Publisher: Sony
Ages: six & up
Parental
Advisory:
None
A follow-up to its amazing EyeToy:Play (Daytrum Review), Sony's EyeToy: Groove applies the EyeToy concept to rhythm/dance games. It's an entertaining experience that delivers fun and creative multi-player options.
EyeToy: Groove is a rhythm/dance-style game that is similar in spirit to Konami's popular Dance Dance Revolution (Daytrum Review). By linking the EyeToy USB camera to a PlayStation 2, players appear live, on their TVs, which enables them to dance along with on-screen prompts.
Technique, style and timing are required as players move their arms, hips and body to the beat of one of 30 licensed songs that include those from artists such as Kool & the Gang, Madonna, Junior Senior and Fatboy Slim. The game features a good selection of songs that are generally catchy and easy to dance to.
In solo mode, gamers get to try out dance moves or interact with on-screen special effects in the Chill Out Room. There are particularly fun and creative multi-player options. In Tournament Mode players take turns to determine who has the best rhythm, reaction time and accuracy. And in the Team Sync Mode, friends conquer the dance floor together, or go one step further in Battle Sync Mode, which lets them dance together while being judged separately.
The game serves lots of variety in its dances from prompts that ask players to hit dots with their hands, to sweeping their hands in certain motions, quickly shaking their hands and posing. It's all good clean fun that resembles the action in the old Samba De Amigo game that appeared on the old Sega Dreamcast system-a game that was way ahead of its time.
We liked EyeToy:Play and are equally impressed with EyeToy: Groove. In particular, the new multi-player modes offer fun options that let family members play together. And like Dance Dance Revolution, the game encourages kids to get up off of the couch. Although EyeToy: Groove doesn't give the workout that Dance Dance Revolution does.
We highly recommend EyeToy: Groove. It's a fantastic family game.
5/10/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
