Introduction

Back in 1998, the first Dance Dance Revolution game was released, and coincidentally enough Konami had indeed revolutionized the gaming industry by creating a new genre that fused exercise with gaming. Since then Konami has come out with loads of new mixes in the DDR series, but that didn’t stop the guys over at Roxor Games from improving on the original formula. In the Groove is essentially similar to DDR in the sense that the objective of the game is to step on arrows that are synced to the music, but ITG varied the gameplay experience enough to offer an entirely new experience. With both subtle and major differences, In the Groove for both PC and MAC is one of the best dancing game releases to date.

How is In the Groove different from others?

If you aren’t familiar with this genre, it’s easy for any newcomer to believe that all dancing games are created equal, but this is actually far from the truth. While the principle behind ITG is the same as DDR, there are plenty new gameplay aspects offered here that alter the way the game is played. For starters, In the Groove features mines that will actually detract from your score if you step on them. Furthermore, ITG is notorious for its use of hands, which require the player to step on more than two arrows at once.

Aside from changing the way you actually dance, In the Groove’s appearance is also much more complex when compared to other games. The computer version includes revamped artwork and background animations to help intensify the experience, and the gamer also has the option to choose from several different arrow skins. Above everything else, modifiers truly make ITG like no other dancing game. Modifiers can either be selected for fun before choosing or a song or can actually be scripted in to Marathon courses, but it any case they will make it much more challenging for you to read the step chart. The Beat modifier violently shakes the arrows back and forth in conjunction with the beat, while the Add Mines option will litter the playing field with mine fields. Overall, the ITG exclusive modifiers certainly add yet another challenge to the already demanding dancing experience.

PlayStation 2 owners may be aware that a version of In the Groove was already released a while back, but the computer version has seen plenty of improvements since then. For example, the new version includes three new songs from the yet-to-be-released In the Groove 3 Arcade Version, so this is the only game that will let you get a head start on practicing these tough songs. Some In the Groove 2 songs have also made their way into this release, including popular hits like Summer in Belize and Cryosleep. In addition, ITG also supports the new Edit Mode that allows you to create your own steps for your favorite songs, therefore allowing for an unlimited amount of entertainment. Best of all, arcade fanatics should be aware that song scores and step edits can be saved directly to a USB Memory Stick, allowing you to easily share your progress with the rest of the dancing community.

Dancing on the Keyboard?

In the Groove is commonly recognized as a dance simulator, but unless you have incredibly small feet you should realize that dancing on the arrow keys simply isn’t an option. Since there are only a few other games like this avaialbe for computers, a majority of dance pads are manufactured for either the PS2 or Xbox, but luckily this isn’t a major problem. If you can’t manage to find a USB Control Box for your current dance pad, devices, such as the Trio Linker Plus, can convert console ports to USB with virtually no delay.

If dancing isn’t your thing, that doesn’t necessarily mean In the Groove is not for you. If all else fails, there are plenty of gamers who play rhythm games on the computer by only using their keyboards. While this obviously doesn’t deliver the same overall experience, a majority of the Expert songs can be very difficult to score on even if you use your fingers instead of your feet. Again, if you find the step charts to be too easy on your keyboard, you can always download or create custom step files to deliver a whole new challenge.

Let’s Groove

Whether you’re using a keyboard or a dance pad is entirely up to you, but either way In the Groove offers an unparalleled gaming experience that can occupy the top of your list for years on end. The concepts are simple enough to grasp from the start, but it’s very easy to get addicted and spend countless hours trying to perfect your technique. In a game where almost everything is offered to you right from the start, ITG can start off your journey to master a game of precision.

