Publisher:
Ubisoft Montreal
Developer:
Ubisoft
Release Date:
23-Nov-2010
Platform(s):
WII
Genre:
Party
Age Rating:
the moves prompted by white on-screen silhouettes are not Michael Jackson originals
His Music: Check. His Moves: Um…
While this most recent variation of the formula popularized by the Wii’s Just Dance series, offers little in the way of innovation, relying totally on its exclusive content to distinguish itself, Michael Jackson: The Experience offers a choice of 26 original tracks from the recently deceased king of pop to choose from.
So if you’re an MJ fan, there are considerably fewer tracks you’ll lament when they inevitably pop up on random.
Spanning multiple albums and featuring a genuinely inspired selection of expected classics and well plucked, less recognisable gems, there is enough variation of song choice here, that it could prove playlist enough for the majority of Wii Parties.
Few games of its type could make such a claim. Hell, few games in general could manage that.
It’s just a shame then, the “Moves” are slightly less satisfying. Now I’m not a professional dancer, not much of a professional neither, but if recollection serves, a large proportion of the moves prompted by white on-screen silhouettes are not Michael Jackson originals.
Whether or not you actually care will be a matter of personal taste. Would that make you wanna scream?!
A party game designed for multiple players of varying skill levels, each track features two distinct choreographies of varying difficulty. There is the option to unlock a hard choreography, (which could have you pirouetting, moon-walking, and jolting your joints like a player possessed) and this provides excellent incentive to play through each track meticulously, but for the most part players will struggle with the medium setting.
Herein lays the fallacy: Most users lack a prolific career as a world class entertainer and as such, would fail rather miserably if asked to perform sequences move for move with the titular prodigy.
It just wouldn’t be fair.
And if games are one thing these days, it’s easy-I mean fair.
However, it’s easily understood how you could expect, having purchased a copy of a dancing game titled Michael Jackson: The Experience, with the tagline His Music, His Moves, that once the disc is loaded, intricate, dynamic and creative choreography awaits you.
Or is that asking too much?
From what I recall of Martin Scorsese’s 1987 Wesley Snipes vehicle “Bad”, players will be treated to no more than snippets of original genius.
Once you come to grips with this, for better or worse, you have a pretty decent party game on your hands. There is plenty of motivation to continue your hunt for experience points; with unlockable treats your reward. The aforementioned additional choreographies features, as do video tutorials and even warm-ups, hosted by an assortment of professional looking performers who are eager for you to limber up before pulling on your sparkly, white glove.
If you pull a hammy you can’t dance. And without dance, the party disintegrates surely?!
To its credit, should you have sufficient controllers and friends, it is possible for four people to co-operatively dance their way through certain tracks. Ingeniously, the techniques differ for certain players, so expect to elbow and kick each other as you try (and likely fail) to seamlessly sync your competing performances. The disastrous outcome of such an endeavour has almost been intentionally designed to add additional fun/lunacy to the party.
The fact remains however that this here is a party game, dedicated to Michael Jackson. If anything in that sentence doest appeal, then seriously, why would you find yourself subjected to it?
If however your Wii sits proudly besides your telly for the sole purpose of entertaining guests, this is a solid dance title with some excellent music to boot.
If nothing else, Earth Song is in there to raise some valid questions.
What about Elephants? Have we lost their trust?