Dance Central 3 is the next in the line of successful dance games from Harmonix, the creator of the popular Rock Band franchise.
With the latest iteration, it has created a game that is not only a good dancing game, but is also a great advert for the functionality of the Kinect.
As with the previous games, players have to follow on-screen prompts or flash cards as part of a dance routine. These represent a single move in the dance sequence, and stringing them together with a relative amount of fluidity is the key to success in this game.
The song list is exceptional with a number of current titles and classic pop hits, from oldies like YMCA and Ice Ice Baby, all the way to current tracks like LMFAO's Sexy and I know it and the Black Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow. In addition, each song has three difficulty levels that have to be unlocked in turn. The song list will keep any party going for ages.
The Kinect motion control is probably the best of any game on the market. I was able to perform movements where I'm folding backward or forwards, with the Kinect still keeping track of my body. Even though the point scoring is relatively forgiving, the game is designed to make sure the player is actually doing the movements correctly and not faking it.
While there is no career or story, there are a variety of modes. These range from a single player mode to a party mode where an unlimited number of players can enjoy the game, two at a time. Here the Smartglass functionality comes into play, where the DJ can add songs to the playlist using any iPhone/iPad or Android device. It keeps the game going without annoyingly having to go back into the menu.
For uncoordinated dancers like myself, the game has a 'Break It Down' practice mode that replays the routine one step at a time and even slows down the moves. Unfortunately, it is very structured and there is no way to practice one specific section of a song. There is also a workout mode, which keeps track of calories, though I hardly used it.
Dance Central is a brilliant Kinect gaming title. Harmonix has been able to create a title that is fun, addictive and a great party game.
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