Songs are rated based on difficulty and blocks. Difficulties range from the painstakingly easy Novice all the way to the leg cramping Expert steps, but this isn’t a simple apple to apple comparison. Songs are also given a number difficulty ranging from one all the way to thirteen, which will help you narrow down a selection of songs that you are physically capable of passing. However, these number ratings sometimes aren’t the most reliable factors to consider. A song on Hard difficulty with a nine block rating can be a lot easier than a nine block song on Expert. Furthermore, song ratings are judged based on a variety of aspects, such as speed and technicality, so certain songs may seem easier than other songs of the same difficulty level depending on what kind of player you are.

Like previous releases, In the Groove on the computer features a system with over 100 unlocks. Firstly, every time you successfully clear five songs a new song, Marathon course, or modifier will be unlocked. Also, clearing any song on Hard will unlock the Expert songs for that song. If you don’t have the time or patience to deal with the easy stuff and just want to get straight into the full game, a full unlock code can be found on the official In the Groove website. However, the unlock system can coax newcomers to try out new songs before they get in over their head, so it’s not necessarily a bad idea to unlock everything yourself.

The three basic game modes can be played in three different styles for a seemingly endless amount of entertainment. The Dance mode simply lets you choose a predetermined number of songs with no restrictions, so you’re free to play as you like. The Marathon mode lets you select from a variety of scripted courses that contain a series of songs back to back as well as an ever-changing mixture of predetermined modifiers. The Battle mode lets you play against a friend or CPU opponent in which the two players will launch modifier attacks back and forth depending on how well they perform. For the Dance mode, players can choose to play using the traditional four panel setup, play two players with a buddy, and best of all is the taxing doubles play. In doubles, two pads are put together side by side as players are challenged to cover a total of eight panels. This mode can be much more tiring and can require some crafty use of hands as seen in songs such as Bend Your Mind Expert.

With everything else said and done, the entire objective of the game is not only to step on the arrows, but to step on them at the exact right time. Based on how precise your timing is, each step will earn you a judgment ranging from Fantastic to Miss. In the end, all of your steps are calculated together to give you a percentage score out of 100, which will give you the coveted quad star rating. Letter grades are given from F to A for scores from zero up to eighty-nine percent. From eighty-nine to ninety-five you will receive an S-type rank, and scores of ninety-six and above will earn you some type of star.

While it’s easy for people to disregard dancing games because they don’t fall into the mainstream of titles, you really can’t say anything bad about In the Groove until you give it a chance. At first the idea of stomping on arrows does seem a bit ridiculous, but if you find an interest in this game you can constantly find yourself coming back on a mission to better your scores. While clicking your mouse over a character’s face may seem rewarding for some, this hardly compares to the sense of accomplishment you can feel once you pass Expert songs that were once seemingly impossible. If you stick with this game chances are you will get better with time, and there’s nothing like a video game that you can always come back to.

Even if you aren’t in it to be the world’s greatest player, the health benefits are also hard to ignore. The Fitness Mode will save statistics, such as calories burned, and can serve as a very helpful tool for gamers looking to loose a little weight as an added benefit. Schools and workout centers across America are learning about the Get up Move program that preaches about the fun combination of gaming and exercise. Regardless of your current situation, it’s hard for any gamer to find a reason why In the Groove won’t appeal to them in one way or another.

Conclusion

In the Groove for the PC and MAC has so much to offer for the entire spectrum of gamers. Health nuts can use it as an exercise tool, while everyday gamers can find themselves playing this dance simulator day after day simply because they like the feeling of actually accomplishing something. The song list covers a variety of genres that aren’t limited to just J-Pop, which is also more attractive than other alternatives out there. Unfortunately, some gamers just won’t be able to enjoy this style of game because they’re either too stubborn to try or they don’t like the lack of a concrete ending. Sure, it can be nice to enjoy a title with an engaging storyline that demanded the latest hardware, but if you’re looking for a game to last you a long time look no further than In the Groove.

Watch // Video 1 // Video 2 // Video 3 (right click save as)

Gameplay	17/20
Graphics	16/20
Sound	16/20
Value	18/20
Preference	18/20
Overall	85/100