| Dance Central Spotlight | |
| Developer: | Harmonix |
| Publisher: | Microsoft Studios |
| Series: | Dance Central |
| Platforms: | Xbox One |
| Released: | September 2, 2014 |
| Genre: | Rhythm |
| Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
Dance Central Spotlight is a 2014 rhythm game developed by Harmonix and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox One Kinect. It is the sequel to Dance Central 3 (2012) and the fourth installment in the Dance Central series. The game provides a stripped-down experience in comparison to previous Dance Central titles, maintaining the core gameplay of the series, but with a focus on providing more routines per-song, the regular release of recent songs as downloadable content, and leverage of improvements to the motion detection capabilities of the Kinect for Xbox One. It was released on September 2, 2014.
Similarly to previous installments in the franchise, players must mirror the dance routine of an on-screen dancer,[1] as instructed by "flash cards" indicating specific moves in the routine. Players are judged and scored on the accuracy of their performance.[2] Each song includes up to eight routines, including four difficulty levels of the standard routine, along with two fitness-oriented routines and two "alternate" routines.[3] Additional routines and difficulty levels are unlocked for songs by collecting flash cards by getting "Flawless" ratings on individual moves.[4]
Spotlight includes songs from artists like Rihanna, Lorde and Pharrell Williams.[5] It focuses primarily on the core gameplay of the franchise, with a simplified offering of standard and fitness modes, and no story mode or other minigames like past versions. The practice mode was overhauled to use a dynamic, "on-demand" approach, rather than the "regimented" approach used by previous Dance Central games: players can now jump to training mode in-game by using a voice or controller command. Once activated, the player can practice the relevant portion, slow down the routine, and go to different parts of the song. When the player exits practice, the song continues from where it was left off.[2] [6]
The following ten songs are bundled with the game:
| Song | Artist | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
"
| Justin Bieber ft. will.i.am | 2013 | |
| "Counting Stars" | OneRepublic | 2013 | |
| "Diamonds" | Rihanna | 2012 | |
| "Happy" | Pharrell Williams | 2013 | |
| "I Wish" | 2013 | ||
| "Royals" | Lorde | 2013 | |
| "Show Me" | Chris Brown ft. Kid Ink | 2013 | |
| "Talk Dirty" | Jason Derulo & 2 Chainz | 2013 | |
| "Titanium" | David Guetta ft. Sia | 2011 | |
| "Wake Me Up" | Avicii | 2013 |
Dance Central Spotlight was unveiled at E3 2014.[7] The overall gameplay of the Dance Central franchise was enhanced by the increased capabilities of the Xbox One Kinect sensor, which has a higher resolution camera and better gesture recognition than the Xbox 360 iteration. In total, the game can recognize 7,000 different dance moves.[7] Harmonix director Matthew Nordhaus also teased the presence of tougher alternate routines for individual songs, aimed particularly at expert players. Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos felt that Microsoft's introduction of lower-cost Xbox One bundles excluding Kinect wasn't a "shock" and the bundling of Kinect with Xbox One on launch did not influence the development of Spotlight in any way.[7]
Unlike previous installments in the franchise, Spotlight places a heavy emphasis on downloadable content and the ability for players to purchase songs on an À la carte basis; Nordhaus noted that due to improvements in motion capture technology and the need to perform fewer QA tests because of the improved Kinect accuracy (specifically noting the need to do large levels of tuning for hand detection on the Xbox 360 version), Harmonix staff could produce new routines for the game in just "days" rather than months. Emphasizing that players wanted to have quicker in-game access to current hit music, Nordhaus stated that Harmonix would now be able to release new songs as DLC while they are still charting.[7] [8]
Dance Central Spotlight was officially released on September 2, 2014; unlike other installments in the series, the game is only available via digital means. The base game includes 10 songs; new songs for the game were released on a near-weekly basis for a "substantial" period of time.[7] [8] [9] A pre-paid code to download Spotlight is also included with standalone Kinect for Xbox One units, which were released on October 7, 2014.[10]
On March 8, 2015, Nisha and Claptrap (despite his lack of legs and using a wheel) from the Borderlands franchise were added as bonus characters via cheat codes; Harmonix had assisted in animating portions of a trailer for (which was being re-released for Xbox One later that month alongside a port of Borderlands 2, as part of ).[11] [12]
All DLC from previous Dance Central games were ported to Spotlight—they were re-released progressively in batches following the game's release. The ported DLC include their standard routines from the original version (with additional moves not seen in the original version for Dance Central 1 songs), along with four alternate routines, as with Spotlight-specific songs. Songs that were previously purchased on the Xbox 360 versions of Dance Central can be re-downloaded on Spotlight at no extra charge.[7] [8] [9] [13]
| Song | Artist | Year | Release date on Spotlight | Still available for purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Airplanes" | B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams | 2010 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Alejandro" | Lady Gaga | 2010 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Because of You" | Ne-Yo | 2007 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Closer" | Ne-Yo | 2008 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Commander" | Kelly Rowland ft. David Guetta | 2011 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "D.A.N.C.E." | Justice | 2007 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Don't Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em)" | Busta Rhymes | 2008 | September 2, 2014 | No | |
| "Get Busy" | Sean Paul | 2003 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Get It Shawty" | Lloyd | 2007 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Pt. 1" | James Brown | 1970 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Girls and Boys" | Blur | 1994 | September 2, 2014 | No | |
