Just Dance 3
Just Dance 3 is a 2011 dance rhythm game released on the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 with Kinect and Move support respectively for the latter two. It is part of the Just Dance video game series published by Ubisoft originally on the Wii and the third main installment of the series. Just Dance 3 was announced shortly after the release of Just Dance 2 and was released for the Wii and Xbox 360 on October 7, 2011 in North America and October 11, 2011 in Australia and Europe and for the PlayStation 3 on December 6, 2011 in North America, December 8, 2011 in Australia and December 9, 2011 in Europe.[1] Just Dance 3 received positive reviews from critics and is the best-selling third-party Wii game of all-time, with sales of 9.92 million.[2][3]
Just Dance 3 | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Ubisoft Paris (Wii) Ubisoft Reflections (PlayStation 3) Ubisoft Montreal (Xbox 360) |
Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
Series | Just Dance |
Platform(s) | Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
Release | Wii & Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 |
Genre(s) | Music, rhythm |
Gameplay
Like its predecessors, up to four players can play to mirror on-screen dance choreography from over 40 songs, as they are judged on their ability to follow a dance routine to a chosen song. During gameplay, the progress bar is displayed above the boomboxes that blast out the five judgements, with stars being obtained during the song. Along with Solo and Duet modes, Just Dance 3 features a Dance Crew mode which allows 4 players to dance together, each with their own unique choreography, as well as playlists that group songs into different categories. Players can now choose which dancer to play as for a Duet or Dance Crew song. The lyrics for the Duet songs are now on the left side of the screen like Solo songs, and the pictograms for each dancer in Duet and Dance Crew songs are placed together on the right side. On the PS3 version, a toggable option for karaoke-styled lyrics (with lyrics colored in yellow for both male and female vocals), in the same vein as the Japanese exclusive Just Dance game on the Wii, Just Dance Wii, is included. For Dance Crew songs, the boomboxes that blast out the five judgements are located on the left side of each player's progress bar. Players can unlock gifts such as new songs, game modes, as well as Dance Mashups which combines different dance routines in this game and the previous two installments of the Just Dance series into one song. Returning features in the game include Non-Stop Shuffle, Speed Shuffle, Medley, Simons Says and Just Sweat.
The Wii and PlayStation 3 versions have a Hold My Hand dance mode, where two players can share a Wii Remote or PlayStation Move Motion controller to dance. The Xbox 360 version has the ability to choose between the full version or the short version, and features two difficulties for both game modes, "Easy", where the player can use only their hands to score, and "Normal", where the player can use their entire body to score, as well as a "Shout Out" feature that uses the Kinect's voice recognition function, respectively, to sing the colored on-screen lyric in light blue when an icon appears. If successful, an additional Mojo point is earned. It also features a Just Create mode in which players can create their own routines with the Kinect. They can be saved, shared with their friends online and be played just like any other Just Dance routine.[1]
Track list
The game features 57 songs.
Notes:
- In the Xbox 360 version, all the songs are listed alphabetically while in the Wii and PS3 versions, the songs are in the order listed below.
- In the Xbox 360 version, the Dance Mash-Up for "Pump It" is unlocked as part of Ubisoft Connect rewards.
- In the Xbox 360 version menu "...Baby One More Time" does not appear first because it is credited as "Baby One More Time".
- Also available on the Xbox 360 demo version of the game, with the short version only being playable in the main "Dance" mode.
- PAL regions only
- The extreme version of this song can be unlocked with a secret Konami-like code on the D-pad.
- Exclusive to copies sold by Best Buy, also available with PAL Special Edition
- Exclusive to copies sold by Target/Zellers, also available on the PAL Xbox 360 version
- Also available on the Xbox 360 demo version of the game, with the short version only being playable in the "Just Create" mode.
- The original singer of the song is Cobie Smulders, but was credited as Robin Sparkles, the stage name for her character Robin Scherbatsky from the sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
- The song is actually titled "Didi Tera Devar Deewana".
