Boogie on with these dance-centric video games

Video games and dancing go together like chocolate and anchovies, yet games that make us do the truffle shuffle in front of family and friends have been selling like gangbusters. Titles like “Just Dance” and “Dance Central” perch atop the sales charts like well-choreographed pigeons. Here are two more — “Dance Central 2” for the Xbox 360 Kinect and “Everybody Dance” for PS3 Move —  vying to cut a rug into our wallets.

‘Dance Central 2’
Console: Xbox 360 Kinect
Microsoft
Grade:4/5
The game that managed to outpace Wii Sports in the “your co-worker that hates video games inexplicably loves this” contest is back for a second helping. Thanks to the magical elves lurking in the Kinect, this sequel follows where the first title left off. Specifically, the way you dance in real life is the way you dance on your TV. See? Magic.
This would be a lowly tech demo if there wasn’t a good game to back it up. Thankfully, there is. “Dance Central 2” ups the ante with more songs, more challenges and, finally, simultaneous multiplayer support. Now you can settle that age-old dispute between friends as to who would fare best in a dance battle. Hey, whatever floats your boat.  

‘Everybody Dance’
Console: PS3 Move
Sony
Grade: 4/5
It’s about time Sony and their Wii-esque wand attachment got a great dancing game. The device is called the Move, after all. “Everybody Dance” uses the power of the PlayStation Eye in tandem with the controller to create something that is close to the level of full body motion control seen in “Dance Central.”

It’s still fun though. This game brings some cool bells and whistles to the table. Each track features several difficulty levels and comes equipped with the official music video. There’s also a mode that allows you to partner with friends in coordinated routines. If you’re gonna get hammered at home, you could do worse than Sony’s new dancing baby.