| "Heard 'Em All" | Amerie | 2009 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Hello Good Morning" | Diddy-Dirty Money ft. T.I. | 2010 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "I Got You Dancing" | Lady Sovereign | 2009 | September 2, 2014 | No | |
| "La La Land" | Demi Lovato | 2008 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Lapdance" | N.E.R.D. | 2001 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Marry the Night" | Lady Gaga | 2011 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Paparazzi" | Lady Gaga | 2009 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Round & Round" | Selena Gomez & the Scene | 2010 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Say Hey (I Love You)" | Michael Franti & Spearhead feat. Cherine Anderson | 2008 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Temperature" | Sean Paul | 2006 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "The Edge Of Glory" | Lady Gaga | 2011 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Turnin Me On" | Keri Hilson | 2008 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Weapon of Choice" | Fatboy Slim | 2001 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Whip It" | Nicki Minaj | 2012 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Don't Cha" | The Pussycat Dolls ft. Busta Rhymes | 2005 | September 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Le Freak" | Chic | 1978 | September 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Planet Rock" | Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force | 1982 | September 16, 2014 | No | |
| "Say Aah" | Trey Songz | 2010 | September 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Fergalicious" | Fergie ft. will.i.am | 2006 | September 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Hollaback Girl" | Gwen Stefani | 2005 | September 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "London Bridge" | Fergie | 2006 | September 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "We Run This" | Missy Elliott | 2006 | September 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Control" | Janet Jackson | 1986 | September 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Escapade" | Janet Jackson | 1989 | September 30, 2014 | No | |
| "Nasty" | Janet Jackson | 1986 | September 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Party Rock Anthem" | LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock | 2011 | September 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Sorry for Party Rocking" | LMFAO | 2012 | September 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "All Around the World" | Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris | 2012 | October 7, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Beauty and a Beat" | Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj | 2012 | October 7, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Never Say Never" | Justin Bieber ft. Jaden Smith | 2010 | October 7, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Lights" | Ellie Goulding | 2011 | October 14, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Let It Roll" | Flo Rida | 2012 | October 21, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Low" | Flo Rida ft. T-Pain | 2007 | October 21, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Give Me Everything" | Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer | 2011 | October 28, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)" | Pitbull ft. T-Pain | 2010 | October 28, 2014 | Yes | |
| "International Love" | Pitbull ft. Chris Brown | 2011 | October 28, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Disturbia" | Rihanna | 2008 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Only Girl (In the World)" | Rihanna | 2010 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "S&M" | Rihanna | 2011 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "SOS" | Rihanna | 2006 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Umbrella" | Rihanna ft. Jay-Z | 2007 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "What's My Name" | Rihanna ft. Drake | 2010 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Gangnam Style" | PSY | 2012 | December 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Yeah 3x" | Chris Brown | 2010 | December 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Euphoria" | Usher | 2012 | December 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Twisted" | Usher ft. Pharrell | 2012 | December 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "I Gotta Feeling" | The Black Eyed Peas | 2009 | December 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Call Me Maybe" | Carly Rae Jepsen | 2011 | January 6, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Forget You" | Cee Lo Green | 2010 | January 6, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Glad You Came" | The Wanted | 2011 | January 6, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Take Care" | Drake ft. Rihanna | 2012 | January 6, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Hot In Herre" | Nelly | 2002 | January 13, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Promiscuous" | Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland | 2006 | January 20, 2015 | Yes | |
| "The Way I Are" | Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. & Sebastian | 2007 | January 27, 2015 | Yes | |
| "We No Speak Americano" | Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP | 2010 | February 3, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Scenario" | A Tribe Called Quest And Leaders of the New School | 1992 | February 10, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Down On Me" | Jeremih ft. 50 Cent | 2010 | February 17, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" | C+C Music Factory | 1990 | February 24, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Word Up" | Cameo | 1986 | March 3, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Milkshake" | Kelis | 2003 | March 10, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Let It Rock" | Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne | 2008 | March 17, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Lean wit It, Rock wit It" | Dem Franchize Boyz | 2006 | March 24, 2015 | Yes | |
