Dance Central - The Ultimate Dance Game

There's no other way to put it but I simply love Dance Central. It's as if it was created just for me because it combines two of my favorites things to do- dancing and games.

Dance Central (I'll be calling it DC from now on) is available on the Xbox Game Console and is one of the games that require the Kinect device to play. The Kinect is a motion sending device that lets you play the game totally hands free from start to end. In fact the only time the controller is required is when making additional purchases online or for periodical updates to your Xbox system.

DC can be played by yourself or with a friend and is a great way to burn off some of those calories from that cupcake you ate this afternoon, while having a blast. It is available in three separate installments, getting progressively more difficult in terms of skill as well as stamina level. ( Meaning it will work your heart as much as your brain ) If this sounds like something you might be interested in, keep reading to find out which Dance Central is for you.

*All photos taken by myself unless otherwise noted.

My first experience with this game was with DC 2 as that was the latest installment available then. Now you would think that a gaming machine with a motion sensor attachment would be complicated to learn but it was rather surprisingly easy to learn and I was dancing in less than five minutes. The dance routines weren't as easy as I thought they were going to be but not so hard as to be discouraging so it felt like the perfect skill level for me. After a few weeks, I found out the DC 3 was out in stores and as I was already halfway through the game, I decided to get that one before it ran out!

*Photo of myself focusing on my moves. As you can see I'm very serious. :)

This trailer shows all the new improvements to this second installment.

If you're ready to take on the challenge, get ready for Dance Central 3! This latest installment will push your limits and challenge you like never before. In fact, some of the extreme dance selections towards the end of the game will take more than a couple of rounds of practice sessions to master because the difficulty level has been cranked up to the max!

There are more than 40 songs included in this installment. The great thing is that this time, the songs are much more varied and will probably appeal to a wider range of people as they include songs like "The Hustle" by Van McCoy, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gayner and even "YMCA" by the village people! Many of the song selections got me traveling back down memory lane and it was surreal doing "the hustle" again. The newer songs don't disappoint and some of my favorites are "Stereo Love" by Edward maya & Vika Jigulina and "OMG" by Usher. Some of the downloadable songs that you can purchase online include hits by Lady Gaga and PSY's Gangnam Style.

There are so many new features in the latest installment but some of the new features include a multiplayer mode for up to eight players. The music goes back to the 70's then takes you all the way to the present with a variety of dance styles to keep you entertained. The Crew Throwdown lets you battle with your friends in teams or one-on-one.

Now, if you manage to master every single song on the hard level, DC 3 includes one more bonus. If you feel you are ready to battle the boss of bosses, go into Story Mode. Your mission is to travel back in time to the 70's and make it all the way to the present saving various crew members of DCI headquarters along the way by mastering power moves from each decade. The final challenge is a head-to-head battle with the evil Dr. Tan, who is determined to keep as much fun out of dancing as he can. Will you be able to save the world from Dr. Tan's evil plans? Now the question is : Was I able to beat the boss myself to save the world from his twisted plans? Keep reading to find out!

The official trailer is hilariously entertaining! Watch it!

Here is the hardest song on Dance Central 3, at least it was for me.

So I've been playing DC 2 and 3 for about six months when I decided I should just add the original one to my collection. I was already a fan of the series so I thought I should just complete my collection. It was also around this time that some of the dances from DCl3 were getting difficult for me to master and some that just made me extremely breathless and it was a good time for me to put it aside for a bit and take the original game for a test drive. I found DC to be quite easy to master and I ended up finishing the entire game in about two months.

Watch the trailer for the original Dance Central game.

There are differences between each installment and the most important factor in choosing is probably the difficulty level. With each installment the difficulty level gets noticeably harder and more challenging. In other words, DC 3 will have you sweating like a chicken ( maybe even looking like one ) if you don't normally exercise. Having said that you can choose the difficulty level for each song, in other words just set it to easy, which makes any of them suitable for all levels.

Now if you like playing in groups or battling it out with friends, DC 3 is definitely the winner. In fact it lets up to 8 players play so you can have a dance party right in your own home!

All versions of Dance Central lets you play solo or with a friend. However with the original one you were limited in the way you can play so if you are really into playing with someone else or even as a group I suggest you go with DC 2 or 3. If you want a goal with a mission to accomplish, DC 3 comes with a Story Mode which should satisfy any avid gamer.

So for the past year, a good friend of mine Vinn, who is also a Squidoo Lensmaster ( VinnWong), comes over to play this game with me. Needless to say, we have a blast and after an hour of practicing, dancing and battling with Vinn, I feel as though I had just finished an intense cardio workout.

*Photo : That's Vinn concentrating on mastering the moves.

I finally felt confident enough to take on the evil Dr. Tan. I've been playing Dance Central 3 for almost a year and I have gone through all songs and although I can't seem to get a perfect score on every song, ( some routines are really difficult for me ), I've finally managed to master OMG, the hardest song in the entire series.

So three months ago, I started to play in Story Mode and just a few days ago, I took up the ultimate challenge- a fight to the death with Dr. Tan. With only my courage and strong determination, I was able to defeat Dr. Tan and thwart his evil plans for good, thus saving the world from doom!

I started my DC journey with the purpose of getting back into shape. Although it could never replace the gym, it gives me a great cardio workout as well as building muscle tone in my legs from all the squats and quick leg movements. The best thing about this game is that it makes exercising less of a chore and it never really feels like working out.

Click here if you'd like to know why I decided to use Dance Central to get back into shape.

Whether you're into fitness or just want to dance for fun and enjoyment, Dance Central is a great choice. I mean seriously, what could be better than a game that gets you off the couch?

Have you ever played dance games? Do you own any kinect games? Please feel free to tell me what you think.