- PS3 only; previously available as DLC on Wii.
- Unlockable depending on the player's mojo.
Downloadable content
Notes:
- Songs from previous Just Dance games, along with new songs, are downloadable content for Just Dance 3. The Xbox 360 version also has a free demo version, showing a short sample version of the song, with scores not being saved and Mojo Points are not added to the total.
- Downloadable content is not available for the PlayStation 3. The four Wii exclusive tracks are in the main playlist instead.
- Downloadable content is no longer available for the Wii following the removal of Wii Points and the shutdown of the Wii Shop Channel.
Song | Artist | Year | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
"Baby Don't Stop Now"[lower-alpha 1] | Anja | 2011 | October 7, 2011 |
"Jambo Mambo"[lower-alpha 1] | Olé Orquesta | 1997 | October 7, 2011 |
"Soul Searchin"[lower-alpha 1] | Groove Century (as made famous by Stephen Emil Dudas and Mark G. Hart) | 1999 | October 7, 2011 |
"Twist and Shake It"[lower-alpha 1] | The Girly Team (as made famous by Ben Wheeler and Tara Chinn) | 2009 | October 7, 2011 |
"U Can't Touch This" | Groove Century (as made famous by MC Hammer) | 1990 | October 7, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Fame" | Irene Cara (credited as In the Style of Irene Cara) | 1980 | October 7, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Heart of Glass"[lower-alpha 2] | Blondie | 1979 | October 7, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Jin-Go-Lo-Ba"[lower-alpha 2] | Fatboy Slim | 2004 | November 15, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Cosmic Girl"[lower-alpha 2] | Jamiroquai | 1996 | November 15, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Jump in the Line" | The Sunlight Shakers (as made famous by Harry Belafonte) | 2011 | November 15, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Satisfaction (Isak Original Extended)"[lower-alpha 2] | Benny Benassi | 2003 | November 15, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Toxic" | The Hit Crew (as made famous by Britney Spears) | 2003 | November 23, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Acceptable in the 80s"[lower-alpha 2] | Calvin Harris | 2007 | November 23, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Jump" | Kris Kross | 1991 | November 23, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Proud Mary"[lower-alpha 2] | Ike and Tina Turner | 1971 | November 23, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Walk Like an Egyptian" | The Bangles | 1986 | December 6, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Iko Iko" | Mardi Gras | 1953 | December 6, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Baby Girl" | Reggaeton | 2003 | December 6, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Mashed Potato Time"[lower-alpha 2] | Dee Dee Sharp | 1962 | December 6, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Just Mario"[lower-alpha 3] | Ubisoft Meets Nintendo (originally composed by Koji Kondo) | 2011 | December 14, 2011 |
"Crazy Christmas" | Santa Clones | 2010 | December 20, 2011 (2 re-release) |
"Step by Step"[lower-alpha 2] | New Kids on the Block | 1990 | December 20, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Funplex"[lower-alpha 2] (CCS Remix) | The B-52's | 2008 | December 20, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"Louie Louie"[lower-alpha 2] | Iggy Pop | 1993 | December 20, 2011 (1 re-release) |
"I Like to Move It (Radio Mix)" | Groove Century (as made famous by Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman) | 1993 | January 4, 2012 (1 re-release) |
"Beat Match Until I'm Blue" | Sweat Invaders | 2011 | January 4, 2012 |
"Dun N Dusted" | Sweat Invaders | 2011 | January 4, 2012 |
"Touch Me Want Me" | Sweat Invaders | 2011 | January 4, 2012 |
"Cardiac Caress" | Lee Richardson, Richard Macklin & Tom Ford (credited as Sweat Invaders) | 2011 | January 18, 2012 |
"Boomsday" | Sweat Invaders | 2011 | January 18, 2012 |
"Merengue" | Sweat Invaders | 2011 | January 18, 2012 |
