Just Dance 2014 PS3 Preview

Just Dance!... Again!
by Angelo D'Argenio

E3 2013 gave us a chance to check out the latest in the Just Dance franchise, Just Dance 2014. Having abandoned the conventional numbering scheme, Just Dance 2014 pretty much confirms that the game will be getting yearly installments. So how does Just Dance 2014 differ from Just Dance games of the past?

To be honest? Not very much. When stepping up to the game’s elaborate E3 stage, I expected to be shown a brand-new game mode or some sort of awesome new user interface. But in reality, Just Dance 2014 is pretty much the same as every other Just Dance game, or for that matter, any dance game that uses motion controls.

Just Dance 2014 will be coming out on every platform, which means you basically just choose your motion-control peripheral of choice and run with it. The Wii U will utilize Wiimote control, which means that the only thing the game is actually checking for is the motion of your Wiimote hand. Every other platform actually utilizes their camera though, so that means the Kinect for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation Eye for the PS3, and the newfangled next-generation cameras for the PS4 and the Xbox One will track dance movements without an extra accessory.

One of the cool new features in Just Dance 2014 is the ability for different players to dance in different routines. Usually, this means two players dance one set of commands while two players dance another, or one player dances a lead routine while the other dances backup routines. It makes the whole game feel a lot more organic, like real dancing rather than a motion-controlledDDR. Well, it feels as real as choreographed dancing ever feels, that is.

While we didn’t get to try it out, Just Dance 2014 will also come with a new karaoke mode, which does pretty much what you would expect it to. It asks one player to sing the lyrics to a song while other players dance around him. Just Dance’s karaoke mode requires a console with a built-in microphone (no word yet if the mode will function with any purchasable microphone accessory). This means you are probably looking at the Xbox 360 or next-generation consoles only for this mode. (The Wii U, though it has a microphone, does not have this mode.) What’s cool is that you can sing directly into your Kinect, Kinect 2, or new PlayStation Eye without another microphone peripheral. What’s not cool is that this opens up the door to singing and dancing at the same time, which is bound to make us all look like tools.

The Wii U version of the game will be bringing back the Puppet Master mode from last year’s Just Dance. Renamed Party Master mode, this allows one player with a GamePad to continually change the game’s rules, songs, moves, and more for four other players dancing with Wiimotes. Basically, it’s a huge way to troll your friends.

Just Dance 2014’s most advertised new feature is the ability to have six players dancing at once. This was one of the few new features we actually got to experience at E3 even though it was a bit cramped on the stage. It works the way you would expect it to work, with your motion-sensing camera of choice modeling several different bodies dancing all at once. On the plus side, it seems like the camera has no problem tracking people, even when they are partially obscured by the bodies of other players. This means that six players can play without having a warehouse-sized living room.

There are also a variety of new online multiplayer modes available as well. For example, there is a new mode that will allow players to dance against each other’s “ghosts”; essentially, this means players can dance with others without the others actually being present to dance. There is also a new World Dance Floor mode that allows you to match yourself up against other dancers from all over the world in a variety of challenges. All players will dance to the same playlist, which allows them to compete on leaderboards against each other.

Of course, no next-generation game would be complete without a variety of social media features, and Just Dance 2014 is no exception. The game will let you record clips of yourself dancing and singing, and you can then share those clips to Facebook, Twitter, or the Just Dance Autodance network. For the life of me, I can’t understand why someone would want to willingly share pictures of them making an ass out of themselves in front of their Kinect. Maybe the game will take a video of you without you even knowing.

Overall, theJust Dance 2014 E3 demo was fun, but I can’t say that it did much to tell me what the game will be like. Sure, it was fun dancing with other members of the gaming media, but it didn’t really show off any of these new features. At least this means that Just Dance 2014 will be fun for the same reason prior Just Dance titles were fun, even without all the extra bells and whistles.

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse PS3 Preview

M-I-C-K-E-Y. Why? Because We WANT You!
by Sean Engemann

Disney Interactive is diving with both feet into their video game archives, reviving some true classics and giving them a makeover. A collaboration with Capcom will soon yield the highly anticipatedDuckTales Remastered. But instead of a mere facelift, SEGA is taking Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse a step further, upgrading the level design as well as the graphics. Tucked at the back of the SEGA booth at E3, the four nicely landscaped demo stations for Castle of Illusionmaintained a consistent queue line of at least a dozen eager attendees. I was able to extract several tidbits of information from a SEGA representative as well as get some one-on-one time with Disney's top mouse.

The story from the 1990 title bearing the same name remains intact, with Mickey on a quest to rescue Minnie from the clutches of the evil witch, Mizrabel. The levels from the original will all be making a return, though with some tweaking. SEGA's goal was to find a balance between retaining the platforming blueprint, obstacles, and enemies from the classic while infusing some modern touches. As a result, each board has twenty percent new content, and certain areas showcase the dynamic camera, sprinkling in some 3D backgrounds to the side-scroller.

Controlling Mickey remains a simple affair. Jumping is his main form of attack, and you can collect a limited supply of launchable objects for ranged attacks. But don't expect to breeze through every act like it's child's play. SEGA's target audience is the aging, nostalgic gamer; the challenge is tailored to their skill level. Each stage can be replayed to seek out diamonds (the currency required to unlock later levels) as well as hidden golden Mickeys to boost your point total. Another skillful way to improve you score is by bouncing off of multiple enemies before touching the ground. With the unnatural hang time that Mickey possesses, you are forced to adapt your controls, but this also adds to the challenge. All the past bosses will make an appearance, though each has been redesigned and reimagined in 3D.

