"Like a bad game of Twister with one redeeming spark"

Introduction

Dance Aerobics is one of a handful of games for the NES that utilizes the Power Pad. I guess the idea was to play this game and shape up at the same time. Unfortunately, I don't think the technology was up to snuff back in 1988 to pull off a game like this. But I can't fault the game makers for trying, I can only give my honest opinion of this game, said to be a precursor to DDR, Dance Aerobics.

Graphics

The graphics in this game are very simple. The aerobic routines consist of a girl standing on a Power Pad in what appears to be an empty, hardwood floor studio overlooking a city skyline. As you progress through the different routines, the girls skin color and leotard color will change to signify a different girl. Also, the sky behind her will darken as you progress to denote the passage of time. During routines your score and progress will also be displayed on the bottom third of the screen by white numbers on a black background. This basic layout of girl, studio, skyline does not change throughout the game. Also, some of the exercises cause the girls to get into some rather compromising and provocative poses which resulted in some laugh out loud moments which made me lose my concentration while playing this game. During some of the games other sections the graphics are even more sparse, consisting of just a graphic of the Power Pad on a black background with green hands and feet appearing on the on-screen numbers to denote to the player where to press. Also, and this is a legitimate warning, after you complete the normal game you are presented an awards screen which flashes blue, white, red and yellow in VERY fast succession which could cause a photosensitive epileptic seizure I assume. All I know is I almost threw up after looking at it for a few seconds in a dark room.

Sound

Turning on the game for the first time, I was surprised by a very grainy, supposedly female voice shouting "Come on, let's go!" That's right, there's actually a voice in this game. Don't get too exited though. During an aerobic routine you have to listen to the exact same song. One song. That's it. And it's not a very good song either. Just a generic, mid-tempo "beep boop" kind of song. The music in this game is redeemed however in a section of the game called "Pad Antics" where you use the Power Pad as a musical instrument. Each number on the Power Pad, except 6 and 7, will produce a different musical note when pressed. Familiar tunes like "Mary had a little lamb" and "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" are present in a section called "Mat Melodies". The sounds on this game won't win any awards but they're acceptable for the purpose they serve.

Gameplay

This game is broken up into 4 sections you can choose from when you start the game. Dance Aerobics, Pass Stamp, Pad Antics and Aerobic Studios. Dance Aerobics is where I started. It's a nice, easy introduction into the game. You'll follow along with your instructor as she leads you through your routine. The only gripe I had with this is that it is sometimes hard to know what numbers the instructor is sitting on or hitting with her hands. Yes, alot of the action is done standing on the mat but there are sit-down sections that can be pretty strenuous. These parts can also be misleading as the instructor will be sitting on the mat spread eagle with her arms outstretched to the corners of the mat making it seem as if she has a mat twice the size of the one you get to use. In real life, I was very scrunched on the mat while I tried to do the sit-down exercises and my palms were only a few inches from my seat making these exercises very uncomfortable. Someone with a smaller body type, a child or young teen, would have better luck completing them. Your score will be tallied at the bottom of the screen as well as the number of remaining exercises and mistakes you've made.

Pass Stamp is simply a password entry screen.

Pad Antics is more fun than any of the dance aerobics IMO. In this section you can use the Power Pad as a musical instrument as I said before. "Tune Up" simply lets you go for a free-for-all on the mat stepping on the numbers to create notes much like a kid banging on a piano. Not very graceful but fun nonetheless. "Mat Melodies" actually plays familiar childrens tunes and then asks you to follow along. You are scored on how accurately you follow along. Do well enough and you can advance to faster and more complex songs. "Ditto" was actually my favorite game. This is a game in the same vein as "simon says". The Power Pad will be displayed and throughout the game, green hands and feet will cover certain numbers and your task is to copy what you see on screen. This game actually had me working up a sweat and laughing at the same time as I tried to keep up.

Aerobic Studios is similar to Dance Aerobics except you start with a score of 100 and depending on how well (or poorly) you do, this score will change. Your task is to end the routine with the highest score you can.

Replayability

This game wasn't very fun. There it is. The only section I enjoyed was Pad Antics. The actually "work-out" sections were boring and difficult. The only time I'd replay this game is to play "Ditto". Once again I think its downfall is the technology just wasn't ready for an exercise game that would have any serious content or benefit your health without frustrating you into quitting first. Kids would probably have a good time trying to keep up with the routines and the other games.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 03/07/07