Just Dance 2022 (Nintendo Switch) Review

Colourful character is dancing on screen. The player copies its moves, while holding a Joy-Con. Flashy stuff happen, and the score increases. Endorphins rise. The formula is simple and has been working for more than a decade. Just Dance is fun. It's so fun, that, while it hasn't evolved significantly throughout its lifespan, it remains quite the successful piece of software. As of now, there are still only two modes, one for kids, the others for adults, with both of them following the same "rules," which reward one's accuracy. Players can also compete with players from all over the world, or use 'Just Sweat' to create a more intensive, workout session, but don't expect any major changes to the recipe.

Some things, have changed, however, and it's mostly for the better. First of all, the loading times are now much faster. Sure, this isn't the latest open-world RPG, so waiting a bit (and resting) isn't much of an issue, but it's always better when you don't have to stare at a swirling circle for about 15 to 30 seconds. Even better than such a technical improvement, though, is a visual upgrade. The studio behind Just Dance 2022 is as its most creative phase, with almost all the music videos being much more imaginative than what has been done so far.

You still can enjoy the typical, simple silhouettes that have been associated with the series, but now there are videos with live-action dancers, scenes where characters come and go from all possible directions as if you are dancing near an actual crowd, or videos that have a strong three-dimensional feel, due to the camera moving around. There are some that play it overly safe, and become boring long before they even end, but Just Dance 2022 is mostly a visual treat, with plenty of new ideas, and some excellent choreography, with many more dance styles represented. Sadly, the OST is anything but imaginative.

It's all about personal taste and all, but pretty much all Just Dance entries would offer an OST that could "push" you towards the centre of the room and force you to start getting jiggy with it (boomer alert!). This time the soundtrack mostly consists of tunes that you can hear at a cafeteria that tends to play dance music, if that makes any sense. That's not to say that there aren't some good songs to dance to. 'Judas' by Lady Gaga, 'Boss B… Witch' by Doj… err, Skarlett Klaw, Dua Lipa's 'Levitating,' and a few others will definitely make you want to shake it, but unfortunately there are many more which will do the exact opposite.

In the end, Just Dance 2022 is just the tip of the iceberg. If you really like the game, then the majority of songs are locked behind a subscription, thankfully a fairly priced one. This, however, turns out to be one of the weakest entries in the series because of its OST, which is a shame, as the visual aspect is actually a definite improvement. In other words, Just… wait a bit, and maybe 2023 will bring forth something that's much better on the music front.