One feature that won't make a return is Easy mode. This watered-down version from the original didn't fit with SEGA's mission to appeal to the retro gamer. Also, Castle of Illusion is strictly for your personal enjoyment, as it is a single-player only affair.

Along with updated visuals, the SEGA rep was sure to boast about Mickey's "idle animations.” As a little known factoid, the 1990 version was the first video game ever to have this type of animation. Now, it seems the remake will go several steps further, prominently featuring Mickey swaying back and forth, looking over his shoulder, fidgeting, and even chatting with himself should you set the controller down. The backgrounds are also full of character, filled with gorgeous scenes and a lot of scale to give the locations plenty of depth.

You may not be able to pull the original music tracks from memory, but I guarantee they will come right back to you the minute you start playing. Grant Kirkhope, a former composer of many Rare titles such as GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and more recently Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, is lending his talents to Castle of Illusion. Paying close attention to the source material, the remixed orchestration sounds terrific. However, if you crave the authentic audio experience, you can switch the sound in the options menu to play the original 8-bit tracks. Bret Iwan, the exclusive voice actor for Mickey Mouse, is also adding vocals to the game.

After my few minutes of precious time playing Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, the nostalgia certainly came rushing back. The redesign has been handled with extreme care, and I have no doubt SEGA and Disney will be pleased with the end result, as will every eager fan awaiting its release. Currently, the game will launch this summer for the PC, PSN, and Xbox LIVE Arcade; however, I was told there is an upcoming announcement about other release platforms (Wii U please). I also pried about the possibility of remaking the entire Illusion series, but the response I was given is that the focus right now is strictly on making Castle of Illusion a success. Let's all help SEGA with that goal, and maybe that will be enough to keep the remakes coming.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes PS3 Preview

The World Needs A Hero. How About 100+?
by Sean Engemann

I almost missed the Warner Bros. booth that was buried in the middle of South Hall at this year's E3. The only thing that made its presence known was the secretive and well-guarded section forBatman: Arkham Origins. However, if you made your way around the perimeter, you would suddenly be confronted by two LEGO statues from the Chima series, built from at least 10,000 LEGOs a piece. Behind that was a mural for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. That was my destination. With a few dedicated stations and a very helpful Warner Bros. representative, I was able to get some good hands-on time with Marvel's finest.

If you've played any LEGO game before, you'll immediately be able to pick up the game and have the controls down pat. Adventuring through the story, you'll play with a total of twenty-five superheroes, using specific powers to thwart the menial puzzles blocking your progress and collecting an ungodly amount of studs in the process. For the Marvel Universe, a completely original story has been penned with Loki and Galactus as the main antagonists. In this iteration, the Silver Surfer's surfboard has been shattered into Cosmic Bricks, and our heroes must obtain these shards before Galactus and his lackeys do.

The twenty-five playable characters across the story range from The Avengers, to Spider-Man, to the X-Men, and to plenty more. These characters become unlocked for Free Play when the level in which they are introduced is completed. There are fifteen levels in total, and it looks as though they follow a more linear path than the open-world design of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. However, there are still plenty of unique locations to visit, from Asgard to Grand Central Station in New York City.

Warner Bros. and developer TT Games have taken great care in including as many unique super powers as possible while still keeping them within the confines of general abilities used to solve puzzles. Iron Man can fly, Spider-Man can web sling and use his Spidey Sense, and Thor can launch his hammer, Mjolnir. Other characters, such as the Hulk, are more versatile. Along with his incredible strength, he can morph back into Bruce Banner at any time (with a smooth and incredibly hilarious animation sequence), where his genius human form can access computer stations. Every character is well represented, and I can easily say that more detail and personality have been given to the Marvel crew than the DC heroes from past LEGO comic-book spoofs.

Returning to each level in Free Play mode, you can take two characters, or let a friend play as one in local co-op. After spending spuds to unlock over a hundred heroes and villains, you'll be able to access many areas previously locked in the story mode. Many of these secret areas hold a coveted Red Brick, which allows you to switch on cheats and other game-changing effects. Studs can also be used to purchase various vehicles to blast around in.

Like other recent LEGO titles, Marvel Super Heroes is fully voice acted, and it has a script that blends comedy with a dire situation to make sure you don't take the game too seriously. The visuals are somewhat regurgitated from TT Games' archives, but there are still plenty of interesting settings to behold, and the animations are stellar (you'll want to fly Iron Man around for hours). It will be interesting to see if there is a drastic change in quality between the current- and next-gen versions.

Wii U owners will get a couple of GamePad specific extras. In the NYC hub you can set waypoints on the map that will reveal a stud trail to guide you to your destination. Also, in co-op mode, one player will use the GamePad screen while the other uses the television—there’s no split-screen required. I was also told that the PS Vita and 3DS versions will be completely different from past designs, which I am very thankful for, since the watered down portable games as of late have been nothing but disappointments. There is also a DS version, though it will be released after the initial launch.

The LEGO video game franchise continues its trek of mocking popular franchises while maintaining a steady gameplay formula. The revolutions with each new title may be small, but the market is still lucrative for Warner Bros. and TT Games as many gamers still pick up LEGO video games as a guilty pleasure. Lots of gamers also love comic books, so the success of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is pretty much locked in. Look for your next stud-collecting fix to hit store shelves in just a few months.