Just Dance 2014

I never expected my time with Just Dance 2014 to turn me into the world’s greatest dancer, but I didn’t really expect to enjoy it either. After leaving my own issues of dancing incompetence at the door, I was able to have a thoroughly good time and provide some laughter for friends and family, and that was very enjoyable. I can’t say that I am going to start playing Just Dance 2014 on a daily basis, but I do believe this game has broken down a long-standing wall that I had been unwilling to demolish for a long time.

As long as you have a Move controller in your hand, then Just Dance 2014 deserves your A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E. The impressive setlist and varied dance styles make this an incredibly fun title for both newcomers and experts alike. More consistency between modes would have been welcome, and improved standalone PlayStation Camera tracking could have certainly elevated the release even further.

Just Dance 2014 isn’t a must have next-gen experience. ...However, if you have a PS4, the currently underutilized PlayStation 4 Camera, and two or more people, Just Dance 2014 is worth consideration. In fact, if you want to play it alone… don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I do it all the time! Just Dance is a guilty pleasure that few want to admit they are playing, but that everyone is having fun with, so give in to your heart’s desires and just… dance.

That feature alone isn't enough to make Just Dance 2014 a worthy upgrade over its predecessor. It all comes down to the routines and the songs, which are some of the best the series has ever had. A glorified song pack it may be, but this is still as fun a party game as you're going find, one that revels in its own brilliant silliness and that's all but guaranteed to get the party started.

Where Just Dance 2014 suffers is a problem that the series has faced for a few years. Those that have enjoyed their previous Just Dance experiences will revel in finding much of that same magic here, but the package fails to elevate itself enough beyond expectation. The new tracks, and inevitable downloadable content are welcome to the casual consumer, but we’re looking for a more daring leap to be taken.

But if you've played Just Dance before, you know you're playing for the music. And if you like the tracks here (I admit that Katy Perry's "Roar" is growing on me), then you'll be just fine wibbly-wobbling around with your friends. If you don't have any friends, then it's still a good exercise routine. I didn't find it as fun as Dance Central for Kinect, mostly because of the avatars giving me the heeby-geebies, but I suppose it'll do.