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POSTED 2/12/10


MICHAEL JACKSON: THE EXPERIENCE

Ubisoft
Wii (also on PS3/Move, Xbox 360/Kinect, DS, PSP)

Whoa-a-a-a-CLUNK! Whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa-THUD! SMASH! TINKLE! Ouch. Pout. Damn! How the flying fuck did Michael Jackson do that leany thing in ‘Smooth Criminal’ and not fall over?!

Actually, we know the answer – he was supremely coordinated. Oh yeah, and talented. In fact, he was one of the greatest exponents of contemporary dance. Well, until his rep got sullied by all that weird shit.

A damn shame too, for he also knocked out a killer pop tune or ten. ‘Beat It’, ‘Bad’, ‘Thriller’ and the awesome ‘Billie Jean’ are amongst the 27 tracks here, in what is essentially Just Dance: Michael Jackson.

Sure, it uses a remixed JD engine, but it works about as well as a dance game can with the Wiimote, so why not? Yeah, you can loll on the couch and just wave the controller about, but it kind of defeats the point.

So, one to four players get to mimic MJ or backup dancers, following the main mirror image or being prepared via pop-up flashcards highlighting forthcoming moves. Bumble your way through well enough to earn a few stars and videos start unlocking – but sadly rather than being those classic music vids (save for brief snippets), it’s dancing lessons. If you’re serious about this game you’ll need them, as we’re not talking bogan blue light disco in Franga kinda dancing here.

‘The Experience’ may be a bit bold in the titular department, but think of it as an awesome greatest hits package (with a few of those duds like ‘Earth Song’, which at least inspired Jarvis Cocker’s wonderful Brit Awards bum wiggle) that you can dance along to and justification becomes easier.

Oh, and just try not to grin as you let the ‘Thriller’ zombie dance rip (insert maniacal Vincent Price-esque laughter here).

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ALL WRITTEN CONTENT COPYRIGHT © AMY FLOWER 2008-2018. GAME IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE GAMES COMPANIES.