Dance Central Spotlight

Come for the new and improved features, stay for the far better soundtrack.

Harmonix proves once again that they are the masters of Kinect: The movement recognition is almost flawless. The decision to shrink everything down to downloadable snack size is not that convincing though. Nonetheless this is still worth to sink your teeth in.

It strips away the finesse of past games, the silly stories and the complex modes better used by skilled players, for a focus on movement itself.

The game also scales in difficulty, making it the ultimate casual party game while also allowing the dedicated to master complicated dance routines, all while providing a proper workout.

Rather than beef up the feature list, Harmonix has taken the opposite approach: it's slimmed down the game, offered way more value, and removed the obstacles between you and just getting out there and dancing. It's a different take on Dance Central, but the party is just as fun as ever.

It's the same Dance Central, but conceived as a core (and cheaper) experience you can expand with the songs you like.

Precision in the motion tracking is everything for a game like this, and it works most of the time. One of the best of its genre.

If you're looking for a good party game to enjoy with your friends, this will be a good choice. Just be aware that the few tracks included will quickly wear out and you'll soon need to buy additional ones.

Though it feels like it moves a step back in the series’ multiplayer potential, the hundreds of dance moves, great progression between difficulties, and the more realized Fitness mode pick up the slack.

While not the best “game” there is, this is one of the best displays of the latest Kinect technology. The move to digital is a great choice, as is giving you the ability to compile the soundtrack of your liking in the long run. There just needed to be a lot more meat on the bones of this meal, as well as the ability to get to the main course a bit quicker.

If you have an Xbox 360 and a Kinect handy, you'd be better off just picking up prior Dance Central games on the cheap and reaping the benefits of an extended library, better multiplayer, and more game modes. But for everyone else who bought an Xbox One and has a Kinect collecting dust, it's a great way to bring some life to your next party.

It's a new, competent episode, but there's nothing really new here, apart from the business model strongly based on DLC.

With a low entry price but very few songs included Dance Central tries a new way to find success. Just as the previous Dance Central games the core gameplay in Spotlight shines, even though it doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. If you want a good Kinect game, this is the one to get.

It speaks volumes about the core mechanics when Dance Central Spotlight can still be considered a good game despite its issues.

Dance Central Spotlight will be a hard pill to swallow for the legions of rhythm fans burnt out on Rock Band DLC, but will suit those who’ve accepted DLC culture just fine. Cost-conscious gamers should proceed with caution because that $10 purchase price is just the beginning.

If you still have the dancing bug in you, give Dance Central: Spotlight a shot. If not, well, it’s not like you are missing out on much other than a short 10 track offering.

Modern, pretty and competent, but devoid of stupid fun and a soul. [Dec 2014, p.78]