Just Dance 2021 is a 2020 dance rhythm game developed and published by Ubisoft. It was unveiled on August 26, 2020 during the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase August 2020 web presentation as the twelfth main installment of the series,[1] and was released on November 12, 2020, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia, and on November 24, 2020, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.[2][3][4] It is the first game in the series since the initial title not to be announced at E3, due to the event's cancellation in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also the first game in the main series not to be released for the Wii and the first game in the series not to be available on a Nintendo optical disc.[5]
Just Dance 2021 | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Ubisoft Paris |
Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
Series | Just Dance |
Engine | UbiArt Framework |
Platform(s) | |
Release | Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia November 12, 2020 PS5, Xbox X/S November 24, 2020 |
Genre(s) | Music |
Mode(s) |
Gameplay
editAs with the previous installments of the franchise, players must mimic the on-screen dancer's choreography to a chosen song using either motion controllers (excluding the ninth generation consoles and Stadia) or the game's associated smartphone app. The Stadia version also allows the use of a gamepad and a keyboard for menu navigation.
Its user interface and features are largely identical to Just Dance 2019 and Just Dance 2020. Changes include the "World Dance Floor" now being revamped with a three-song competitive tournament in three separate rooms that matches a player's level with other players of a similar level, Chill Panda (Beginner), Fabulous Hippo (Intermediate), and Fierce Deer (Expert), and a new results screen that details the player's accuracy rate in performing the moves, which is only shown when playing solo.[6][7] The game also features a new mode, known as "Quick Play" mode, in which the game randomly shuffles a song to make it easy for players to jump right into dancing without the struggle of choosing a song to dance to.[8]
Production
editThe Just Dance series primarily features routines performed by real-life dancers, who have makeup and costumes applied on and their in-game appearances edited in post-production. The production of Just Dance 2021, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, presented several challenges for the development team at Ubisoft Paris owing to social distancing guidelines. To tackle these problems, Ubisoft Paris used strategies like a comprehensive overhaul of traditional production methodologies to accommodate remote collaboration, while upholding the series' established brand strategy.[9] Ubisoft Paris also embraced a commitment to diversity and inclusivity by introducing a variety of characters, including disabled dancers, into the game's universe.[10]
Soundtrack
editThe following songs appear on Just Dance 2021:[11]
Song | Artist | Year |
---|---|---|
"Adore You" | Harry Styles | 2019 |
"Alexandrie Alexandra" | Jérôme Francis (as made famous by Claude François) | 1978 |
"All the Good Girls Go to Hell" | Billie Eilish | 2019 |
"Bailando" | Paradisio featuring DJ Patrick Samoy | 1996 |
"Blinding Lights" | The Weeknd | 2019 |
"Boy, You Can Keep It" | Alex Newell | 2020 |
"Buscando" | GTA and Jenn Morel | 2018 |
"Dance Monkey" | Tones and I | 2019 |
"Dibby Dibby Sound" | DJ Fresh vs. Jay Fay featuring Ms. Dynamite | 2014 |
"Don't Start Now" | Dua Lipa | 2019 |
"Feel Special" | Twice | 2019 |
"Georgia" | Tiggs Da Author | 2015 |
"Get Get Down" | Paul Johnson | 1999 |
"Heat Seeker" | Dreamers | 2020 |
"Ice Cream" | Blackpink and Selena Gomez | 2020 |
"In the Navy" | The Sunlight Shakers (as made famous by Village People) | 1979 |
"Jooneh Khodet" | Black Cats | 2006 |
"Juice" | Lizzo | 2019 |
"Kick It" | NCT 127 | 2020 |
"Kulikitaka" | Toño Rosario | 2003 |
"Lacrimosa" | Apashe | 2018 |
"Magenta Riddim" | DJ Snake | 2018 |
"Paca Dance"[a] | The Just Dance Band | 2020 |
"Que Tire Pa Lante" | Daddy Yankee | 2019 |
"Rain on Me"[a] | Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande | 2020 |
"Rare" | Selena Gomez | 2020 |
"Runaway (U & I)" | Galantis | 2014 |
"Samba de Janeiro" | Ultraclub 90 (as made famous by Bellini) | 1997 |
"Say So" | Doja Cat | 2020 |
"Señorita" | Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello | 2019 |
"Temperature" | Sean Paul | 2005 |
"The Other Side" | SZA and Justin Timberlake | 2020 |
"The Weekend" | Michael Gray | 2004 |
"Till the World Ends" | The Girly Team (as made famous by Britney Spears) | 2011 |
"Uno" | Little Big | 2020 |
"Volar" | Lele Pons featuring Susan Díaz and Victor Cardenas | 2020 |
"Without Me" | Eminem | 2002 |
"Yameen Yasar" | DJ Absi | 2020 |
"Yo Le Llego" | J Balvin and Bad Bunny | 2019 |
"You've Got a Friend in Me" | Disney-Pixar's Toy Story (as made famous by Randy Newman) | 1995 |
"Zenit" | Onuka | 2019 |
Kids Mode
editThe following songs appear on the Kids Mode of the game:
Song | Artist | Year |
---|---|---|
"Dance of the Mirlitons" | The Just Dance Orchestra (as made famous by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) | 1892 |
"Flying Carpet" | Persian Nights | 2020 |
"Get on the Fire Truck" | The Step Brigade | 2020 |
"Here Comes the Spy" | The Step Brigade | 2019 |
"Kulikitaka" | Toño Rosario | 2003 |
"Let's Save Our Planet" | The Sunlight Shakers | 2015 |
"Rock N Roll Princess" | Fast Forward Highway | 2020 |
"Space Cat" | Equinox Stars | 2011 |
"The Color Lab" | Dancing Bros. | 2011 |
"You've Got a Friend in Me" | Disney Pixar's Toy Story (as made famous by Randy Newman) | 1995 |
Just Dance Unlimited
editJust Dance Unlimited continues to be offered on 2021 for eighth-generation consoles and Stadia, featuring a streaming library of new and existing songs.[12] The service also made its debut on ninth-generation consoles with the release of 2021.
