Similar to fitness games, dance games have really made the most of the motion controls available on consoles. No longer do you have to use an accessory like a Dance Dance Revolution mat that has you stepping from spot to spot. Today’s motion controls bring your full body into the game play. Much like music games have done in the past few years, we are starting to see full dance games focused on a single artist. Following their released centred around Michael Jackson, Ubisoft now brings the Black Eyed Peas (BEP Experience) to their line of dance games.
Before I jump into the games nuances I have to admit, I’m a 38 year old guy with no rhythm whatsoever. When it comes to dancing, I will be the first to admit that I am horrible. Playing BEP Experience has been an interesting but fun experience. Right off the bat, I have to give Ubisoft credit for the quality of artists they bring to their “Experience” line of dance games. The Black Eyed Peas shot to stardom in the early 2000’s and have released a string of number one hip hop singles one after another. As one of the loading screen factoids points out, the Black Eyed Peas are one of only a handful of groups that have a number one single on the charts replaced by another of their own tracks.
BEP fans will be happy to see that pretty much all of these hit singles are included in this game. In total there are 30 tracks included. This is decidedly less than the other dance games that offer 40-50 songs. This is definitely something to consider for someone in the market for a dance game who might want more variety and a bigger set list.
On the Xbox 360, the BEP Experience requires the Kinect to play. From the moment the game loads up to the menu system and through to the actual dance game play, BEP Experience really shows off a level of motion control beyond a set of token gestures and poses that I’ve seen in some of the other Kinect games I’ve played. This is the first Kinect game that I felt I was truly controlling with my body. This organic feel is fantastic and the menu navigation is among the best I’ve seen for a Kinect title.
While you can jump immediately into the game via the Dance Party mode, the meat of the game is in the Deluxe Experience mode. This is essentially the campaign portion of the game where you choose a character and play through each of the game’s included song tracks. As you progress through this mode, you unlock new character customizations through increasing your “followers”. These unlocks include such things as new tattoos or outfits for your character. BEP Experience at its core is a typical rhythm-based game play. You simply need to follow the movements of the group on screen and you are rated on how well you physically perform the move and how well timed it is to the lead dancer’s movement. The better you do, the more points and followers you earn.
Instead of just throwing you directly into a song, the Deluxe Experience mode breaks each song’s routine into parts where you learn each dance step one at a time. These step lessons are further enhanced with the option of raising your hand for more help. Doing this takes you in and out of a Dance Coach mode that offers more help in learning each move for those that need it. This is a great option for the ‘not-so-skilled’ dancers like myself. Once you’ve completed each of the step lessons, you have then learned all of the different steps required for the full routine. My only complaint about this mode is that with three step lessons before the full routine each song track becomes a little repetitive.
From time to time during the Deluxe Experience mode you are faced with Dance Challenges. These pit the player against a member of the Black Eyed Peas in a unique challenge. Think of these like mini boss battles. Completing each challenge unlocks special accessories for your character. BEP Experience also allows the player to create their own dance routines via a Choreo-Maker mode. You can share your routines on Xbox Live and try those of other players that have done the same. Touched upon earlier, Dance Party is where you’ll want to be when playing with friends. While you and a friend can play co-operatively, you can also add two more people to the fun using any Xbox 360 compatible microphone. While two players dance, the other two players can sing along to the songs and add to the points totals.
I’m sure that all dance titles offer somewhat of a fitness component but I was surprised how much BEP Experience taxes the gamer. I’m a pretty fit guy but trying to keep up with all the moves even made me a little sweaty. You aren’t approaching Zumba or EA Active levels here but I think it is worth noting that this one requires more than an average level of activity despite what the box says. Whether you’re a hardcore fan of the Black Eyed Peas, a dance game junkie or just someone looking for a fun party game for when friends come over, you should be able to find something of your liking with BEP Experience.
The BEP Experience meets the standard of high presentation values set by other Ubisoft titles. While it isn’t a technical feat like maybe a Gears 3, Modern Warfare 3 or Uncharted 3, the BEP Experience has a distinct and pleasing look to it. The character models are easily identifiable and well detailed. While the actual Black Eyed Peas feature the highest amount of graphical detail (as they should) even the player and surrounding characters sport a nice level of fidelity. The entire game has a techno/futuristic neon look to it that I found really fits with the Black Eyed Peas. All of this is wrapped up nicely with a nice variety of dance venues and solid animation that looks both life-like and actually will help the player learn the dance moves properly. The detail in the animation really gives the on-screen characters authenticity.
There are games where sound merely enhances the experience and then there are games like this one where sound is the star of the show. Whether or not you’re a fan of dance music or BEP, there’s no denying the hit factor of the songs included in this game. There’s a reason this group has sold more than 56 million albums during their career. The music is catchy. You will find yourself tapping your foot along with the beat even if you’re just watching. Even after you’ve stopped playing, the songs stay in your head. The songs are made even better through the use of Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Crank up the volume. There’s a good chance your spouse or roommate might not mind.
The Black Eyed Peas Experience is a really fun dance game for the Kinect. The track offerings might be a little limited; however, Ubisoft provides great source material with the Black Eyed Peas. The Kinect controls feel natural and accurate, and the presentation values are excellent. There’s something here for all skill levels and there is no denying this one’s high potential for party game fun.
