Between the place that Ubisoft gives to its rhythm game and the mixed reception of the latest installments, it becomes quite difficult to measure the importance of Just Dance in the publisher's plans. The title always seems to find its audience, so much so that the company is still producing a Wii version this year (yes, yes, the 2006 console), but in recent years, each new release has shown a minimal investment. You have to go back to the 2016 version to find an episode capable of inspiring the editorial staff thanks to its playlist and its game modes. The main novelty of Just Dance 2020 lies precisely in a kind of homage to the previous games to through All-Stars mode. It's about finding some classics from the series, knowing that each completed piece is unlocked for the main mode. Among them, classics such as "Rasputin" by Boney M and "You're The First, You're The Last, My Evrything" by Barry White, or even more recent hits like "California Gurls" by Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg, “Starships” by Nicky Minaj and “Chiwawa” by Wanko Ni Mero Mero, which should delight J-Pop fans.
Also, the whole thing is interspersed with short but colorful and overall pretty cute animated sequences. However, taking into account all of the 40 songs available in the game, those that should be unanimous are far too rare to ensure a non-stop party. Admittedly, it's a question of sensitivity and generation, but apart from a few cult songs like "Just An Illusion" (here cover Equinox Stars, customary formation of Soul and Funk covers for Just Dance), the whole thing may seem a little bland for those looking for something catchy and groovy. It is, however, always possible to turn to the Just Dance Unlimited service in order to access 500 additional titles, knowing that a free trial period is available for one month.
UNASSURED STEPS
In terms of game mode, Just Dance 2020 is generally satisfied with the minimum. In addition to the All Stars mode, we note the welcome return of the Kids mode with its adapted songs and choreographies, and the possibility of challenging the world again by connecting to dozens of other players simultaneously. In addition, the Sweat function, thanks to which the game estimates the number of calories burned while dancing, is available again; that's assuming you're not cheating and just shaking your Joy-Con or smartphone while sitting on the couch. Because it is always possible to make a completely correct score thanks to this odious stratagem. Only, if the purists can naturally regret that, it remains difficult to imagine that people gather around Just Dance to stop there. Especially since the choreographies, even if they are quite uneven in terms of style and elegance, are above all supposed to be easy to reproduce so that neophytes can have fun without the fuss. At the same time, the most experienced can unlock alternative versions for certain dances: it is, in some cases, a so-called extreme version for those who have energy to spare.On the other hand, there is no notable novelty this year and it is again necessary to ignore the sympathetic Showtime mode which made it possible to create small clips from its own performances; this choice is certainly explained by a concern for homogeneity, the Switch not currently having any camera system. Thus, it seems difficult to consider this 2020 edition as essential, especially for those who have one of the previous components. But with a concept as simple as it is effective, the Ubisoft game always does the job by animating meetings between friends or family, whether you are a confirmed gamer or completely foreign to the world of video games.
