 Unison: Rebels of Rhythm and Dance |
Developer: Tecmo | Publisher: Tecmo |
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Type: Rhythm/Action | |
Skill Level: ... |
| Players: 1 | Available: March 2001 |
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Last Updated: 1/26/01 Over the years, dance/music action games have greatly expanded the interests and diversity of video gaming. As popular titles such as Bust a Move, Dance Dance Revolution and Cool Cool Toon continue to increase with interest, their success has made it possible for music aficionadoes and gamers with groove to appreciate a very captivating genre that easily matches up with that of fighting, sports and fighting games. Now PlayStation 2 games can prepare to embrace the grooves of music, rhythm and funkiness as Tecmo has announced Unison: Rebels of Rhythm and Dance, a unique, nontraditional interactive dancing game that challenges up to 3 players to master dance moves in a fantasy world filled with hip dance music and stunning Japanese anime. In a galaxy far, far away...(well, actually not that far)
Features (things that make you go 'oooh')
"What truly sets Unison apart from any other dancing game is the awesome blend of multimedia," said John Inada, Tecmo's marketing director. "The stunning realism of the graphics, the array of original dance songs, and the electrifying plot take this title to all new levels. And diehard fans of Japanese Anime will be in for a treat, too." As a portion of one dance routine is rehearsed and successfully completed, players are treated to stirring segments of the Unison story. The ultimate goal is to perform an entire dance routine, mistake-free, on a live television broadcast to the city's population. In the spirit of rebellion, the Unison team illegally transmits the performance over city airwaves.
"Although the premise may seem simple, Unison actually requires a considerable amount of skill," added Inada. "The dance steps become much more intricate and challenging as the story progresses. The challenge factor, plus the amazing graphics and stellar music score make for great replay value." Thanks to the advanced technology built within the PS2 hardware, the developers were able to create authentic Japanese anime cinematic sequences. "You won't find these advanced graphics in any other dancing game," added Inada. "Our developers have used the superiority of the PlayStation 2 engine to their full advantage. For example, the use of blurred backgrounds and a refined foreground are quite similar to actual cinematography." Look for Unison to be released in March, for a suggsted retail price of $49.95. Stay tuned for more details. |
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Unison adopts a futuristic theme, taking place 200 years into the future (reminds me of Space Channel 5). A ruthless dictator has placed a strict prohibition on dancing (guess it's because he can't get jiggy with it). Thus, in order to liberate the citizens, players will take on the role as a member of the dance team Unison and demonstrate to the citizens of the city the mystical power of dance and rhythm. Of course, to successfully free the musically deprived population, you'll need to master an extensive degree of dance steps and enage intense dancing sessions, transforming you into a hip-hop, jamming dance sensation.
The game is certainly unique as to its style and presentation, as you'll note the character designs are very stylish, vibrant in color, detail and full of Japanese anime appeal (not to mention they're cute, reminds me of the Power Puff girls all grown up!) Players can select one of three anime dance characters, and in turn, practice their routines to a host of popular dance tunes composed by professional musical artists. Featuring a balance of Japanese pop music, classic disco, and contemporary American dance tracks comprise the eclectic soundtrack, many will be intrigued and enticed to discover popular domestic musical groups include songs such as OPP by Naughty by Nature; Stop the Rock by Apollo 440; Country Grammar by Nelly; and Barbie Girl by Aqua.
Unison: Rebels of Rhythm and Dance supports the analog function of the PS2's DualShock analog controller. Play modes include:
