DanceWall Remix (Video Game Review)

DanceWall Remix is a new motion control, music and rhythm game from developer Extreme Reality and publisher Plug In Digital. The game released late in August and rose to popularity recently thanks in large part to a video created by YouTube sensation PewDiePie. What players see in screenshots and videos is essentially all that comes with a copy of DanceWall Remix. The game lacks any abundance of content, and while it's a game that is good for a few laughs with friends, the fun players will have with DanceWall Remix is short-lived and superficial. At $5.99, DanceWall Remix isn't a very expensive game, but there are so many games that can offer the same amount of entertainment available for free on computers and mobile devices that it is difficult to recommend DanceWall Remix as much more than a quick laugh at a party.

DanceWall Remix promises motion control gaming without the need for a controller. The game attempts to offer motion controls only using a web cam to do so. The controls for the game are finicky and never really work well. Players will attempt to match oncoming silhouettes in walls while grabbing gems and knocking away bad guys, but it doesn't really seem to matter how closely players match the poses to score points. The player outline is always shaky, and the game makes up for the flaw by giving a lot of leeway between what players need to actually do to score points and what the game is telling players to do. Playing DanceWall Remix requires virtually no skill, and players definitely won't want to take these moves out to the club on the weekend.

DanceWall Remix doesn't offer much in terms of long lasting content. The game includes "three modes of play" which essentially amount up to three different theme songs and a few aesthetic changes. The disco stage has characters wearing goofy glasses and a funky theme, while the classic stage has plenty of candy, rainbows and similar items floating by in the background and is complete with plenty of bright colors accenting the action on camera. Each of the themed levels have 4 stages that get increasingly difficult, but all 12 stages can be cleared in around an hour of playtime.

DanceWall Remix does include a completely original soundtrack, and there are some pretty catchy themes included in the game. Fans will enjoy the music, while they're playing, and for players just looking for a good laugh, some of the songs are capable of producing some humor inducing situations alone. The amount of songs included in the game are lacking, just as the amount of content overall, so while the music in the game is pretty good, it hardly holds any real lasting appeal that will encourage players to enjoy the game for longer than an hour or so.

There are a couple of other neat features included in DanceWall Remix as well including snapshots of players dancing that pop up at the end of each stage. The poses in the pictures can produce some of the funniest moments for players, even when playing the game completely solo, but there is no ability to export the images from the game, save a quick screen capture from quick-fingered gamers. DanceWall Remix simply doesn't pack enough content or have good enough controls to be considered a good game. Players can find themselves having fun with the gimmicky game with friends for a little while, but once the appeal wears off, DanceWall Remix will disappear back into a player's game library where it will never be played again. DanceWall Remix is out now on Steam and GamersGate.

DanceWall Remix is now available exclusively for PC and can be purchased on Steam or GamersGate for $5.99. For more information on the game, check out the official DanceWall Remix website.

Game Features:

• Single Player
• Three Themed Modes
• Still Images Displayed at Level End
• Original Soundtrack
• Web Cam Required

Game Information:
Developer: Extreme Reality
Publisher: Plug In Digital
Available exclusively for PC (reviewed)
Release Date: August 27, 2014

Score: 4 out of 10