Subscribe to the Domestic Gamer column:
RSS or Newsletter.

---

Why not try our Blog, Radio or TV shows. Click for samples...

---

Michael Jackson Experience Nintendo Wii

Format:
Nintendo Wii

Genre:
Rhythmaction

Style:
Competitve
Coopertative

Further reading:
Just Dance 2
Dance on Broadway
Dance Central
The Beatles: Rock Band

Buy/Support:
Support Josie, click to buy via us...

---

Other GamePeople columnists have reviewed this from their perspective - huh?:
Fitness Gamer (Wii)
Reporting Gamer (Wii)
Junior Gamer (Wii)
Family Gamer (360)
Reporting Gamer (360)
Teen Gamer (PS3)

---

Michael Jackson The Experience turns Just Dance into a one gloved tribute to the king of pop. Although this is more of the same, the format is easily strong enough to support the themed release.

I've really enjoyed both the original Just Dance game and the recent sequel Just Dance 2. The simple clear dance moves, great choreography and sensibly shaped dancers make it something that my whole family can enjoy.

I was a little less taken with the Dance on Broadway spin off though, that seemed to overcomplicate things at times and lacked the original's sparkle. But this Michael Jackson Experience version seems a much better fit for the one handed Wii-mote dance moves.

I particularly liked that I could choose any song to dance to from the start - none of this annoying unlocking of new songs like there are on many Kinect dance games like Dance Central. And the game includes all the big hits you would expect from a Jackson collection, drawing the best from his albums: Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, History and Blood on the Dance Floor.

Each dance also picks up on the sort of moves that Jackson himself used to do and along with the pastel-neon visuals it really makes you feel part of the whole Jackson experience (ed: hence the name I guess).

As well as the usual modes from Just Dance 2, this game also has some new options. One which I really enjoyed was being able to choose to be the background dancers. Their routines are different from the main dancer something that works really well with a few players.

There are also some additional dance tutorials you can unlock that teach you some more advanced moves from each song. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I'd work through these I found myself naturally doing the moves in the middle of my dances.

I do think that the game makers could have done more with the Michael Jackson theme though. There's very little about who he was, or the story of his career. I really enjoyed how The Beatles: Rock Band painted a picture of who the band were beyond just the music.

While the game isn't that much different to Just Dance 2, and you can't download more songs here, I'm still really enjoying another excuse to revisit the original game's winning formula. I've tried all the Kinect dance games now and for family fun nothing comes close to the simple pleasure of the Just Dance series, and Michael Jackson The Experience continues that trend.

Michael Jackson Experience Track Listing

Bad
Beat It
Billie Jean
Black or White
Dirty Diana
Don't Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Earth Song
Ghosts
Heal the World
In The Closet
Leave Me Alone
Money
Remember the Time
Rock with You
Smooth Criminal
Speed Demon
Streetwalker
Sunset Driver
The Girl Is Mine
The Way You Make Me Feel
They Don't Care About Us
Thriller
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Who Is It
Will You Be There
Workin' Day and Night

Written by Josie Campbell

You can support Josie by buying Michael Jackson Experience



Subscribe to this column:
RSS | Newsletter

Share this review:
Tweet

Josie Campbell writes the Domestic Gamer column.

"As quite a domesticated mum of three I love the thought that Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS lite and PSP games can have a practical role around the home and enriching everyday life but also fun to chill out and unwind with too. Here are my Domestic Gamer review, join me to read about all sorts of games, from cooking, health, and family ones too."

Here are the games I've been playing recently:

• Just Dance 3
• All-in Yoga HD
• Fruit Ninja
• Wii U
• Home