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Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3

(2008, Video Games - DDR, Rated E)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Quality dance game featuring artists' music videos.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Dancing improves kids' coordination and sense of rhythm.
  • Messages:

    DDR games encourage active gaming as well as social gaming.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Lyrics occasionally contain mild language like "hell."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3 was written by Erin Bell

Parents need to know that this is part of Konami's popular Dance Dance Revolution series, which encourages kids to get up and dance and even feature a Workout mode to track calories burned and weight loss progress. Through a Training mode that includes metronome beats, handclaps, and adjustable difficulty, kids can start slow but learn about more complex rhythmic patterns as they go along. The game has an online component where players with Xbox Live subscriptions can play against friends or strangers in ranked or unranked matches. There are some very mild sexual references and language in the song lyrics, like "she's such a sexy baby," and a couple of references to "hell." Common Sense Media does not recommend online gaming for children under age 12.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how dancing can be a good way to stay in shape. What are the differences between the musical songs that create disco, swing, and reggae and what makes them different from each other?
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More on Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3

What’s the Story?

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION UNIVERSE 3 continues to build on Konami's music video dancing game series for the Xbox 360 by adding more than 65 new songs; the ability to personalize a dancer with more than 200 clothing items, hair styles and skin tones; and an extensive Edit mode where players can create custom dance routines, video sequences, and DJ playlists.

Players use a special dance mat controller to play the game by stepping on the correct pads (left, right, up and down) that correspond with arrows that scroll down the screen in time to the music. The game offers a varied songlist of music from the '70s and '80s (The Jackson 5, Devo) to the present day (Moby, Jamiroquai) in various styles from dance and rave to disco, swing and pop.

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Is It Any Good?

DDR Universe 3 boasts crisp, high definition graphics, and each song is accompanied by the artist's music video in the background, making it one of the most visually appealing DDRs to date. That combined with depth of gameplay, adjustable difficulty, and fun multiplayer modes make it a great addition to the Dance Dance Revolution canon.

Some of the best modes include the Quest Mode where you'll travel through Dance Dance city completing dance-off challenges to work your way up to Champion. Game Mode, which is unique to the Xbox 360, is similar to the traditional arcade mode where you complete songs of your choice in stages. Another great feature is that you can track your weight and calories burnt in Workout Mode. And for newbies, there's a Training Mode where you can learn to dance using guides like handclaps, a metronome, and speed adjustments. Party Mode is a collection of fun multiplayer modes. There's even a whacky single-player mode called Quad Mode where one person uses four dance mats, plus a Freestyle mode where players can use any steps they want as long as they stay on beat. All in all, there is something for anyone who wants to dance.

 

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 10/21/2008, price $69.99, online enabled
ESRB rating: E (for Mild Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes)

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