YBFREE.com previewed Britney Spears' first foray into the videogame world a few months back. Now, after actually playing the game, I can honestly say that this game achieves so much on many levels. While it is not the best videogame in the world, this game says much about what the video game industry has the potential to achieve.
For too long, videogame lovers have been inundated with pointless games from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson and other licenses that served no real purpose other than to exploit the popular stars. But Britney's Dance Beat has substance and besides possibly attracting non-gamers, it also appeals to videogame lovers who enjoy games like Bust-A-Groove and Space Channel 5.
Presentation 10 out of 10 Besides the actual gameplay, there are a lot of extras to enjoy after achieving certain goals. Make enough money from dancing and you can get backstage peaks at Britney and the people that make her a success. Britney fans can also obtain footage of Britney Spears in concert performing several titles such as Stronger and Oops...I did it Again. While watching the concert, you can use your directional pad to pan around the area and move along with Spears as she walks out of your view. Nice touch. I also really enjoy the fact that while you are dancing to the songs in the game, the video from the song is featured in the background. So, there is a lot of Britney here even though you really don't play as Britney, except in bonus stages.
Graphics: 7 out of 10 While Britney doesn't really look like the pop icon we have come to love, the rest of the game has great style. Characters from various ethnicities, races and genders, keeping everyone happy, and the backgrounds were better than Bust-A-Groove. I enjoyed how Metro and House of Moves, the company responsible for Bust-A-Groove, perfectly captured the various dance moves, but the concerts could have been a little more clear.
Sound: 6 out of 10 Music games should really have much better sounding music in it. The music overall was very blah, considering how catchy Britney's songs are, there were only five in the game.
Gameplay: 5 out of 10 Very similar to the Bust-A-Groove series where you press corresponding buttons as a highlight circles around an interface telling you when and where to act. The better you dance the more the scale dips in your favor. The game progressively becomes difficult as you move from level to level and becoming far more addictive each step of the way. However, despite all of this great gameplay I felt cheated, because there were only five levels with six dancers to choose from.
Replay value: 4 out of 10 This is an addictive game, but it is quick. But fortunately there is only a two-player function to enjoy and no more reason to play it alone.
Overall: 5 out of 10 Nice effort. It does have a major purpose in the grand scheme of things. The best way to sum up this game: It is more like the Spears that sings two songs and then leaves because a storm may be coming.
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