About Just Dance 4

Game Overview:
In Just Dance 4, players can complete 4 different challenges to earn Uplay units.
§ Play your first song (10 units)
§ Complete 5 Dance Quests (20 units)
§ Play your first Sweat program (30 units)
§ Get 5 stars on a Song (40 units)
These Uplay units can be used on all Ubisoft titles whatever the format. More specifically, on Just Dance 4, players can get 4 exclusive bonuses:
§ A New Title screen on Wii U (10 units) // A new X360 Theme on Xbox360 (10 units) // A new Wallpaper on PS3 (10 units)
§ The Mash-up version of “Good feeling” (20 units)
§ The Mash-up version of “Beauty and a beat” (30 units)
§ The alternate version of “Call me maybe” (40 units)

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft Paris

Platforms: Wii, PS3, X360 and WiiU

Release Date: Already Released (Wii)
2/11/2012 (PS3 and X360)
TBA (WiiU)

Stay tuned to Gamingbolt.com for more news and updates.

Ubisoft has announced that Gangam Sytle will be available for Just Dance 4 for all the three platforms out there. The song became a phenomenon in Korea and currently has 770 million views on YouTube. It’s nothing short of a phenomenon, with a single song changing the fortunes of South Korean rapper called Psy.

If you have a Kinect, it will be interesting to see how the entire thing works. If the tracking is accurate it may be able to provide one of the most enjoyable dance experience ever. Not to mention a unique experience where people shake their hips in the most weird way possible. That’s how the song became popular anyway, right?

The song will also be available on the Wii U version of Just Dance 4. The DLC is said to feature authentic Psy moves, and we probably don’t have an idea as to what that means. It will cost 300 Microsoft Points and Wii Points and also will be available for $4 on PSN.

With over  770 million views since its July debut, the Gangnam Style music video shot into YouTube’s list of top ten most-viewed and has become a worldwide hit with politicians, athletes, celebrities and fans joining in and dancing along to the iconic dance moves.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Crammed full of tunes, the latest Just Dance is a great party game

Sadly, despite my exertions, it seems that I’m still destined to never impress the fairer sex with my moves in a nightclub… the truth of the matter is that I am just as mal-coordinated as I was before I’d turned my hand to a bit of Rock Lobster by The B-52’s.

But for that brief period while the scores were wracking up onscreen and I was winning the plaudits, I felt good and had a great time.

Just Dance 4 is the latest edition to the series that made its debut in 2009. With over 40 tracks – some old, some new – it’s available for the Wii, Xbox 360 (using Kinect) and the PS3 with the help of its Move motion controller. We playtested the Kinect version here and roped in a couple of friends too.

Get a few friends together and it’s a good laugh

This is a true party game, supporting up to four players at once – and the cool bit is that it doesn’t rely on an obscene amount of floorspace either. Standing side by side, there’s ample room to gesticulate wildly and bob in time with the music without causing injury.

Bright, brash and over the top, the cartoony look is attractive and clear, with animated backgrounds and the dancer(s) onscreen moving in time with the music. You’re required to mirror them. Simple. At the bottom of the screen, the upcoming gestures and movements appear, although all too often you’ll be transfixed on the main part of the screen. Right at the top there’s the player’s moniker, an indicator highlighting how many of five stars you’ve earned and text that tells you whether your moves are “OK”, “GOOD” or “PERFECT”. To the left, there’s a coloured blob representing each player that climbs a gauge to show who is winning.

Movement via Kinect works well although the accuracy is debatable. One of our party gave up half way through a dance to have a break yet it still judged that many of the moves were being achieved. Flawed perhaps, but it does mean it’s far more forgiving than titles such as Dance Central, making it well suited to younger players and novices. It’s not about having to learn the moves and pull them off perfectly, but more about giving your all. Match the gestures as best you can, and huge scores will still come.

The menu screen is sometimes difficult to navigate

Perhaps the biggest gripe with the control system is on the menu screen. A hovering hand is used to select the various options and swipe through the tracks but it’s hugely frustrating in practice. It just doesn’t seem to echo what you’re doing in real life – the hand getting stuck at the extremities of the screen or refusing to click a button. It’s a very hit and miss affair, and not nearly as effective as the swiping used in Dance Central.

Importantly, the music playlist is fairly diverse and includes dance tracks, pop, Hip-Hop, rock, R&B, country and funk. Despite them not all being my preferred tunes, I recognised nearly all of them. Clearly this is a game that’s supposed to appeal to young and old – and there truly is something for everyone.

The selection includes the likes of Rihanna (Disturbia), Flo Rida (Good Feeling), Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera (Moves Like Jagger), Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – (On The Floor), Nicki Minaj – (Super Bass) and One Direction – (What Makes You Beautiful) to name but a few. And for the slightly older audience, there’s also some Barry White (You’re The First, The Last, My Everything), Stevie Wonder (Superstition) and Elvis Presley (Jailhouse Rock).

Loads of songs and game modes should keep you busy…and sweaty

Once you’ve completed a few dances, you’ll gain points based on your performance, level up and unlock special bonus features. Besides new songs, there are various game modes available including alternative dance routines that offer a bit more of a challenge.

The Just Sweat mode makes a return, aimed at those of you a little more concerned about losing pounds than playing. There are various workouts on offer, with calorie counters and different intensities.

