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Dancing Stage EuroMix cost me £18.99 from Game Spot. I checked around a few places before buying it and all of the prices were around the £20 mark. I think this is good value, especially considering how much use you get out of the game.
~~The Packaging~~
I will be honest here. The ... Read review
Advantages: Good exercise, fun, *some* good music. Disadvantages: The graphics urrrgggh, naff nameless euro-dance music.
...Euro Dance Mix is a dancing game for the PS1. You need a dance mat to play this game. I bought my mat for £20 from HMV. The mat is a large plastic pad which you plug into the playstation and allows you to perform the controls using your feet.
Dancing Stage EuroMix cost me £18.99 from Game Spot. I checked around a few places before buying it and all of the prices were around the £20 mark. I think this is good value, especially considering ... ...some time now, in Japan, dancing machines in arcades have been very popular. If you have been to the Trocadero centre in London, you will have seen rows of Konami dance machines, often with crowds of Japanese teenagers dancing on them. There is even one of the machines in Cardiff University Student Union now. This game brings the arcade smash right into your front room. Whether you already play the arcade game or not, this is a fun and cheap way ... more
I bet you never thought that spending hours on a playstation could be good for your health. Well, you were wrong. Euro Dance Mix is a dancing game for the PS1. You need a dance mat to play this game. I bought my mat for £20 from HMV. The mat is a large plastic pad which you plug into the playstation and allows you to perform the controls using your feet.
Dancing Stage EuroMix cost me £18.99 from Game Spot. I checked around a few places before buying it and all of the prices were around the £20 mark. I think this is good value, especially considering how much use you get out of the game.
~~The Packaging~~
I will be honest here. The cover design is tacky. It shows a computer generated woman dancing, and is all in garish bright colours.
~~The Concept~~~
For some time now, in Japan, dancing machines in arcades have been very popular. If you have been to the Trocadero centre in London, you will have seen rows of Konami dance machines, often with crowds of Japanese teenagers dancing on them. There is even one of the machines in Cardiff University Student Union now. This game brings the arcade smash right into your front room. Whether you already play the arcade game or not, this is a fun and cheap way to do near enough the same thing at home.
~~The Game~~
The idea is simple. The better you dance, the higher your score. The dance steps are made in time with the music, and you have to "stomp" the pad simultaneously with the arrows being highlighted on the screen. Sound complicated? It's not, well at least it's as hard as you want it to be.
When you load the disc, you will have these options:
-Arcade Mode
This is the main part of the game. You have a choice of easy, standard or difficult tracks, and then a further choice of easy, standard or difficult steps. The easy tracks are quite slow, and the hard tracks are very very fast. If you try to run before you can walk (so to speak), you will most likely land on your arse...so start from the beginning. Even if you are a great dancer, it takes a while to get the hang and the rhythm. There is an expert mode...when I went into this I nearly had a heart attack, so be warned!
Each game in the arcade mode consists of you dancing to three tracks, which you choose. You get a score for each round, which is a grade from AAA (excellent) to D. Any lower than a D is a fail. You then get an overall grade after the three songs. I like getting the grades as it is an easy way to set yourself targets to improve. The first time I got an AAA I was well chuffed, as that means you have done the routine making no mistakes.
There are only four places to step on the mat- up, down, left and right. It sounds easy, doesn't it? Well, it isn't! Sometimes the steps can be quite complicated and non-stop, and sometimes you have double steps (eg, when you have to step on two at once).
When you step on a corresponding place on the mat to the one on the screen, you can get Perfect- Great- Good- Almost- or Boo!!! (Missed).
If you are doing really well, you get cheers and encouraging comments, and if you keep missing steps, you will get booed and insulted.
There is a bar at the top of the screen, indicating your performance level. If you keep missing steps, this will go red and you are in danger of failing.
-Training Mode This is a very complicated mode where you can practise different tracks with varying things such as-the arrows dissappearing halfway up the screen, no music, or with the arrows facing the wrong way. I find this part quite tedious, but I suppose if you are practising a particular track and want to get it perfect, it could be useful...
-Workout Mode In the work out mode, you can enter your weight (eeek) and dance to burn calories. A calorie counter tells you how many colaries you have burned. I think this bit is quite pointless, obviously you burn calories when you dance in any mode, so I prefer the arcade mode.
-Lesson Mode Going through the lessons helps you to master the steps. If you are stuck on a certain routine, or need some help getting started, the lessons are very helpful. You watch the animated character dance first, and have to pass each lesson successfully to go onto the next one.
