EyeToy: Groove for the
Sony PS2 is the first game released for the PS2’s USB camera since the initial
batch of games that came prepackaged with the EyeToy. Whereas those initial
games were mainly a collection of “mini-games”, Groove is a game dedicated to
one thing and one thing only, shakin’ your booty. Similar in nature to Konami’s
seminal dance game Dance Dance Revolution, Groove is all about actually moving
your body to the beats of music. Whereas DDR has you moving your feet to
coincide with the beat of the music as well as directional icons on the screen,
Groove has you moving your entire body, making for a much more involved game.
The first thing you’ll
notice about Groove is that, “You are the star”, as Sony loves to say with all
of their EyeToy games. There are no characters to choose from, or to make; you
are the character, front and center on the screen. From there, in all of the
various game modes, you are surrounded by either 6 “buttons” for single player
or 12 “buttons” for the modes that feature two players on screen at once. Once
the music begins, icons begin emanating from the center of the screen on a path
to one of the “buttons”. The object of the game is to move your hand(s) over
the corresponding buttons as the icons line up on the button. Your success,
failure, and score are determined by how close you come to lining up the icon
over the button. It takes a fair bit of timing to do it perfectly, but for
those of us rhythmically challenged, you can still score points for coming
“close”. Besides chasing the icons around the screen, the EyeToy also monitors
how much you move the rest of your body. This is a nice touch that encourages
you to get your whole body involved in the process, because the more you move,
the more points you gain. Score enough points and you’ll enter the “freestyle”
mode, where you’re completely on your own, to move however you want, garnering
maximum points for constant movement. Also from time to time as the icons
travel across the screen, you’ll notice arrows emerging from the buttons. When
you see this, you must move your arms along the path of the arrows following the
icons. The great thing about this is that the game forces you into some
hilarious poses, with which it seems to have a real knack for photographing the
most embarrassing of these moves, so that it can come back to haunt you when
your “routine” is over.
Groove offers several
modes with which to choose from. “Solo Groove” is the single player game where
you choose the song you want to dance to out of a roster of 28 (23 from the
start, 5 unlockable. The songs range from disco classics to modern day dance
hits). For the health conscious crowd, “Solo Groove” features the option to
count the amount of calories you’ll burn per song. Just input your weight, and
the game will give you an approximate count of calories you’ve burned in any
song. “Group Groove” features all of the multiplayer games: Team Sync, Battle
Sync, Battle Groove, and Tournament. The multiplayer modes is where Groove
really shines, making it one of the very best party games available on any
console. In “Team Sync” you and a partner share the screen as you work together
to get the most points possible. There are only six buttons on the screen, so
it is vital that you work out a strategy with your partner so that you both
aren’t constantly going for the same buttons. In “Battle Sync” you and an
opponent share the screen in a battle for the highest points. “Battle Groove”
is similar in nature to “Battle Sync” except that you can compete against up to
three different opponents, with each of you dancing solo. Finally there is the
“Tournament” mode, which features several modes of its own.
The first of the
“Tournament” modes is the “Tag” mode. Prior to beginning the “Tag” mode, each
participant will have his or her picture taken by the EyeToy. From there, the
game will flash the picture of one of the participants on the screen, at which
time the corresponding player begins. Throughout the course of the “Tag” mode,
the game will flash the picture of a new participant at which time they take
over. This is an incredibly frenetic and fast-paced mode because the game gives
you very little warning as to when it’ll call for a tag. Next up is the
“Frenzy” mode. In “Frenzy” accuracy is of little concern, as you merely have to
hit the icons, which progressively show up faster and faster until you’re a
veritable blizzard of swinging arms. “Perfection” is the next tournament mode,
in which the object of the game is to last longer than your opponent. The catch
is, if you miss three icons in a row by the slimmest of margins, your game is
over. Finally there is the “Copycat” mode, which works something like the game
“Simon”. In “Copycat” you must memorize a progressively longer streak of dance
moves.
Groove also features a
“Dance Move Maker” option that allows you to create unique dance routines to all
of the songs, which can in turn be utilized in the various modes the game
offers. Including this option creates a lot of replay value especially after
you’ve learned the default routines by heart. Make them as hard, easy, or goofy
as you want, and then sit back and laugh as your friends try to keep up.
In addition to the
gameplay elements of Groove, it also features video messaging, the “Chill Out
Room” which displays various special effects overlaid the images the camera
picks up as it plays music, and last but not least, you can watch videos of
various songs.
In closing, EyeToy:
Groove is the logical and very much welcomed extension of what Sony began when
it originally released the EyeToy. It is a game unlike anything else on the
market and is a load of fun to play, especially with a group of friends. It
perfectly executes everything that it sets out to do, raising it above being
“just a reason to use the EyeToy” to a full-fledged stand alone game. Whether
you’ve cut a million rugs in your time or you shudder at the thought of “movin’
to the music”, Groove is a game that should prove fun and worthwhile to all.
Really, the only drawback is the relatively small roster of songs, but with so
many different ways to play the game, they should prove to be plenty.
Gameplay: 8.5
You are the star
and the controller all wrapped into one. Once you’ve got the EyeToy properly
calibrated, it is extremely responsive to all of your moves.
Graphics: 7
This is kind of a
hard one to rate since your smiling face will be the center of attention on
screen. The game does feature some pretty impressive lighting and particle
effects and the special effects it displays when you’re in “freestyle” or the
“Chill Out Room” are nicely done. With that said, if you’re hot or at least
think you are, then add three points. If on the other hand, you fall on the
other end of the spectrum or you can’t stand the way you look, then subtract a
corresponding amount of points.
Sound: 9
The music
featured in the game is crisp and clear. The roster of songs are strictly dance
tracks that have a high probability of becoming dastardly “ear worms” (songs you
just can’t get out of your head). There is a nice mix of songs most will know
by heart and songs that will not be recognizable except to a select few, which
helps keep things fresh.
Difficulty: Medium
With a nice
selection of difficulty settings to choose from, the game proves to be only as
challenging as you want it to. Groove is all about having fun.
Concept: 9
A game that
features you as the main character via a USB camera is both innovative and
unique. A dance game that grades you on your ability to move your body to the
rhythm of the music is a pretty high concept that is pulled off flawlessly.
Multiplayer: 9
Groove’s multiplayer
modes are an absolute blast to play and the heart of the game. The multiplayer
makes Groove one the best party games on any system. Besides being enjoyable to
play, it is usually even more fun to watch friends/family try to keep up with
your mad skills.
Overall: 8.5
EyeToy: Groove
could have easily turned out to be nothing more than a “gimmick” game, but it
actually turns out to be a very solid, playable game that stands above the vast
majority of the games in the rhythm and dance genre. If you enjoy any of the
other games in the genre, or if you want a much more immersive videogame
experience, or if you’re just looking for something different, then give Groove
a shot. You won’t be disappointed.
