously fun and a must-have for any family, Wii party, or ho hum fitness routine.
So. Much. Fun.
Just Dance 2 for Nintendo Wii is $38 at amazon.com.
Just Dance 2 Tracklist
Luckily, most of the tracks used are by the original artists but the studio band covers aren’t too bad or cheesy.
1. Avril Lavigne – “Girlfriend”
2. Bangles – “Walk Like An Egyptian”
3. Beastie Boys – “Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim Remix)”
4. Benny Benassi presents “The Biz” – “Satisfaction”
5. Blondie – “Call Me”
6. Bollywood – “Katti Kalandal”
7. Boney M. – “Rasputin”
8. Charleston – “Mugsy Baloney”
9. Cher – “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)”
10. Digitalism – “Idealistic”
11. Donna Summer – “Hot Stuff”
12. Elvis Presley – “Viva Las Vegas”
13. Fatboy Slim – “Rockafeller Skank”
14. Franz Ferdinand – “Take Me Out”
15. Harry Belafonte – “Jump In The Line”
16. Ike & Tina Turner – “Proud Mary”
17. James Brown – “I Got You (I Feel Good)”
18. Jamiroquai – “Cosmic Girl”
19. Junior Senior – “Move Your Feet”
20. Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
21. Ke$ha – “TiK ToK”
22. Mardi Gras – “Iko Iko”
23. Marine Band – “Sway (Quien Sera)”
24. MIKA – “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)”
25. Outkast – “Hey Ya!”
26. Quincy Jones & His Orchestra – “Soul Bossa Nova”
27. Reggaeton – “Baby Girl”
28. Rihanna – “S.O.S.”
29. Snap! – “The Power”
30. Sorcerer – “Dagomba”
31. Studio Allstars – “Jump”
32. Studio Musicians – “Crazy In Love”
33. Studio Musicians – “Jungle Boogie”
34. Supergrass – “Alright”
35. The Frighteners – “Monster Mash”
36. The Hit Crew – “Holiday”
37. The Hit Crew – “Toxic”
38. The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
39. The Pussycat Dolls – “When I Grow Up”
40. The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy For The Devil (Fatboy Slim Remix)”
41. The Ting Tings – “That’s Not My Name”
42. The Weather Girls – “It’s Raining Men”
43. Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”
44. Wham! – “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”
(Wii owners, enjoy. Microsoft Kinect and Sony Move fans, you’ll have to wait until next year to get your hands on Just Dance 2.)
Pictured, Top Left: Brandy, Audrina Patridge and Karina Smirnoff get down to “Crazy in Love” at Ubisoft’s exclusive Just Dance 2 Event on October 19 at h.wood in Los Angeles.
From the King of Pop to the King of Avatars! “
“Thriller”-land, based on the music video. Credit: SEE Virtual Worlds
geekGLOSS’ Jennifer Latkiewicz is a lifelong geek and unrepentant Apple fangirl. She currently resides in Los Angeles where she remains undecided about the Singularity. Reach her via e-mail at 
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