In its relatively short history, the video game industry has proven that if a title proves successful, the company in charge will try to get as many sequels out of that game as possible. Sometimes these sequels are as good as, or even better than the original. But more often than not, the sequels just recycle the content of the original, with only slight variations on the established formula. This problem happened to Street Fighter, to Guitar Hero, and it's happening again with Just Dance 3 - and in only its third installment, too.

If you played Just Dance, Just Dance 2, Just Dance Kids, or any of Ubisoft's other dancing games, you know exactly what to expect from Just Dance 3. As a popular song from past or present plays in the background, the player has to follow the moves of the on-screen dancer. On the Wii version, the Wii Remote detects the player's movements, while on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, Kinect and PS Move are the devices doing the job. At the end of the song, the players are given a score based on how well they synchronized with their virtual counterpart. Just Dance 3 does exactly that, and while it takes the formula further than previous installments, it's not enough to justify another purchase at full price.
Of course, fans of dancing games will probably not be bothered by doing the same thing again, as they've enjoyed it so much before. If you fall into this category, you will likely find Just Dance 3 the best in the series. The track list is the most extensive yet, with over 50 songs across an eclectic mix of artists (ranging from Katy Perry's "California Gurls", to Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", to Robin Sparkles' "Let's All Go To The Mall" from How I Met Your Mother). The move detection is even more precise than in Just Dance 2, and while not perfect, it will at least reduce the frustration that sometimes comes from the game.
Most importantly, however, the persistent complaint that the games lack extensive content has finally been addressed. If you want a Just Dance game that will have new content to unlock, look no further. By playing through Just Dance 3, players will earn stars that activate mash-ups of songs (which challenge players by switching from one style to another mid-game). This is a clever form of unlockable content, because it gives players new material without forcing them to wade through tutorial levels just to experience the main game. There are also achievements within the game that acknowledge players for completing certain feats, such as high ratings on certain songs or strong performance across the entire track list. The psychological allure of achievements has been proven, and Just Dance fans will likely enjoy this addition.

However, the extra content still fits squarely into the formula, and if you already don't like Just Dance, there is nothing here to change your mind. Worse yet, this game may be the point where even fans of the series start to get bored. Not every sequel has to revolutionize the previous formula a la Super Mario 64, or deconstruct it like with Final Fantasy VII. However, there should be enough fundamentally new material to convince the majority of players that its content is better than its predecessors, and a new track list and some added features don't do enough to distinguish Just Dance 3.
GameDynamo's Score for Just Dance 3 (Wii)
Score |
Description |
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| Graphics | 75 | The visuals are not significantly different than previous titles, though to be fair, Just Dance is not a series that requires high-resolution graphics. |
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| Sound | 90 | An excellent and diverse track list with some genuinely surprising and unique songs. |
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| Gameplay | 70 | Ultimately, this is still the same game as the previous title, with a few new layers of polish. Those expecting something different will be sorely disappointed. |
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| Play Value | 85 | It has more content than previous Just Dance titles, and it will give you many hours of gameplay if you still find the game enjoyable enough to play it with only minor variations on the same theme. |
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| Final Score | 75 | If you loved Just Dance 2 and want more of the same, you should buy this game. If you've never played a Just Dance game, this is the one to buy. | |








N. America: Oct. 7, 2011
Europe: Oct. 11, 2011
Australia: Oct. 11, 2011
Japan: N/A