Dance Factory review

Where Dance Factory misses the beat- quite literally- is in this feature's execution. After enjoying a few satisfying but mostly coincidental moments of serendipitous timing (ours came as we did a sweet two-step to Michael Jackson's patented "hee-hee" in "Billie Jean"), you'll begin to realize that the beat of the arrows isn't quite matching the beat of the song. The game might hit one or two notes perfectly, then completely neglect the next three. Or, if it does catch the rhythm, it'll lose its pacing, directing you to step a second before or after the actual beat.

Easier to understand, but no easier to ignore, is the lack of choreography in the dance routines. While the program can recognize the beats in your personal tunes (sort of), it has no clue whatstyle of music you've just fed it and, therefore, what types of moves might be appropriate. Feel like breakdancing to pop or country line dancing to emo? Dance Factoryis sure hopingyou do.

Above: The game's other modes, such as Creature, Fitness and Endurance, are nothing more than extremely slight and uninteresting variations on the default way to play.