This game is played similarly to other dance games, such as Dance Dance Revolution or StepMania. Arrows scroll from the top of the screen to the bottom, and enter a target zone before disappearing. The game is played with a dance pad, requiring the feet to press on the arrows that enter the target zone.
When a player successfully hits an arrow that shows up near or in the target zone, the score increases, and a judgement (Perfect, Great, Good, Almost, and Missed) is momentarily displayed to indicate timing accuracy. An arrow pressed at the accurate time will receive points, and will increase the player's life, shown in the life bar.
However, if one misses (or presses the arrows too early or too late), the player gains very few if any points, and life decreases. An empty life bar will generally end the game, but an option allows one to finish the song, despite an empty bar.
During a dance session in a game from the Dance Praise series, another difference that can be noticed is that the arrows scroll in a different position (see images). The target zone in the Dance Praise series also has a thick border, designed to help users hit the arrows at the right time, which is not the case in other dance games, which instead include a gray reproduction of the four arrows. In most other dance games, modifiers are often available to change the game play interface. Dance Praise, however, is designed for simplicity and offers only a small amount of interface settings. The arrows' scrolling direction, visibility, size and movement cannot be changed.
Game announcer
While games such as Dance Dance Revolution discourage new or unexperienced gamers with booing, games in the Dance Praise series instead offers encouraging words, to motivate anyone to try the dance game.
Playing on a television set
None of the games in the Dance Praise series offer an arcade or console edition; only a PC and Mac edition is available. This can cause trouble to one who sets up a computer in a bedroom or office, as the only current method to connect this game to a television set involves connecting an S-Video cable between the computer and the TV, which is not always possible. Also, an adapter and audio cables are required to play sound from the television speakers.
Games
Original Dance Praise (September 2005)
Original Dance Praise, formerly known as Dance Praise, was the first game in the series, released on September 29, 2005. It has low system requirements and for this reason it can be played on most older computers. There were 52 songs initially available, featuring artists such as ZOEgirl and Steven Curtis Chapman.
Dance Praise Party (May 2007)
Dance Praise Party is the first and currently the only dance game capable of supporting 10 simultaneous players.
Dance Praise 2: The ReMix (November 2007)
Dance Praise 2: The ReMix includes many new features not available in the previous game. It comes with 52 new songs, and now features animated backgrounds, dancing characters, and a new interface. Its system requirements are also higher, requiring a 1 GHz processor and 32MB of video RAM.
Expansion Packs
The Dance Praise series does not officially allow users to create custom step files for the game, but instead offers 7 expansion packs. Each of them adds 35 songs to the Original Dance Praise or Dance Praise 2: The ReMix.
Modern Worship
Songs by Steven Curtis Chapman, ZOEgirl, David Crowder Band and more can be found in this pack.
Hip-Hop/Rap
Popular hits from GRITS, tobyMac, DJ Maj and more can be added to Dance Praise with this pack.
Rock and Pop Hits
Artists featured in this pack are Relient K, Stacie Orrico, Rebecca St. James, and many others.
God Rocks!
This is the only expansion pack featuring all songs performed by the same artist - God Rocks!
Praise and Worship
Contemporary Hits
Generally includes latest hits, but with some exceptions (for example, "Forward Motion" from Relient K's Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do and "One Girl Revolution" from Superchic's Karaoke Superstars). A "Simon Says" mini-game is also available, but can only be used with Dance Praise 2: The ReMix.
Top Hits
Digital Praise announced this expansion pack, and it will be released on April 3, 2008 ; it is currently available for pre-order from Digital Praise and third-party stores such as Amazon.com, and Dance Praise 2:The ReMix users will be able to play a "Rock 'n Block" mini-game. Original Dance Praise users, however, cannot access the mini-game.
Free Add-On
Digital Praise has also released a free add-on, which can be used in both Dance Praise 2: The ReMix and the Original Dance Praise. The songs "Get In The Game" and "One Choice" from Altared Life can be played after installing the add-on. It can be downloaded from the company's website by registering either product, which requires the user to fill out personal information. The add-on also slightly modifies the appearance in the Original Dance Praise.
See also
- Original Dance Praise, released in September 2005.
- Dance Praise 2: The ReMix, released in November 2007.
- Christian video games
Other dance games:
- Dance Dance Revolution
- StepMania
References
- ^ Plain Games - Dance Praise Review
- ^ Video game makers market to Christians | The Tennessean
- ^ Will Dance Praise work on a TV? - Digital Praise technical support
- ^ Original Dance Praise on Allgame
- ^ Expansion Packs
- ^ Modern Worship Expansion Pack - ShadyCreek.eCrater.com
- ^ MacWorld | Dance Praise gets hip hop expansion pack
- ^ Dance Praise Song List
- ^ Contemporary Hits Expansion Pack
- ^ Top Hits Expansion Pack - Digital Praise store
- ^ Top Hits Expansion Pack - Amazon.com
- ^ Free Add-On - Digital Praise
| Digital Praise |
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| | Dance Praise series | Original Dance Praise | Dance Praise Party | Dance Praise 2: The ReMix | | | Dance Praise Expansion Packs | Modern Worship | Hip-Hop/Rap | Pop & Rock Hits | God Rocks! | Praise and Worship | Contemporary Hits | Top Hits | | | Other games | Veggietales Dance Dance Dance | Solomon Says | Light Rangers series | Adventures in Odyssey series | Hermie and Friends series |
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