Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version
Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version[a] is a 2015 dance video game developed by Ubisoft and Level-5, and published by Level-5 for the Wii U. The game is a collaboration between Level-5's Yo-kai Watch series and Ubisoft's Just Dance series, therefore being the fourth Japanese installment of the Just Dance series, and sees the players attempting to mimic dances performed by Yo-kai Watch characters in the game.[1] The songs and dances featured in the game are originally from the Yo-kai Watch anime series.[2]
| Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version | |
|---|---|
 Official cover art depicting characters from the game performing dances | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Publisher(s) | Level-5 |
| Composer(s) | Kenichiro Saigo |
| Series | Just Dance Yo-kai Watch |
| Engine | UbiArt Framework |
| Platform(s) | Wii U |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Dance |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
editLike previous Just Dance installments, Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version sees the players attempting to mimic dances performed by characters on-screen, which is then read by the Wii Remote's motion detection feature.[3] The game is based on Just Dance 2014, with the user interface and features are largely identical to that said game, but it removes online multiplayer functionality ("World Dance Floor") and a few other features present in that game. Just like in Just Dance 2014, the Gamepad can be used to record "Autodance" videos (the effects can't be applied, however) via the camera to display lyrics on the Gamepad, in which the microphone is used to earn Mojo points. Players can also unlock avatars, named Yo-kai Badges, by using Mojo points on the Crank-a-kai, a gashapon-like mechanic, with 10 Mojo points for normal Yo-Kai Badges and 20 Mojo points for legendary Yo-Kai badges, which is carried to the main series as "Gift Machine", starting from Just Dance 2018.[3] Additional avatars can also be unlocked by scanning the QR code on select Yo-Kai Watch merchandise via the camera on the Gamepad.
Development and release
editYo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version was primarily developed by Level-5, and was their first Wii U game.[4] Ubisoft also assisted in development.[4] It was based on Just Dance 2014, as in the previous Japanese installment in the Just Dance series, Just Dance Wii U. All of the online features, including the "World Dance Floor", were removed, just like in the previous game.
Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version was first announced in the August 2015 issue of CoroCoro Comics,[2][5] and was later corroborated by Nintendo on their official news website.[6] The announcement showcased some of the game's dances and music.[2] Two trailers for the game were later uploaded to YouTube by Level-5 in November later the same year.[7] On the 39th page of the December 2015 issue of CoroCoro Comics, a QR code was featured which, when scanned in the game, would give the player Mojo points as well as a legendary Yo-kai Badge.[8] A playable demo of the game was available at the World Hobby Fair Winter 2016.[9]
Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version was released on December 5, 2015.[10] The game was bundled with a Yo-kai Medal of Sergeant Burly.[10] A bundle with a white Wii Remote Plus was also released.[10]
Soundtrack
editThe game featured a total of 10 songs, all of which originated from the Yo-kai Watch franchise.[11]
| Song | Artist | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "Geragerapō no Uta" | King Cream Soda | 2014 |
| "Yōkai Taisō Dai Ichi" | Dream5 | 2014 |
| "Matsuribayashi de Geragerapō" | King Cream Soda | 2014 |
| "Dan Dan Dubi Zubā!" | Dream5 | 2014 |
| "Gerappo Dance Train" | King Cream Soda | 2015 |
| "Idol wa Ooh-Nya-Nya no Ken" | NyaKB | 2015 |
| "Yōkai Taisō Dai-Ni" | Dream5 | 2015 |
| "Jinsei Dramatic" | King Cream Soda | 2015 |
| "Uchū Dance!" | Kotori with Stitch Bird | 2015 |
Reception
editFamitsu gave the game a score of 28/40, with each reviewer giving it a 7.[12] Chris Carter, writing for Destructoid, described the game as "[mixing] the wonderful art of Yo-kai with the garish 'humans' from Just Dance".[13]
Notes
edit- ^ Known in Japan as 妖怪ウォッチダンス JUST DANCE スペシャルバージョン
References
edit- ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (August 22, 2015). "Ubisoft's Just Dance Gets Yo-kai Watch Edition". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c Sato (August 10, 2015). "Yo-kai Watch Is Getting A Just Dance Game For Wii U". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "発売迫る「妖怪ウォッチダンス JUST DANCE スペシャルバージョン」。その基本情報をまとめておこう". 4Gamer.net. Aetas. November 20, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Doolan, Liam (August 11, 2015). "CoroCoro Reveals Yo-Kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version For Wii U". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ Burleson, Kyle (August 11, 2015). "Yo-Kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version is a thing that is happening". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ Yasuda, Shunsuke (August 19, 2015). "「妖怪ウォッチ」と「JUST DANCE」のコラボが決定！". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Impress Corporation. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- ^ Creegan, Dermot (November 28, 2015). "Yokai Watch Dance Gets Two New Japanese Commercials". Hardcore Gamer. DoubleJump Publishing. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "明日（12月5日）発売の『妖怪ウォッチダンス JUST DANCE スペシャルバージョン』でレアな妖怪バッジが入手できる"おおばんぶるまいQRコード２"が配布！". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa. December 4, 2015. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "「妖怪ウォッチバスターズ 月兎組」の公式大会が次世代ワールドホビーフェア '16 Winterで開催。会場には，「妖怪三国志」など3作品の試遊ブースを設置". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. December 4, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ a b c "『妖怪ウォッチダンス JUST DANCE スペシャルバージョン』の発売日が12月5日に決定、妖怪メダル"ブリー隊長 うたメダル"が同梱". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Sal (October 18, 2015). "Yo-kai Watch Dance will only have 10 songs". Gematsu. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Romano, Sal (December 8, 2015). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1410". Gematsu. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ Carter, Chris (August 19, 2015). "Here's your first taste of the Yo-kai Watch Just Dance mashup". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved October 31, 2020.