In The Groove

Background

Get your groove on with the home version of the next generation arcade dance game. In The Groove was designed from the ground up by hardcore dance game fans and represents an incredible leap forward in the genre. While maintaining the same addictive game play of popular dance titles, In The Groove features exclusive, never before seen features like modifiers that make the game arrows spin, change speeds, and boomerang, and move in 3D along with over 60 other amazing effects that create additional challenges and endless customization for dance game fans.

Gameplay

If you've played or seen Dance Dance Revolution, you know how it plays.

The player will use their feet to play the game. The player stands on a pad consisting of four panels which are placed one in the front of the player, one in the back, and one to the left and right of the player (in other words, the panels are North, South, East, and West of the player), in a cross shape. Then the player will observe the screen watching the pattern of notes (in the shape of arrows that correspond to the pad the player is playing on) going up towards a stepping zone. Once a note reaches the zone, the player must step on the corresponding panel (say, if there is a left arrow, then the player will step on the left panel). The extra element involved is how well you timed the step in accordance to the music that is playing. If you stepped just right, you will be able to continue to progress into the song. If you are off or completely miss consecutive notes, you will lose very soon, so step and time correctly.

Those who wish to play MUST purchase a dance pad to enjoy the game the way it was meant to be played. You can use a normal PS2 controller, but that would probably just help you learn what a song is like or figuring out that tricky pattern.

Features

-All of the songs from the arcade version of In The Groove with the ability to unlock them permanently, including those only accessible through unusual means (i.e. always being unavailable from the songwheel). New songs not seen in ITG will also be available (and most likely to appear in In The Groove 2, the next arcade iteration of In The Groove).
-Tutorial: Never played before? This mode will help you learn how to step properly and efficiently.
-2-player Battle Mode: Play competitively against an opponent and attempt to disorient them with random modifiers that activate only if you play well.
-Double Pad: Play the game with two pads by yourself! All new dance patterns will show up and match the theme of the song better than playing with just one pad.
-Modifiers: Affect the way the arrows scroll with modifiers! Space them out further to read easier, but they'll scroll faster! Make them wave in various way as they scroll towards the step zone! Make the arrows scroll in reverse! Better yet, have half the zone scroll in reverse! Change the stepping pattern by mirroring the steps, or, for a true challenge, shuffle the step patterns! (They'll still follow according to the music.) You can also reduce the amount of steps to make gameplay easier. There are 40+ modifiers in all, and some 20 new ones coming to the PS2 version.
-Marathon: Play a course of songs back-to-back with no break inbetween, with some courses having modifiers activated. Challenge yourself by making your own course!
-Fitness: Keep track of daily routines and calories burned. A solo player, a pair of people, or one player on two pads can be used.
-Longer songs: Songs are 2 minutes long and higher, longer than what's seen in Dance Dance Revolution.

Hardware Requirements

-PlayStation 2
-PlayStation 2 Memory Card
-Compatible Dance Pad (any pad with panels arranged in a north, south, east, and west pattern, like a cross; or purchase In The Groove bundle which will include a pad already)

Official URL

Official Site