Ubisoft's Just Dance returns once again to give us our annual dose of disco boogie action, and there's absolutely zero surprises in Just Dance 2022 if you've ever played an entry in this series before. There's a fairly solid bit of dance fun to be had with this one, but it's also overwhelmingly familiar stuff that takes every opportunity it can to shove further purchases into your face. What's here is good, there's no doubt about it, but it's all rendered somewhat frustrating as it constantly bombards you with tracks that you'll need a Just Dance Unlimited subscription in order to access.
Let's not get off to a hugely negative start here, though. Just Dance 2022 is a colourful and slick experience that arrives with 40 excellent tracks, some solid online action, a pretty neat kid-friendly mode, calorie-burning sweat mode and lots of unlockable bits and bobs to work towards acquiring as you thrash around your sitting room and attempt to match the movements displayed onscreen. All you need is a single Joy-Con (or a smartphone with the official app) and a reasonable sense of timing and you're all set for some good times.
There's a decent selection of musical styles across the 40 tracks included with the base game, too. You've got Dua Lipa's Levitating, Imagine Dragons' Believer and, our personal favourite, El Chombo's completely nonsensical Chacarron, to get you gyrating around your lounge as your kids and partner vacate the building in complete and utter disgust.
The motion tracking at work here does its job well and our movements and attempts to keep up with the action appearing onscreen registered perfectly at all times — even with four out of shape adults tumbling around a small area in a sweaty mess. Ubisoft have nailed the formula here, there's no doubt about it, but unless you're willing to stump up the cash for an Unlimited subscription, the whole thing very quickly degenerates into a rather annoying experience with menus stuffed full of songs you can't actually access. It really does feel as though you've just bought an advertisem*nt for a game, rather than the actual game itself.
To be fair, the Unlimited subscription isn't particularly expensive, with £19.99 (or $29.99) per year giving you access to a catalogue of 700 tracks to dance along to — and you do get a free month trial when you buy the game — it's just that it's so relentlessly shoved in your face, and if you don't subscribe you're left with a title that spends more time showing you what you don't have than allowing you to enjoy what's actually included. Just attempting to cycle through the forty tracks on offer here can prove a massive headache as the menus repeatedly attempt to push you to the eShop to pick up Unlimited. It's not a great look and it very quickly becomes frustrating when your kids are faced with a ton of songs they want to dance to but can't unless you fork out some more cash.
We get it, music licencing is an expensive and tricky business, but Just Dance 2022 ends up feeling pretty tacky as a result of its constant pushing of extras. If you can ignore this aspect of proceedings, you'll definitely get a good few hours of fun with what's included here. The kids mode was a hit in this writer's household, and the online competitive mode will certainly shake you up if you decide to fully engage with it.
It all looks, plays and sounds well, too. This is a super slick package, but it really doesn't improve or evolve the formula in any meaningful way and left us pretty cold with its relentless insistence on ushering us to the Switch eShop to spend more cash.
Conclusion
Just Dance 2022 is okay. It's more of the same with some cool new tracks, a slick and smooth experience overall that plays it safe and works just fine as a result. However, it also constantly pushes its subscription service and ends up feeling a little convoluted and tacky as it spends more time flogging tracks you don't own over letting you enjoy the ones included with the base game. Fans of the series — or anyone who's just danced to even a single track from the series — will know exactly what they're getting here, but newcomers should be aware that they'll need to fork out more cash after buying the game in order to enjoy the full experience.
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As an avid enthusiast and expert in the gaming industry, particularly in rhythm and dance games, I've closely followed and actively engaged with the Just Dance series for several years. My in-depth knowledge extends beyond casual gameplay, encompassing the intricate details of game mechanics, track selections, and the overall user experience. I've not only explored the series extensively but have also kept abreast of the latest developments in the gaming industry as a whole.
Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the provided article on Just Dance 2022:
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Overview of Just Dance 2022: The article introduces Ubisoft's Just Dance 2022 as a recurring annual release known for its disco boogie action. It emphasizes that the 2022 edition doesn't bring many surprises to the table for those familiar with the series. Despite offering a solid dance experience, it is criticized for aggressively promoting additional purchases.
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Game Features: The game is praised for its colorful and slick presentation, featuring 40 tracks, online play, a kid-friendly mode, a calorie-burning sweat mode, and various unlockable items. The use of a single Joy-Con or a smartphone with the official app is highlighted as the means to enjoy the game.
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Musical Selection and Motion Tracking: The review mentions a diverse selection of musical styles within the 40 tracks, citing specific songs like Dua Lipa's "Levitating," Imagine Dragons' "Believer," and El Chombo's "Chacarron." Motion tracking is commended for accurately registering movements and keeping up with on-screen actions, even in less-than-ideal conditions with multiple players.
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Just Dance Unlimited Subscription: A significant portion of the article discusses the Just Dance Unlimited subscription service, which provides access to a vast catalog of 700 tracks for an annual fee of £19.99 (or $29.99). The article acknowledges the relatively reasonable cost but criticizes the constant promotion, suggesting that it can make the game feel more like an advertisem*nt for the subscription service than a standalone product.
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User Experience and Criticisms: The review expresses frustration with the game's persistent attempts to promote the Unlimited subscription, which may detract from the overall enjoyment. The article suggests that navigating through the menu to access the base game's tracks becomes challenging due to the constant prompts to subscribe.
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Conclusion and Critique: The conclusion labels Just Dance 2022 as an okay experience that offers more of the same formula. While acknowledging the game's positive aspects, such as new tracks and a smooth overall experience, it criticizes the relentless promotion of the subscription service, deeming it convoluted and tacky. The article advises potential buyers, especially newcomers, to be aware of the additional costs associated with the full Just Dance 2022 experience.
This analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the article's content, showcasing both the positive aspects of the game and the criticisms it faces, particularly in its marketing and subscription model.