-Records If you have a memory card, you can save your best scores for each song or each game mode. I do not bother doing this.
-Options In options you can change things like the number of players, the volume, and various other settings for the game.
1 or 2 players?
If you have 2 mats, you can play Dancing Stage EuroMix with 2 people. For this, you need enough space for two mats! This can be fun, as you try to dance better than your partner to get a higher score than them. I only have one mat and just play on my own. That way, no one can laugh at me!
~~~~The Music~~~~~ Hmmm. This is one of my major problems with this game. I love dance music, and I like dancing. The music is this is just not up to scratch (so to speak). There are a number of well known tracks, such as "I will survive", "Mucho Mambo- Sway", "Boyzone- So Good" and a few others, but the vast majority (especially on the more difficult modes) are unknown dance tracks. Which, frankly, are not all that good. There is a big choice of songs though, so you don't have to get sick of the same one being played oevr and over again. I just think that a game like this could be so much better if it included some up to date club tracks. The songs do seem to be well chosen for their rythmns though, as you dance along to the beat.
~~~~The Graphics~~~ On all modes, at the top of the screen is the four arrows. When one is highlighted, that is when you have to touch the corresponding place on the mat. On the easy mode, there is a character dancing on the screen so you can copy them. On the higher levels there is just the arrows. The arrows are easy to follow, but the backgrounds-EWWW!! It looks like someone puked up on the screen! There are awful swirling patterns which move around. This is very off putting and gives me a headache. On the whole, the graphics look quite basic and old skool, but I suppose in a dancing game, you do not play it to marvel at the graphics.
~Who is it For?~
I think anybody could enjoy this game. My boyfriends Mum enjoys playing it for exercise, and there are songs that the oldies will recognise (I will Survive, Word Up, and Video Killed the Radio Star to name a few). Even if you are very unfit, the easy modes are very gentle and will not even break you out into a sweat. If you are trying to get fit or lose weight I think this game is great, as you don't even have to leave your house to do it. Kids would love this. Someone told me it is a girly game but I disagree (although men will probably go on it in secret when everyone is out!).
---The Mat---- Just a couple of tips here regarding the mat.
Always remove your shoes when playing this game. If you do it in bare feet, the plastic can be quite sticky, yet if you wear socks, you can slip on the mat! I tend to wear slipper socks, with the grip on the bottom.
When you put the mat away after use, fold it along the original lines.
You do not have to stamp hard on the arrows. A gentle touch will do (and your neighbors will thank you for it!)
*Good points about this game* Dancing Stage Euromix is a lot of fun and also good exercise. Some of the songs are quite good and it is fun to sing along while you dance. The different modes mean that even if you are unfit or have little co-ordination, you can still play. The more difficult levels provide a challenge to work towards. You can try out the steps in your local club (actually, maybe not!!) There is a Konami Internet Challenge, whereby you go to their website at www.konami.co.uk. and register your details. You can then register your top scores and see how you compare to other players. You can even unlock special levels.
*Bad points about this game* Sooner or later, an improved version will come out with better songs and graphics and this game will be relegated to the cupboard (sorry, but it's true). The graphics are very hard on the eye and they don't need to be. There appears to be no way to pause a game. I have tried all the buttons but nothing pauses it, which can be quite frustrating.
On the whole though, I can't complain. The game cost me less than £20 (excluding the mat) and I have played it every day since I bought it. It has got my heart racing and hopefully burnt some calories too, and that is more than you can say for most PSX games.
Oh, and one more tip. Close the curtains when you play this game. You don't want the postman, the Avon lady, and all your nosy neighbours laughing as your bottom wobbles!
--You can also get a Disney version of the game and a new version which has pop songs on including Kylie--
Advantages: keeps you fit, saves humiliation in the arcades Disadvantages: some of the songs are completely unheard of
You've probably all come across a dance machine in the arcades or in my case the local bowling alley and I bet those of you that have seen one have always wanted to try it. I myself always did but never had to guts to try in public in case I was terrible at it which is why when I heard about the playstation game I instantly thought now where can I get me a playstation? Friends of mine all flocked out to buy them and that meant everytime we went out ... ...bowling alley that they could do the fast songs. Jealousy was beginning to take over and I thought I must get me a playstation!! Christmas came along and with my money I decided that I was going to buy a playstation. My Dad made me a deal and out we went to buy a playstation 2 unbeknown to them I wanted it for a dancemat (If you've read my op about the party addition for the dance mat you'll already know that my parents wouldn't let me have the game) ...
