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iPhone
Tap Tap Dance
Posted 12/04/2008 at 2:00:00am | by Zack Stern

Tap Tap Dance basic pic
There's nothing better for getting back at people than revenge. Except maybe vengeance.

Another Tap Tap music game adds a new round of top-billing electronic music acts and little else. Like the other games in the series, Tap Tap Dance slides markers down three columns. When they cross the bottom--usually in time to the music or lyrics--you tap to score points. Occasional, motion-sensitive markers respond to shakes for more variety. The simple beat-tracking mechanic is fun, but the mediocre visuals and other disappointments make Tap Tap Dance feel like a fading pop hit; you see its appeal, but it has no longevity.

The 10 music tracks are the most interesting part of the title. Unlike the basic Tap Tap game, you can't download new music, but electronic and dance fans will be satisfied with the package: Daft Punk, Justice, Moby, Basement Jaxx, Chemical Brothers, and more. Unfortunately, tracks repeat across four levels of difficulty, feeling like filler instead of introducing more music.

Tap Tap dance bonus
Even this creative graphic style gets old, but it breaks the monotony of the basic format.

The graphics work well enough to show what's happening, aside from occasional jitters that threw off our timing. But the visuals usually come off as generic flashing colors, merely providing a framework for the game. Better, a handful of progressively unlocked tracks each include unique art, such as a Tron-style endless tunnel and lyrics flashing onscreen. But when these songs repeat in harder modes, their graphics revert to the sparse, repetitious rave scenes.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Tap Tap Dance wastes some of its quality, clubbing music with mediocre graphics. At least it feels like your fingers dance across the iPhone, offsetting much of that disappointment. 

Tap Tap Dance 1.0.1
COMPANY:
Tapulous
CONTACT: www.tapulous.com
PRICE: $4.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPhone or iPod touch with 2.0 software update
10 songs from popular musicians. Fun control scheme compensates for much of the visual repetition. Several tracks use unique graphics. Charts high scores online. Two-players can play on the same iPhone.
Repetitious graphics grow bland. Stand-alone app could have been rolled into Tap Tap Revenge. Can't download new songs. Occasional animation jitters. Can't listen to the songs outside of the app.

3/5
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