Wii Dance With Our Hands

March 18, 2009 8:23 AM

I'd like a good hands-only dancing game for the Wii. I've really been enjoying Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party's dance mini-game, but there's only seven songs. And lots of the other dance games for Wii seem to involve a DDR-style dance pad (which, while fun for me, will be way less fun for my downstairs neighbors). We Cheer seems to be along the lines of what I'm looking for, but in an ideal world, I could get this kind of game without a bunch of prepubescent large-headed midriff-baring girls manically screaming rainbows at me.
posted by Greg Nog to media & arts (8 comments total)

Samba de Amigo!
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:34 AM on March 18

Boogie.
It kind of sucks for the very reason that you will like it.
I think there is a new Boogie version that uses the dance pad, you want the old version.
posted by Jonsnews at 9:09 AM on March 18

(possible derail) Dance pads can be quieted drastically with a trip to home depot. Get that shit that goes under carpets (you will probably want like 2 layers), add in some plywood if you have a rug, or else stick it between carpeting and the mat.

**long time closeted ddr player
posted by shownomercy at 9:17 AM on March 18

High School Musical 3. About 30 songs once you unlock them all, with three levels of difficulty for each. I got it for my preteen girl, but I've been playing it too.

There are a few moves that require foot action - an occasional jump or spin - but you can fake those by moving your hands if you need to. My downstairs neighbors have yet to complain. Of course, it's Disney, and I don't know what your tolerance level for that is.
posted by expialidocious at 9:40 AM on March 18

These all look fairly sweet, particularly the game in which I would control a tiny maraca-shaking monkey, which is pretty much my ultimate dream.

For posterity: someone without a mefi account also just e-mailed me to suggest "Helix", which is apparently available via WiiWare.

shownomercy, I appreciate the suggestion, but I've tried that before with little success; the downstairs neighbors actually got pissed when we were just walking around in socks, and if I'm gonna be dancing with my feet, I really like being able to stomp. So I'm afraid that's a no-go.
posted by Greg Nog at 12:10 PM on March 18

All three Rayman games have the hand music games, though the first one is a bit different. I haven't played it, but Wii Music might fit the bill, as well. Here's one review on youtube from a guy whose reviews are sometimes annoying but generally have good information about playing the game. And Let's Tap, which may not be available in wherever you are (I've got a Japanese Wii), has a unique control system that might fit what you want; I believe there's some music in the game, but the most fun is to be had with the running and Jenga-like games. The running games involve quite a bit of rhythm.
posted by msbrauer at 7:18 PM on March 18

So, update: I bought Helix, but so far, I'm finding it kinda frustrating, as I'm supposed to do the dance moves a split-second after the robot does them, which totally takes me out of the groove. I feel less like I'm flowing with the music, more like I'm playing a game of Simon Says. I may check out the monkey game next.
posted by Greg Nog at 2:41 PM on March 20

So Samba De Amigo is awesome except for the part where my sister and I were playing the "Love Love" mode together and it said we would have a one-year-long relationship and we were both a little weirded out by the suggestion of incest

also it gave us a safe word, what is the deal there
posted by Greg Nog at 1:11 PM on April 7 [1 favorite]