jenni_a 19.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dancing Stage Euromix (PlayStation)
Advantages: Replay Value, the Dance Tunes, number of difficulty modes and modifiers Disadvantages: To many remixes
...I first got funkified on dancing games at Dave and Buster’s, where they had Dance Dance Revolution the 2nd remix. I found the uptempo music, challenging and unique gameplay, and plain quirkiness of the game exciting and fresh. And by fresh, I mean fresh as in dope. But I was in a hip-hop quandary. I quickly became addicted to the cabinet version and wondered how was I to get my fix at home? Boost the life-size version late at night? Continue ... ...go. Remember, this is a dancing game, so why use your fingers? --Dancin’, Dancin’, Dancin’!!--
Ok, there is no plot or story or beginning or ending. It’s just full-blown dancing. Basically, you just use your reflexes and timing and rhythm to hit the right Arrows that correspond to the arrows that appear on the screen. The right dance arrow must be played when it crosses the permanent arrow inside the Step Zone at the top ...
AggregateCommand 01.07.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dancing Stage Euromix (PlayStation)
Advantages: Good game for playing with friends Disadvantages: You'll only have heard of a few of the tracks
Many may of you may have seen the Konami Arcade machines, and if, like me you walked quickly past saying that there's no way you're going to subject yourself to that kind of public humiliation, but secretly wonder how good you'd be at, now's your opportunity:-
I was reluctant to cough up the cash, but looking around on the internet I managed to get the game and the dance mat for under £30, which is less than most good Playstation games.
The interface ... ...if you forgive it the little foibles, ignore the instructions and approach the menus as any other psx game then you'll get along better.
It has a lot of the appeal of karaoke, when played with friends. I've had several parties rained off now, and the game ensures that you can't cheat like in twister!
The dance mat I used was sensitive and didn't need stomping into oblivion but did have a tendency to creep across the carpet mid game and get rucked ...
mentalgoat 29.08.2002 (01.09.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dancing Stage Euromix (PlayStation)
Advantages: Great Fun and Keep Fit! Disadvantages: Could have a few more known songs on it
...playstation games. The Dancing Stage Euromix is the 'game' in which you will need to work alongside a dance mat.
~~~~~~~~How does it work?~~~~~~~~~~
You choose the song that you would like to dance along to and the arrows on the screen will light up to indicate that you must step on that arrow, it helps to have co-ordination as it does go along with the beat of the music!! (It somewhat reminds me of the old fashioned 'Twister' and yes you can get ... ...not always easy with somebody dancing beside you because if they go wrong its very easy for the other person to go wrong also!!! But its good fun to see who can dance and who can't - or who thought they could!!!
~~~~~~~~Arcade Version?~~~~~~~~~~~
Arcade version is just as it would be if you played it in the Arcade - you have 3 songs to choose and at the end you're Combo score is added up. ~~~~~~~~~Lesson Mode?~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the best place ...
SecretFormula 04.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dancing Stage Euromix (PlayStation)
Advantages: Impress your mates, good party game Disadvantages: Have to buy a dance mat
I'd noticed the Dancing Stage arcade games in a few of my local arcades; always with a large crowd around them watching the young players contorting and flinging themselves around the machine having a whale of a time.
I always wanted to have a go on one but knew I'd be terrible without any practice, I really do have two left feet.
So, when I saw a Second-hand copy of this game in a local games retailer I bought it straight away. Then realised I ... ...reasons). The Voice-over chappy ("You're dancing really good!") does get a bit annoying after a while though.
Playability:
You'll come back to this game again and again. I certainly have, it may seem a bit of a novelty buy and maybe it is, but it's so easy to use, so quick to get into you can't help having "just one more go".
In Conclusion
I really do love this game. Not only is it a lot of fun, you get a good workout and it less you practice ...
juliaf1 21.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dancing Stage Euromix (PlayStation)
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Advantages: Easy way to get fit Disadvantages: A bit shorter than other dancing games, very simaler to Dancing Stage Party
Having previously purchased a number of dancing games for the Playstation including DancingStageEuromix, Party and Dance UK, I thought I would not be dissapointed with DancingStage Fever as it would have a whole lot of new features and songs to play with.
However I was wrong. As soon as I booted up the game I noticed a strange feeling of de ja vu. Where had I seen the menu's, song selection screen and even some of the songs before? Yes, that's right, it is almost identical in every way to the Party Edition version of DancingStage, apart from the fact it has different songs. And they are fewer of them...half the amount in fact and they seem to leap dramatically from being stupidly easy to ridicoulously hard all on the same difficulty setting!
It's obvious that this was just a game that had very little thought put into it ...
