Dance Central Spotlight

Dance Central Spotlight

Developer(s) Harmonix
Publisher(s) Microsoft Studios
Series Dance Central
Platform(s) Xbox One
Release date(s) September 2, 2014
Genre(s) Rhythm game
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Distribution Download

Dance Central Spotlight (also known as Dance Central 4) is a dance video game developed and published by Harmonix and published by Microsoft Studios. Released exclusively for Xbox One on September 2, 2014, it is a successor to Dance Central 3—the final release in the franchise for Xbox 360.

The game provides a stripped-down experience in comparison to previous Dance Central titles, maintaining the core gameplay of the franchise, but with a focus on providing more routines per-song, the regular release of new, recent songs as downloadable content, and leverage of improvements to the motion detection capabilities of Kinect on Xbox One.

Gameplay

Similarly to previous installments in the franchise, players must mirror the dance routine of an on-screen dancer, as instructed by "flash cards" indicating specific moves in the routine. Players are judged and scored on the accuracy of their performance.[1] Each song includes up to eight routines, including four difficulty levels of the standard routine, along with two fitness-oriented routines and two "alternate" routines. Additional routines and difficulty levels are unlocked for songs by collecting "Flawless" ratings on individual moves.[1]

Spotlight focuses primarily on the core gameplay of the franchise, with a simplified offering of standard and fitness modes, and no story mode or other minigames like past versions. The practice mode was overhauled to use a dynamic, "on-demand" approach, rather than the "regimented" approach used by previous Dance Central games: players can now jump to training mode in-game by using a voice or controller command. Once activated, the player can practice the relevant portion, slow down the routine, and go to different parts of the song. When the player exits practice, the song continues from where it was left off.[2][1]

Development and release

Dance Central Spotlight was unveiled at E3 2014.[3] The overall gameplay of the Dance Central franchise was enhanced by the increased capabilities of the Xbox One Kinect sensor, which has a higher resolution camera and better gesture recognition than the Xbox 360 iteration. In total, the game can recognize 7,000 different dance moves.[3][4] Harmonix director Matthew Nordhaus also teased the presence of tougher alternate routines for individual songs, aimed particularly at expert players.[4] Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos felt that while Microsoft's introduction of lower-cost Xbox One bundles excluding Kinect was a "shock", the bundling of Kinect with Xbox One on launch did not influence the development of Spotlight in any way.[3]

Unlike previous installments in the franchise, Spotlight places a heavy emphasis on downloadable content and the ability for players to purchase songs on an À la carte basis; Nordhaus noted that due to improvements in motion capture technology and the need to perform fewer QA tests because of the improved Kinect accuracy (specifically noting the need to do large levels of tuning for hand detection on the Xbox 360 version), Harmonix staff could produce new routines for the game in just "days" rather than months. Emphasizing that players wanted to have quicker in-game access to current hit music, Nordhaus stated that Harmonix would now be able to release new songs as DLC while they are still charting.[4][3]

Dance Central Spotlight was officially released on September 2, 2014; unlike other installments in the series, the game is only available via digital means. The base game includes 10 songs; new songs for the game will be released on a near-weekly basis for a "substantial" period of time.[5][4][3] A pre-paid code to download Spotlight is also included with standalone Kinect for Xbox One units, which were released in October 7, 2014.[6]

On March 8, 2015, Harmonix and Gearbox Software announced that Nisha and Claptrap from the Borderlands series had been added to Spotlight as secret characters via a cheat code. Claptrap's character design adds difficulty to routines, as he does not have legs for the player to follow. Harmonix had previously assisted in animating a dance sequence seen in a tralier for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!—where both are also playable characters.[7]

Song list

Base

The following ten songs are bundled with the game:[5]

Song Artist Year
#thatPOWER will.i.am ft. Justin Bieber 2013
Counting Stars OneRepublic 2013
Diamonds Rihanna 2012
Happy Pharrell Williams 2013
I Wish Cher Lloyd ft. T.I. 2013
Royals Lorde 2013
Show Me Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown 2013
Talk Dirty Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz 2013
Titanium David Guetta ft. Sia 2011
Wake Me Up! Avicii 2013

Downloadable content

The following new songs have been released for Dance Central Spotlight:[8]