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" | The Sunlight Shakers (as made famous by Baha Men) | 2000 | January 18, 2012 (1 re-release) |
"Katti Kalandal" | Bollywood | 1980 | February 1, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Why Oh Why" | Stephane Huguenin, Yves Sanna and Christian Padovan (credited as Love Letter) | 2010 | February 1, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"The Power" | Snap! | 1990 | February 1, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Skin-To-Skin" | Sweat Invaders | 2010 | February 1, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Rasputin" | Boney M. | 1978 | February 15, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Mugsy Baloney" | Charleston | 1924 | February 15, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"That's the Way (I Like It)" | KC and the Sunshine Band | 1975 | February 15, 2012 (1 re-release) |
"Kids in America" | Kim Wilde | 1981 | March 12, 2012 (1 re-release) |
"Down by the Riverside" | The Reverend Horatio Duncan and Amos Sweets | 1927 | March 12, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Professor Pumplestickle" | Nick Phoenix and Thomas J. Bergersen | 2006 | March 12, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Dare" | Gorillaz | 2005 | March 12, 2012 (1 re-release) |
"Alright" | Supergrass | 1994 | April 25, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Dagomba" | Sorcerer | 2010 | April 25, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"Futebol Crazy" | The World Cup Girls | 2010 | April 25, 2012 (2 re-release) |
"It's Raining Men" | The Weather Girls | 1982 | April 25, 2012 (2 re-release) |
Packs
Name | Artists | Songs | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
Sweat Pack #1 | Sweat Invaders | Beat Match Until I'm Blue Dun N Dusted Touch Me Want Me |
January 4, 2012 |
Sweat Pack #2 | Sweat Invaders | Boomsday Cardiac Caress Merengue |
January 17, 2012 |
Christmas Pack[lower-alpha 2] | The Bangles Mardi Gras Reggaeton Dee Dee Sharp | Walk Like an Egyptian Iko Iko Baby Girl Mashed Potato Time | January 17, 2012 |
Valentine Pack[lower-alpha 4] | Bollywood Sweat Invaders Love Letter | Katti Kalandal Skin-To-Skin Why Oh Why | February 1, 2012 |
Spring Break Pack #1 | Kim Wilde The Reverend Horatio Duncan and Amos Sweets Gorillaz Nick Phoenix and Thomas J. Bergersen | Kids in America Down By The Riverside Dare Professor Pumplestickle | March 12, 2012 |
Spring Break Pack #2 | The World Cup Girls Supergrass Sorcerer | Futebol Crazy Alright Dagomba | April 25, 2012 |
- Wii only; later available in the main tracklist for the PS3 version.
- Xbox 360 only.
- Wii only; previously featured as an unlockable for Just Dance Wii in Japan, with a minor adjustment, with the TV turning on before the routine starts.
- Wii only.
Reception
Aggregator | Score | ||
---|---|---|---|
PS3 | Wii | Xbox 360 | |
GameRankings | 72%[5] | 75.3%[6] | 69.7%[7] |
Metacritic | 75/100[8] | 74/100[9] | 70/100[10] |
Publication | Score | ||
---|---|---|---|
PS3 | Wii | Xbox 360 | |
Eurogamer | 7/10[11] | ||
Game Informer | 6/10[12] | ||
Gamekult | 6/10[13] | ||
GameSpot | 7/10[14] | 8/10[15] | |
GamesRadar+ | [16] | ||
Giant Bomb | [17] | ||
IGN | 8/10[18] | 8.5/10[19] | |
Jeuxvideo.com | 15/20[20] | ||
Nintendo Life | [21] | ||
Official Nintendo Magazine | 68%[22] | ||
PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia | 8/10[23] | ||
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | 7/10[24] | ||
Official Xbox Magazine (US) | 7/10[25] | ||
Push Square | [26] | ||
VideoGamer.com | 7/10[27] |
Critical reception
Ubisoft's third installment in the Just Dance series received mostly mixed to positive reviews from critics, receiving a 75.30% of the Wii and a 69.70% for the Xbox 360 on GameRankings.[28] With the most positive review for the Wii being from Nintendo Life giving a 9/10, and the most negative of which being Official Nintendo Magazine UK, giving it a 68/100. For the Xbox 360, the most positive review came from IGN, giving it an 8.5/10 and the most negative came from GamingExcellence, which gave it a 5.4/10.