| "O.P.P." | Naughty by Nature | 1991 | March 31, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Straight Up" | Paula Abdul | 1988 | April 7, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Super Freak" | Rick James | 1981 | April 14, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Whoomp! (There It Is)" | Tag Team | 1993 | April 28, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Spice Up Your Life (Stent Radio Mix)" | Spice Girls | 1997 | May 5, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Informer" | Snow | 1993 | May 12, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Whine Up" | Kat DeLuna ft. Elephant Man | 2007 | May 19, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Tempted to Touch" | Rupee | 2004 | May 26, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Break Your Heart" | Taio Cruz Ft. Ludacris | 2010 | June 2, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Replay" | Iyaz | 2009 | June 2, 2015 | Yes |
| Song | Artist | Year | Release date | Still available for purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Little Respect" | Erasure | 1988 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "I Love It" | Icona Pop | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" | Ne-Yo | 2012 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Little Talks" | Of Monsters and Men | 2011 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Love Shack" | The B-52s | 1989 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Maps" | Maroon 5 | 2014 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Next to Me" | Emeli Sandé | 2012 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "One More Night" | Maroon 5 | 2012 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Pompeii" | Bastille | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Problem" | Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea | 2014 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Safe and Sound" | Capital Cities | 2011 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Scream & Shout" | will.i.am ft. Britney Spears | 2012 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Summer" | Calvin Harris | 2014 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix)" | Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais | 2012 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Take On Me" | a-ha | 1984 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Turn Down for What" | DJ Snake & Lil Jon | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Here Comes the Hotstepper" | Ini Kamoze | 1994 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Heart Attack" | Demi Lovato | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "I Need Your Love" | Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Ain't It Fun" | Paramore | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "All of Me (Tiësto's Birthday Treatment Remix [Radio Edit])" | John Legend | 2014 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Creep" | TLC | 1994 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Am I Wrong" | Nico & Vinz | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Come & Get It" | Selena Gomez | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Applause" | Lady Gaga | 2013 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Bailando" | Enrique Iglesias ft. Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona | 2014 | September 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "The Way" | Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller | 2013 | September 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Latch" | Disclosure ft. Sam Smith | 2012 | September 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Fancy" | Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX | 2014 | September 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Black Widow" | Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora | 2014 | September 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "As Long as You Love Me" | Justin Bieber ft. Big Sean | 2012 | October 7, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Burn" | Ellie Goulding | 2013 | October 14, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Bang Bang" | Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj | 2014 | October 14, 2014 | Yes | |
| "I Cry" | Flo Rida | 2012 | October 21, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Chandelier" | Sia | 2014 | November 4, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Love Runs Out" | OneRepublic | 2014 | November 11, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Anaconda" | Nicki Minaj | 2014 | November 18, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Can't Hold Us" | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton | 2011 | November 25, 2014 | No | |
| "Blurred Lines" | Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell | 2013 | November 25, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Animals" | Maroon 5 | 2014 | November 25, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Don't Tell 'Em" | Jeremih ft. YG | 2014 | December 2, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Somebody That I Used to Know" | Gotye ft. Kimbra | 2011 | December 9, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Turn Me On" | David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj | 2011 | December 9, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Locked Out of Heaven" | Bruno Mars | 2012 | December 16, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Ready To Run" | One Direction | 2013 | December 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Story Of My Life" | One Direction | 2013 | December 23, 2014 | Yes | |
| "Raise Your Glass" | P!nk | 2010 | December 30, 2014 | Yes | |
| "GDFR" | Flo Rida ft. Sage The Gemini and Lookas | 2014 | April 28, 2015 | Yes | |
| "Uptown Funk" | Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars | 2014 | April 28, 2015 | Yes |
GameSpot gave Spotlight an 8 out of 10, praising its cleaner interface and dropping of extraneous features for "[removing] the obstacles between you and just getting out there and dancing", and its new business model as a "tremendous value" for players. However, its minimalistic feedback for player performance was considered a double-edged sword due to the new unlock system's emphasis on rewarding the learning of individual moves.