[Review] Just Dance 2020

[[MC]Ronin[MC]]

 

Just Dance 2020 is the ultimate party game!

Just Dance 2020 beats the beat of life wherever it takes you. From recent hits to favorite family songs, dance to the beat of 40 new songs, including:

God Is a Woman - Ariana Grande
Scybids - Little Big
Whirlpool - XS Project
Bangarang - Skrillex Ft. Sirah
Daddy Yankee Ft. Snow
Bad Boy - Riton & Kah-Lo
High Hopes - Panic! At The Disco
Kill This Love - BLACKPINK
Sushi - Merk & Cremont
I Like It - Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Policeman - Eva Simons Ft. Konshens
Pitbull Ft. Marc Anthony
Kids Mode
The award-winning children's mode, especially designed for the youngest players, is also back in the new edition of Just Dance. The eight music combinations in this play mode have been created with the help of child development experts to encourage useful movements. Kids will be able to enjoy the game completely independently and safely thanks to the special interface and point system that will encourage them in a friendly way.

World Dance Floor
You are invited to the biggest online coupon where you will be able to compete against other people and win prizes.

Just Dance Unlimited
Over 500 songs and other content via * Just Dance Unlimited subscription. Contains a one-month trial period.

 

Certainly the game is a lot of fun, as long as users are still happy to make a bit of space to swing their aims around in the living room. However, Just Dance 2020 does raise questions about the sustainability of the current Just Dance business model, and whether its current setup represents value for money year-on-year for avid fans.

 

 

That's not to say that Just Dance 2020 doesn't offer up anything new to return players from previous games. The standout addition is the All Stars mode, which takes players back through the ten years of Just Dance with tracks such as Major Lazer's Lean On and Katy Perry's California Gurls. It's a neat diversion from the core play, albeit one that won't keep players engaged in the medium to long term.

From a gameplay perspective the dancing is still enjoyable. The Just Dance controller app for mobile phones is back for all platforms except the Wii this time around, having been only used for PS4 and Xbox One in last year's release, and it works well for those who don't have the once-mandatory peripherals.

In general terms Just Dance 2020 works the same as before. Play through the individual songs, match the daring moves that the game requires you to make, and enjoy having a workout to some big name songs. It's undoubtedly better with other people around, but avid music fans will still get a kick out of popping it on for a quick jive.

 

 

 

The songs available in Just Dance 2020 cover off all the expected big names of recent times, across a fair few po[CENSORED]r genres. It's primarily electronic and pop music, and those looking for deep cuts won't find them here, but if those after the big hitters will find exactly what they expect. There's also a smattering of older songs, too, for those who want to feel very old when they realise how long it's been since Backstreet's Back was released.

Some of these work perfectly with the overall play and feel of Just Dance. Ariana Grande's God Is A Woman is a certified banger and its bombastic overtones match well with the pop art stylings of the title. Less so Old Town Road, since that maudlin Nine Inch Nails sample doesn't really correlate with a multicolored cowboy acting the fool in the Wild West.

Then again, for those after some pure fun it won't really matter. As a physical party game it's still hard to look past Just Dance and its longevity as a franchise is testament to how po[CENSORED]r the series has been. When compared to other titles that have faded in the party game space, there's something commendable about Just Dance sticking around and still being enjoyable.

 

Because of this Just Dance 2020 is still going to be a good choice for families, and the continued availability of Kids Mode will provide plenty of hours of fun. It's worth giving a warning to parents, though: if you are looking to Just Dance as a way to escape Baby Shark, you're not going to find it here.

As a video game, then, Just Dance 2020 is more than competent. Unfortunately there are some issues with the way that Just Dance is moving forward as a product, and the way in which Ubisoft is aiming to position the series when in comes to ongoing value. Just Dance 2020 comes packaged with 40 new songs, but it's not exactly a revolution and some may wonder whether it justifies its price tag at launch.

Those who haven't picked up Just Dance in a while may find it worth the cost, but it falls into the same issue as some other annual franchises where those who aren't die-hard fans might skip a release or two or wait until the game comes on sale. This is intensified by the fact that the Just Dance Unlimited subscription service works fine with last year's version of the game, so aside from those entirely new tracks Just Dance 2020 doesn't offer anything essential.

Where does this leave Just Dance 2020? It's not necessarily a must-have purchase for those that have recent entries, particularly those who have a subscription to Just Dance Unlimited already. Those who have missed a year or two, or who need to have each new title at launch, will find plenty to love however, and as a product in its own right it's a solid game.

 

 

Premiere Date: November 5, 2019
Genre: Music video game
Series: Just Dance
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Wii, Xbox One, Google Stadia
Modes: Single player game, Multiplayer game
Developers: Ubisoft, Ubisoft Paris