Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Grooves Review

I think it's safe to say that it's a pretty well known stereotype that gamers just aren't a physical sort of people. We sit around with controllers in our hands, headsets over our ears, and play for hours on end despite the health risks of sitting for too long. We aren't stupid, we know it's bad for our health, but we just lose track of the time leveling up, going on campaigns and trying to find a blasted save point. Konami, the developer and publisher of such well known titles such as Silent Hill, Suikoden and Metal Gear, made a game designed to get a gamer up and moving, the now ever popular arcade favorite, Dance Dance Revolution, or DDR.

Before such systems as the Wii, gamers didn't have a lot of options for playing DDR outside of the arcade. The premise of the game, for those that don't know, is to follow a pattern of arrows using one's feet on a giant game pad instead of a hand held controller. Admittedly, playing looks more like flailing about rather than dancing, but it was much needed exercise kids weren't getting a lot of. Bringing DDR games to personal consoles detracted from the purpose of getting up and moving; the Playstation offered home versions of arcade favorites, including a number of Disney titles, but using the hand held controller tested hand-eye coordination, not physical limits. That's when the dance pad was introduced; a mat that could be plugged into the controller port and used the same way the game pads were back in the arcades.

Wii compatible dance pad. Floppier than its arcade counterpart.

Not the first of the Disney titles released as part of the DDR line, Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Grooves was a game I picked up on a whim. I like Disney, I like DDR, and I really like being able to play at home where I won't look like a complete dork jumping around in an arcade full of kids. This particular game is only available on the Wii so I made sure to purchase the Wii compatible dance pad with it. Now let me tell you something about the dance pad before I get into the real review of the game: if anyone wants to pick one of these up, I am going to strongly suggest picking up a large, flat piece of plywood just a little bigger around for you to glue this sucker to. Plugging this in and trying to play with it as is was a trial of my patience and good humor. This thing slides on hardwood, carpet, tile, anything you could possibly have installed in your home as flooring. It also crumples really easily, which got old fast when I kept missing steps because the arrow I was supposed to step on was folded up under my foot. Plywood gives the dance pad much needed support and traction. You're welcome.

Upon starting up the game, the player is asked to pick an avatar to represent them. There are premade defaults to choose from and there is also the option to use a Mii. After making that selection, there are a few options on the start up menu to click on. Groove Mode is the main focus of the actual game; you play certain set songs on the game's chosen difficulty levels to progress and unlock new songs and costumes for your avatar. Freeplay allows the player to pick through a list of songs and choose their own difficulty, from beginner to expert, just like playing DDR at the arcade. Workout Mode gives the player the chance to pick songs to get the blood pumping and burn calories, though when I played with this I felt it was just like Freeplay without the chance of pausing between songs. My Studio is where the player can have fun taking pictures of their avatar; children might get a kick out of this feature but I really didn't see a point to it.

It took one playthrough of the song Streets of Gold for me to realize that it was from Oliver and Company. I had no idea by title alone that it was originally from a Disney film.

As expected, songs in the beginning of Groove Mode are easy with slow tempos and few arrows on screen to follow. Progressing through actual gameplay unlocks songs that are meant to be played to continue, but they also get added to the list of songs playable in Freeplay. Groove Mode gets harder as the game goes on and I'm still stuck trying to pass one particular stage; I can't recall the name of the song off the top of my head but I will always remember it as the Duck Rap. It's fast, it's difficult and I have resigned myself to never passing it.

Freeplay is my favorite way to play this game because I can choose any song I want on any difficulty setting. Expert can be fun once in a while but I rarely go above the Basic level when I'm just goofing around. Most of the songs available are remixes or covers of Disney favorites, though there are some of the original tracks as well, which while appreciated was also a bit jarring after hearing faster paced variations. Going from a pop version of It's A Small World to the traditionally slower Thomas O'Malley Cat threw off my groove. Younger children, I'm thinking ages eight to early teen, will love the wide array of music as well as the avatar customization. The costumes are cute, ranging from Disney princess gowns to full body suits that make the avatar look like characters such as Donald Duck, Simba and even Baby Minnie Mouse.

Rating: 

Demographic: 8+ years, boys and girls.
System(s): Wii
Players: 1 - 4, as long as there are enough dance pads.