Dancing games might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of hardcore gaming, but for pure fun and engaging physical activity, they are hard to beat. If you’re looking to liven up your living room and get moving, the Wii console offers a fantastic library of dancing games. While my personal dance floor experience peaked at awkward middle school dances, the pressure-free environment of my own home, thanks to the Wii, became the perfect place to explore the world of rhythm-based gameplay. Two titles in particular stood out from Ubisoft: Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson: The Experience. While structurally similar, each offers a unique flavor to get you off the couch and into the groove.
Image alt text: A humorous depiction of the reviewer’s imagined awkward prom dancing experience, contrasting with the fun of Wii dance games.
Both Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson: The Experience share a core gameplay loop. You hold a Wii Remote in your right hand and mirror the movements of vibrant on-screen dancers to a variety of pop songs. Pictograms appear to help you anticipate upcoming moves. The visuals are presented in a stylized silhouette aesthetic, with a clear highlight on the right hand of the avatar, indicating which hand the Wii is tracking. This simple control scheme is central to the appeal of these Dancing Games On Wii, making them accessible to players of all skill levels.
However, the simplicity of using only the Wii Remote in one hand also reveals a key aspect of these games: they operate largely on an honor system. The Wii’s motion detection isn’t sophisticated enough to capture full body movement. Therefore, while the on-screen characters are performing complex dance routines with footwork and body movements, the game primarily tracks your right hand motion for scoring. If you’re solely focused on maximizing your score, you could technically get away with minimal movement. However, the real joy of these Wii dancing games lies in embracing the experience and attempting to truly follow the choreography. This became apparent even when introducing the games to my fiancée and her sister. Initially enthusiastic, they quickly discovered the ease of “gaming” the system, leading to either fatigue or disinterest as the novelty wore off.
Despite their shared foundation, Just Dance 2 (JD2) and Michael Jackson: The Experience (MJ:TE) differentiate themselves with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Just Dance 2 boasts an impressive breadth of musical genres, spanning decades from 70s disco and 60s soul to contemporary dance and top 40 hits. While many tracks are typical pop fare, there are genuine gems to be discovered. Personal highlights include tunes from Junior Senior, Jamiroquai, Beastie Boys, Supergrass, and James Brown. Visually, JD2 also offers more variety. While the general aesthetic leans towards a flashy, iPod commercial style, creative variations are sprinkled throughout. For example, the Junior Senior track incorporates 8-bit pixel art backgrounds, and a Digitalism song features a Tron-inspired avatar shooting lasers. For those wanting even more content, JD2 provides a store to purchase additional tracks for Wii Points.
Image alt text: Image showcasing the Tron-inspired visual style in Just Dance 2, highlighting the game’s visual variety amongst Wii dancing games.
However, Just Dance 2 has its downsides when compared to MJ:TE. The choreography in JD2 often feels less inspired. There’s a greater reliance on repetitive and simplistic hand movements, twirls, and basic robot-like motions. Some routines verge on self-parody, reminiscent of overly cheesy dance moves. Furthermore, the selection of pop songs, while broad, includes a larger proportion of generic and unmemorable tracks compared to MJ:TE. A more personal drawback was the difficulty in playing songs with female avatars without feeling somewhat self-conscious.
Michael Jackson: The Experience generally presents a greater challenge, even though it too can be “gamed.” The music selection, unsurprisingly, is consistently stronger, especially for fans of Michael Jackson. Fortunately, the game focuses on his prime era, featuring numerous tracks from iconic albums like Thriller and Bad, along with the infectious energy of “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” from 1979. While some of his less impactful 90s material is included, it remains danceable. “Thriller” stands out as a particularly enjoyable track, incorporating dance moves directly inspired by the legendary music video, although not replicating the entire routine, which is a minor disappointment. MJ:TE also offers a degree of customization with multiple difficulty levels for certain songs. Unless you have an aversion to Michael Jackson’s music, MJ:TE is arguably the superior choice within the realm of dancing games on Wii. It’s a safe assumption that anyone interested in Wii dancing games likely has some appreciation for the King of Pop.
Image alt text: A stylish in-game shot from Michael Jackson: The Experience, emphasizing the smooth dance moves and iconic style central to these Wii dancing games.
In conclusion, both Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson: The Experience provide entertaining diversions if you’re willing to engage with the choreography, despite the limited feedback from the Wii’s motion controls. However, if you’re serious about getting the best dancing game experience on Wii, Michael Jackson: The Experience stands out. The music is more consistently engaging, the dance moves are generally more captivating, and, for those lucky enough to find a launch copy, it includes a memorable bonus: a white glove, instantly channeling the King of Pop himself.
Image alt text: A humorous image of the white glove included with Michael Jackson: The Experience, highlighting a unique selling point for fans of Wii dancing games.