For sheer laughs, the new Battle Mode is a worthy addition. Here, you go head to head with your opponent in a fighting game reminiscent of the likes of Tekken. If you both achieve the moves and get the same rating, you’re safe. Should your opponent get a Perfect, for example, and you can only muster a Good then you take a hit and lose some energy from your health bar at the top of the screen. It’s a nice twist on the conventional dance modes and really pretty funny. Some of the moves are stupidly elaborate involving twists, turns, leaps and changing positions with your rivals.  Guaranteed to provide a few laughs and plenty of sweating.

If you need some downtime and manage to navigate the menus, you can lose some time watching the Just Dance TV channel and videos of other gamers who have lost their inhibitions and opted to share their efforts online. Like all such things nowadays, you can Like your favourites and so on.

Just Dance 4 is clearly not going to be for everyone – and I certainly didn’t think it would be for me. While my preferred games are generally a lot less energetic, I found myself having a great time dancing away to the tunes. With a few like-minded friends by your side, it’s easy to lose yourself and play until your heart is palpating wildly and your legs refuse to hold your weight. It’s great fun and often very funny, and will almost definitely be wheeled out when we next have friends over.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

The latest installment in the Just Dance franchise – Just Dance 4 – is now available in the UK, Ubisoft has announced. It will be released on the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 and will support Kinect and PS Move respectively. It is also scheduled to hit the Wii U when it launches later in November.

Since its launch in 2009, the Just Dance series has totally renewed the dance video-game genre, putting the accessibility and the fun at the core of the experience. Friends, families, kids, teens or adults, people from all over the globe have already enjoyed moving their bodies to new chart-toppers and all time-classics. More than a simple video-game brand, Just Dance has become a worldwide pop culture phenomenon and the launch of the brand new opus will push it one step further.

Just Dance 4 also includes an array of fresh new features and game modes, including:

 Battle Mode: In the all-new Battle Mode, friends go head to head with each other in six rounds of dance battles. During the battle, the choreography and music changes in real time, depending on who is currently winning or losing. The ultimate winner gets bragging rights until the next dance battle!

Alternate Choreographies: Players have the chance to unlock alternative dance routines for some of their favorite tracks. They can opt for a more challenging, faster-paced routine or more outlandish choreography, depending on their mood.

Expanded Just Sweat Mode: The popular Just Sweat mode gets a major upgrade with new workout sessions, personalized programs and a calorie counter to track your workout intensity. With Just Sweat, players stay fit while having fun – it’s exercise in disguise!

Nintendo Wii U-exclusive Features: The Wii U version introduces up to 5-player gameplay with an exclusive Puppet Master Mode. The Puppet Master Mode allows the player operating the new Wii U GamePad™ to switch dance routines that are being performed by the four other players in real-time. In this mode, the operator has the power to create choreographies and choose playlists for the other players to follow. In addition, the operator also has the ability to write on-screen live dedications and take pictures and videos of the best dance moments to share online!

Just Dance 4 features more than 40 new tracks, ranging from chart-topping billboard hits to classic dance party tunes, including:

• Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”
• Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – “Beauty and a Beat”
• Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
• Boys Town Gang – “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
• Rihanna – “Disturbia”
• Flo Rida – “Good Feeling”
• Elvis Presley – “Jailhouse Rock”
• Ricky Martin – “Livin’ la Vida Loca”
• Selena Gomez and the Scene – “Love You Like A Love Song”
• Sergio Mendes & The Black Eyed Peas – “Mas Que Nada”
• Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera – “Moves Like Jagger”
• Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – “On The Floor”
• The Girly Team – “Oops!… I Dit It Again”
• P!nk – “So What”
• Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass”
• Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
• Hit The Electro Beat – “We No Speak Americano”
• One Direction – “What Makes You Beautiful”
• Will Smith – “Wild Wild West”
• Barry White – “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything”

Artists featured this time include Flo Ride, Rihanna and sadly, One Direction and Justin Bieber. Tracks include Livin La Vida Loca, So What, Call Me Maybe and more. If that’s not enough, the Wii U version promises extra content.

Just Dance 4 is set for an October release for PS3, XBox 360 and Wii, with a Wii U version out in Winter.

The songs are: “Love You Like A Love Song” by Selena Gomez and The Scene, and “The Final Countdown” by Europe.

So the collection so far includes:

Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Disturbia – Rihanna
Good Feeling – Flo Rida
Love You Like A Love Song – Selena Gomez and The Scene
Maneater – Nelly Furtado
Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera
Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
Rock Lobster– The B-52’s
So What – P!nk
Super Bass – Nicki Minaj
The Final Countdown – Europe
You’re The First, The Last, My Everything – Barry White
What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
Wild Wild West – Will Smith

Something for everyone, then. Just Dance 4 releases for PS3 Move, Wii and XBox 360 Kinect. A Wii U version is also in the pipeline.

Assassin’s Creed 3, Far Cry3 3, Just Dance 4, and Rocksmith3, will be playable at the Eurogamer Expo at London’s Earls Court from 27th-30th September 2012.

Around 50,000 gamers will be able to try out  Assassin’s Creed III exclusively at the Expo before it’s available in the shops.

The massive Far Cry 3 will also be on the show floor, as well as a full size Disco Bus showcasing the latest in the dance phenomenon series, Just Dance 4.

Rocksmith is the eagerly awaited game that lets you plug in any real guitar or bass and learn while you play. For those wanting to swap power-ups for power chords, this year’s Eurogamer Expo will not only be the biggest, but also the loudest.

Rupert Loman, Managing Director of Eurogamer, said: “The buzz surrounding these games is enormous, and to be able to give Expo-goers their first opportunity to play them is fantastic. This year’s Eurogamer Expo promises to be the biggest gaming show the UK has ever seen.”