Commercial performance
According to Gamasutra's weekly column, Just Dance 3 was the number one selling multi-platform game of the week in North America and Japan on the week of October 13, 2011 in the form of the Wii version, and was number two in the UK. This means that of all the games on all systems, the Wii version of Just Dance 3 was the week's best selling game overall in Japan and North America in those regions, and number two in the UK, only behind Forza Motorsport 4. The Xbox 360 version did not chart, meaning it failed to hit the top 5. Of the top 5 selling Wii games in Japan, North America and the UK, however, the game was number one in all regions.[29] Just Dance 3 is the best-selling third-party Wii game, with over 9.92 million copies sold as of June 11, 2014.[2][3]
Awards and nominations
British Academy Children's Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Just Dance 3 | Favorite Video Game | Won |
2012 Kids' Choice Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Just Dance 3 | Favorite Game | Won |
2012 Teen Choice Awards
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Just Dance 3 | Choice Video Game | Won |
Other releases
A Zellers Edition was released in Canada which included two exclusive songs which are Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)" and B.o.B's "Airplanes", which are also included in the PAL Xbox 360 version. The Target Edition in America is exactly the same as the Zellers Edition.
A Best Buy Edition was released in America which included two exclusive songs which are Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and "E.T." The PAL Special Edition is exactly the same as the Best Buy Edition.
References
- Fletcher, JC. "See Just Dance 3's 'Just Create' and four-player mode". www.joystiq.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015.
- Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2015. Guinness World Records. November 6, 2014. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-908-84366-1.
- "Best-selling third-party Wii game". Guinness World Records. 11 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
- "IGN – Ubisoft Unveils More Songs From the Just Dance 3 Tracklist". IGN. 2011-08-18. Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- "Just Dance 3 for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Just Dance 3 for Wii". GameRankings. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Just Dance 3 for Xbox 360". GameRankings. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Just Dance 3 Critic Reviews for PlayStation 3". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Just Dance 3 Critic Reviews for Wii". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Just Dance 3 Critic Reviews for Xbox 360". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Minkley, Johnny (October 14, 2011). "Just Dance 3". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Reeves, Ben (October 12, 2011). "Just Dance 3". Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Puyo (October 10, 2011). "Test: Just Dance 3 (Xbox 360)". Gamekult. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Walton, Mark (October 20, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Walton, Mark (October 17, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Del Rosario, Cheryll (October 8, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Xbox 360 review". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Davis, Ryan (October 24, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- MacDonald, Keza (October 11, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- MacDonald, Keza (October 11, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Test : Just Dance 3". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). January 3, 2012. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Wahlgren, Jon (October 18, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review (Wii)". NintendoLife. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Scullion, Chris (October 11, 2011). "Just Dance 3". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Taylor, Paul (January 2012). "Just Dance 3". Official Playstation Magazine (Australia). No. 65. p. 78.
- Davies, Emma (January 24, 2012). "Just Dance 3 PS3 review". Official Playstation Magazine. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Reyes, Francesca (October 14, 2011). "Just Dance 3 review". Official Xbox Magazine. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Mason, Mike (December 23, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review (PS3)". Push Square. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Smith, Jamin (October 11, 2011). "Just Dance 3 Review". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Just Dance at Gamerankings". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
- Saling The World: Just Dance 3, Forza Motorsport 4 Top Worldwide Charts Archived 2016-09-23 at the Wayback Machine -gamasutra, 14 Oct 2011
- McCroskey, Matthew (2010-10-27). "Exclusive: Just Dance 3 to Land Holiday 2011". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2011-07-26.