Songs exclusive to Just Dance Unlimited include:
Song | Artist | Year | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
"Dans van de Farao"[a] | K3 | 2020 | November 12, 2020 (Benelux region) December 30, 2020 (Worldwide) |
"Flash (Just Dance Version)"[b] | Bilal Hassani featuring Sundy Jules, Paola Locatelli and Sulivan Gwed | 2020 | November 12, 2020 (France) December 30, 2020 (Worldwide) |
"U.S.A."[c] | Da Pump | 2018 | November 12, 2020 (Japan) December 30, 2020 (Worldwide) |
"Drum Go Dum"[d][e] | K/DA featuring Aluna, Wolftyla and Bekuh Boom | 2020 | November 25, 2020 (Initial release) February 25, 2021 (JDU exclusive) |
"Tusa"[f] | Karol G and Nicki Minaj | 2019 | January 14, 2021 |
"Stupid Love"[f] | Lady Gaga | 2020 | January 21, 2021 |
"Girls Like"[f] | Tinie Tempah featuring Zara Larsson | 2016 | January 28, 2021 |
"Monster"[13][g] | Exo | 2016 | April 15, 2021 |
"The Way I Are"[14][g] | Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson, D.O.E. and Sebastian | 2007 | April 22, 2021 |
"Come Back Home"[14][g] | 2NE1 | 2014 | April 29, 2021 |
"Head & Heart"[15][h] | Joel Corry featuring MNEK | 2020 | July 15, 2021 |
"Intoxicated"[15][h] | Martin Solveig and GTA | 2015 | July 22, 2021 |
"John Cena"[15][h] | Sho Madjozi | 2019 | July 29, 2021 |
"All the Stars"[i] | Kendrick Lamar and SZA | 2018 | October 7, 2021 |
"Rainbow Beats"[i][j] | Yi Yan, Zhao Fang Jing, Suika Kune and Feizaojun | 2020 | October 14, 2021 |
- ^ Also available as a Benelux region exclusive track on the soundtrack
- ^ Also available as a French-exclusive track on the soundtrack
- ^ Also available as a Japanese-exclusive track on the soundtrack
- ^ Initially free to be played until February 25, 2021, then became exclusive after the said date.
- ^ Tie-in to League of Legends, featuring game characters/band members Kai'Sa, Ahri, Akali, and Evelynn as the main coaches.
- ^ a b c Season 1: Once Upon a Dance
- ^ a b c Season 2: Versus
- ^ a b c Season 3: Festival
- ^ a b Season 4: The Traveler
- ^ Also appeared in the Chinese version of Just Dance 2020, which is also known as "Cai Hong Ji Pai"
References
edit- ^ "Everything Announced in August 26's Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase". IGN. August 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Just Dance 2021 Announced, Coming In November". GameSpot. August 26, 2020. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Just Dance 2021 Pre-Order Guide: Next-Gen Upgrades, Price, And More". GameSpot. August 27, 2020. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Estrada, Daniel (October 15, 2020). "Just Dance 2021 llegará a PS5 y Xbox Series X | S el 24 de noviembre". TechGames (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Just Dance 2021 Revealed During Nintendo Direct; Wii Version Dropped". Twinfinite. August 26, 2020.
- ^ Gray, Kate (November 23, 2020). "Just Dance 2021 Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Sowah, Eugene (November 15, 2020). "Just Dance 2021 Review: Get ready to work up a sweat while showing off your best dance moves". Daily Mirror. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Peters, Megan (November 12, 2020). "Just Dance 2021 Review: A Remixed Version of the Same Song and Dance". ComicBook. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Ubisoft Paris (February 19, 2021). "Creating a game during the lockdown". Ubisoft Paris. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Just Dance 2021 – How Blinding Lights Brings Diversity to the Dance Floor". news.ubisoft.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Just Dance 2021: Full Song List | Ubisoft [US]. Just Dance. November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Now available! Bring home the dance floor with Just Dance 2021". Nintendo. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Just Dance Unlimited: Monster by EXO | Official Track Gameplay [US]. Just Dance. April 15, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Just Dance 2023 Edition [@justdancegame] (April 15, 2021). "New exclusive tracks are coming to Just Dance Unlimited!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Just Dance Unlimited: Festival: Season 3 | Trailer | Ubisoft [US]. Just Dance. July 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via YouTube.