Song Artist Year Release date
A Little Respect Erasure 1988 September 2, 2014
Ain't It Fun Paramore 2014 September 2, 2014
All of Me (Tiësto's Birthday Treatment Remix [Radio Edit]) John Legend 2013 September 2, 2014
Am I Wrong Nico & Vinz 2014 September 2, 2014
Anaconda Nicki Minaj 2014 November 18, 2014
Animals Maroon 5 2014 November 25, 2014
Applause Lady Gaga 2013 September 2, 2014
As Long as You Love Me Justin Bieber ft. Big Sean 2012 October 7, 2014
Bailando Enrique Iglesias ft. Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona 2014 September 2, 2014
Bang Bang Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj 2014 October 14, 2014
Black Widow Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora 2014 October 7, 2014
Blurred Lines Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell 2013 November 25, 2014
Burn Ellie Goulding 2013 October 14, 2014
Can't Hold Us Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton 2011 November 25, 2014
Chandelier Sia 2014 November 4, 2014
Come & Get It Selena Gomez 2013 September 2, 2014
Creep TLC 1994 September 2, 2014
Don't Tell 'Em Jeremih ft. YG 2014 December 2, 2014
Fancy Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX 2014 October 7, 2014
G.D.F.R. Flo Rida ft. Sage the Gemini and Lookas 2014 April 28, 2015
Heart Attack Demi Lovato 2013 September 2, 2014
Here Comes the Hotstepper Ini Kamoze 1994 September 2, 2014
I Cry Flo Rida 2012 October 21, 2014
I Love It Icona Pop ft. Charli XCX 2012 September 2, 2014
I Need Your Love Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding 2013 September 2, 2014
Latch Disclosure ft. Sam Smith 2013 September 23, 2014
Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself) Ne-Yo 2012 September 2, 2014
Little Talks Of Monsters and Men 2011 September 2, 2014
Locked Out of Heaven Bruno Mars 2012 December 16, 2014
Love Runs Out OneRepublic 2014 November 11, 2014
Love Shack The B-52s 1989 September 2, 2014
Maps Maroon 5 2014 September 2, 2014
Next to Me Emeli Sandé 2012 September 2, 2014
One More Night Maroon 5 2012 September 2, 2014
Pompeii Bastille 2013 September 2, 2014
Problem Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea 2014 September 2, 2014
Raise Your Glass P!nk 2010 December 29, 2014
Ready to Run One Direction 2014 December 23, 2014
Safe and Sound Capital Cities 2011 September 2, 2014
Scream & Shout will.i.am ft. Britney Spears 2012 September 2, 2014
Somebody That I Used to Know Gotye ft. Kimbra 2011 December 9, 2014
Story of My Life One Direction 2013 December 23, 2014
Summer Calvin Harris 2014 September 2, 2014
Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais 2013 September 2, 2014
Take On Me a-ha 1985 September 2, 2014
The Way Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller 2013 September 16, 2014
Turn Down for What DJ Snake & Lil Jon 2013 September 2, 2014
Turn Me On David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj 2011 December 9, 2014
Uptown Funk Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars 2015 April 28, 2015

Legacy downloadable content

Downloadable content from previous Dance Central games are re-released progressively in "legacy packs";[8][9] Legacy DLC songs that were previously purchased for the Xbox 360 versions of Dance Central can be re-downloaded on Spotlight for free.[5][4][3]

Song Artist Year Originally released for Date released for Spotlight
Airplanes B.o.B. ft. Hayley Williams 2010 Dance Central 3 September 2, 2014
Alejandro Lady Gaga 2010 Dance Central 3 September 2, 2014
All Around the World Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris 2013 Dance Central 3 October 7, 2014
Beauty and a Beat Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj 2012 Dance Central 3 October 7, 2014
Because of You Ne-Yo 2007 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Call Me Maybe Carly Rae Jepsen 2011 Dance Central 3 January 6, 2015
Closer Ne-Yo 2008 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
Commander Kelly Rowland ft. David Guetta 2010 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
Control Janet Jackson 1986 Dance Central September 30, 2014
D.A.N.C.E. Justice 2007 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Disturbia Rihanna 2008 Dance Central November 4, 2014
Don't Cha The Pussycat Dolls ft. Busta Rhymes 2005 Dance Central September 16, 2014
Don't Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em) Busta Rhymes 2008 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
Down On Me Jeremih ft. 50 Cent 2010 Dance Central 2 February 17, 2015
Escapade Janet Jackson 1990 Dance Central 2 September 30, 2014
Euphoria Usher 2012 Dance Central 3 December 16, 2014
Fergalicious Fergie ft. will.i.am 2006 Dance Central September 23, 2014
Forget You Cee Lo Green 2010 Dance Central 2 January 6, 2015
Gangnam Style Psy 2012 Dance Central 3 December 2, 2014
Get Busy Sean Paul 2003 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Get It Shawty Lloyd 2007 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Pt. 1 James Brown 1970 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Girls & Boys Blur 1994 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Give Me Everything Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer 2011 Dance Central 2 October 28, 2014
Glad You Came The Wanted 2011 Dance Central 3 January 6, 2015
Heard 'Em All Amerie 2009 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor) Pitbull ft. T-Pain 2010 Dance Central 3 October 28, 2014
Hollaback Girl Gwen Stefani 2005 Dance Central September 23, 2014
Hot in Herre Nelly 2002 Dance Central 2 January 13, 2015
I Got You Dancing Lady Sovereign 2008 Dance Central September 2, 2014
I Gotta Feeling The Black Eyed Peas 2009 Dance Central December 30, 2014
International Love Pitbull ft. Chris Brown 2011 Dance Central 3 October 28, 2014
La La Land Demi Lovato 2009 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
Lapdance N.E.R.D. ft. Lee Harvey and Vita 2001 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Le Freak Chic 1978 Dance Central September 16, 2014
Let It Roll Flo Rida 2013 Dance Central 3 October 21, 2014
Lights Ellie Goulding 2011 Dance Central 3 October 14, 2014
London Bridge Fergie 2006 Dance Central 3 September 23, 2014
Low Flo Rida ft. T-Pain 2007 Dance Central 2 October 21, 2014
Marry the Night Lady Gaga 2011 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
Nasty Janet Jackson 1986 Dance Central 2 September 30, 2014
Never Say Never Justin Bieber ft. Jaden Smith 2010 Dance Central 2 October 7, 2014
Only Girl (In the World) Rihanna 2010 Dance Central 2 November 4, 2014
Paparazzi Lady Gaga 2009 Dance Central 3 September 2, 2014
Party Rock Anthem LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock 2011 Dance Central 2 September 30, 2014
Planet Rock (Original 12" Version) Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force 1982 Dance Central September 16, 2014
Promiscuous Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland 2006 Dance Central 2 January 20, 2015
Round & Round Selena Gomez & the Scene 2010 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
SOS Rihanna 2006 Dance Central 3 November 4, 2014
S&M Rihanna 2011 Dance Central 2 November 4, 2014
Say Ahh Trey Songz 2009 Dance Central September 16, 2014
Say Hey (I Love You) Michael Franti & Spearhead ft. Cherine Anderson 2009 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
Scenario A Tribe Called Quest 1992 Dance Central 2 February 10, 2015
Sorry for Party Rocking LMFAO 2012 Dance Central 3 September 30, 2014
Take Care Drake ft. Rihanna 2012 Dance Central 3 January 6, 2015
Temperature Sean Paul 2006 Dance Central September 2, 2014
The Edge Of Glory Lady Gaga 2011 Dance Central 2 September 2, 2014
The Way I Are Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. 2007 Dance Central January 27, 2015
Turnin Me On Keri Hilson 2008 Dance Central September 2, 2014
Twisted Usher ft. Pharrell 2012 Dance Central 3 December 16, 2014
Umbrella Rihanna ft. Jay-Z 2007 Dance Central 3 November 4, 2014
We No Speak Americano Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP 2010 Dance Central 2 February 3, 2015
We Run This Missy Elliot 2006 Dance Central September 23, 2014
Weapon of Choice Fatboy Slim 2001 Dance Central September 2, 2014
What Makes You Beautiful One Direction 2011 Dance Central 3 December 23, 2014
What's My Name? Rihanna ft. Drake 2010 Dance Central 2 November 4, 2014
Whip It Nicki Minaj 2012 Dance Central 3 September 2, 2014
Yeah 3x Chris Brown 2010 Dance Central 2 December 2, 2014

Reception

GameSpot gave Spotlight an 8 out of 10, praising its cleaner interface and dropping of extraneous features for "[removing] the obstacles between you and just getting out there and dancing", and its new business model as a "tremendous value" for players. However, its minimalistic feedback for player performance was considered a double-edged sword due to the new unlock system's emphasis on rewarding the learning of individual moves.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Dance Central Spotlight review: Twerking hard or hardly twerking?". GameSpot. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  2. "Practice Makes Perfect in Dance Central Spotlight". Harmonix. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Harmonix is back to selling Kinect sensors with Dance Central: Spotlight". Polygon. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Harmonix shines the Dance Central Spotlight on the Xbox One (interview)". VentureBeat. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Dance Central Spotlight dated, will cost $10". CVG. Future plc. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. "Standalone Xbox One Kinect Launching October 7 for $150 With Dance Central". GameSpot. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  7. "Borderlands' Nisha And Claptrap Available Now As Free Dance Central: Spotlight Dancers". Game Informer. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Dance Central Songs". Harmonix. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  9. "New Dance Central DLC: Two Great Legacy Packs!". Harmonix. Retrieved 26 November 2014.

External links