EyeToy: Groove for the Sony PS2 is the first game released for the PS2’s USB camera since the initial batch of games that came prepackaged with the EyeToy.  Whereas those initial games were mainly a collection of “mini-games”, Groove is a game dedicated to one thing and one thing only, shakin’ your booty.  Similar in nature to Konami’s seminal dance game Dance Dance Revolution, Groove is all about actually moving your body to the beats of music.  Whereas DDR has you moving your feet to coincide with the beat of the music as well as directional icons on the screen, Groove has you moving your entire body, making for a much more involved game.

The first thing you’ll notice about Groove is that, “You are the star”, as Sony loves to say with all of their EyeToy games.  There are no characters to choose from, or to make; you are the character, front and center on the screen.  From there, in all of the various game modes, you are surrounded by either 6 “buttons” for single player or 12 “buttons” for the modes that feature two players on screen at once.  Once the music begins, icons begin emanating from the center of the screen on a path to one of the “buttons”.  The object of the game is to move your hand(s) over the corresponding buttons as the icons line up on the button.  Your success, failure, and score are determined by how close you come to lining up the icon over the button.  It takes a fair bit of timing to do it perfectly, but for those of us rhythmically challenged, you can still score points for coming “close”.  Besides chasing the icons around the screen, the EyeToy also monitors how much you move the rest of your body.  This is a nice touch that encourages you to get your whole body involved in the process, because the more you move, the more points you gain.  Score enough points and you’ll enter the “freestyle” mode, where you’re completely on your own, to move however you want, garnering maximum points for constant movement.  Also from time to time as the icons travel across the screen, you’ll notice arrows emerging from the buttons.  When you see this, you must move your arms along the path of the arrows following the icons.  The great thing about this is that the game forces you into some hilarious poses, with which it seems to have a real knack for photographing the most embarrassing of these moves, so that it can come back to haunt you when your “routine” is over.

Groove offers several modes with which to choose from.  “Solo Groove” is the single player game where you choose the song you want to dance to out of a roster of 28 (23 from the start, 5 unlockable.  The songs range from disco classics to modern day dance hits).  For the health conscious crowd, “Solo Groove” features the option to count the amount of calories you’ll burn per song.  Just input your weight, and the game will give you an approximate count of calories you’ve burned in any song.  “Group Groove” features all of the multiplayer games: Team Sync, Battle Sync, Battle Groove, and Tournament.  The multiplayer modes is where Groove really shines, making it one of the very best party games available on any console.  In “Team Sync” you and a partner share the screen as you work together to get the most points possible.  There are only six buttons on the screen, so it is vital that you work out a strategy with your partner so that you both aren’t constantly going for the same buttons.  In “Battle Sync” you and an opponent share the screen in a battle for the highest points.  “Battle Groove” is similar in nature to “Battle Sync” except that you can compete against up to three different opponents, with each of you dancing solo.  Finally there is the “Tournament” mode, which features several modes of its own.

The first of the “Tournament” modes is the “Tag” mode.  Prior to beginning the “Tag” mode, each participant will have his or her picture taken by the EyeToy.  From there, the game will flash the picture of one of the participants on the screen, at which time the corresponding player begins.  Throughout the course of the “Tag” mode, the game will flash the picture of a new participant at which time they take over.  This is an incredibly frenetic and fast-paced mode because the game gives you very little warning as to when it’ll call for a tag.  Next up is the “Frenzy” mode.  In “Frenzy” accuracy is of little concern, as you merely have to hit the icons, which progressively show up faster and faster until you’re a veritable blizzard of swinging arms.  “Perfection” is the next tournament mode, in which the object of the game is to last longer than your opponent.  The catch is, if you miss three icons in a row by the slimmest of margins, your game is over.  Finally there is the “Copycat” mode, which works something like the game “Simon”.  In “Copycat” you must memorize a progressively longer streak of dance moves.

Groove also features a “Dance Move Maker” option that allows you to create unique dance routines to all of the songs, which can in turn be utilized in the various modes the game offers.  Including this option creates a lot of replay value especially after you’ve learned the default routines by heart.  Make them as hard, easy, or goofy as you want, and then sit back and laugh as your friends try to keep up.

In addition to the gameplay elements of Groove, it also features video messaging, the “Chill Out Room” which displays various special effects overlaid the images the camera picks up as it plays music, and last but not least, you can watch videos of various songs.

In closing, EyeToy: Groove is the logical and very much welcomed extension of what Sony began when it originally released the EyeToy.  It is a game unlike anything else on the market and is a load of fun to play, especially with a group of friends. It perfectly executes everything that it sets out to do, raising it above being “just a reason to use the EyeToy” to a full-fledged stand alone game.  Whether you’ve cut a million rugs in your time or you shudder at the thought of “movin’ to the music”, Groove is a game that should prove fun and worthwhile to all.  Really, the only drawback is the relatively small roster of songs, but with so many different ways to play the game, they should prove to be plenty.

Gameplay: 8.5
You are the star and the controller all wrapped into one.  Once you’ve got the EyeToy properly calibrated, it is extremely responsive to all of your moves.

Graphics: 7 
This is kind of a hard one to rate since your smiling face will be the center of attention on screen.  The game does feature some pretty impressive lighting and particle effects and the special effects it displays when you’re in “freestyle” or the “Chill Out Room” are nicely done.  With that said, if you’re hot or at least think you are, then add three points.  If on the other hand, you fall on the other end of the spectrum or you can’t stand the way you look, then subtract a corresponding amount of points.

Sound: 9
The music featured in the game is crisp and clear.  The roster of songs are strictly dance tracks that have a high probability of becoming dastardly “ear worms” (songs you just can’t get out of your head).  There is a nice mix of songs most will know by heart and songs that will not be recognizable except to a select few, which helps keep things fresh.

Difficulty:  Medium
With a nice selection of difficulty settings to choose from, the game proves to be only as challenging as you want it to.  Groove is all about having fun.

Concept: 9 
A game that features you as the main character via a USB camera is both innovative and unique.  A dance game that grades you on your ability to move your body to the rhythm of the music is a pretty high concept that is pulled off flawlessly.

Multiplayer: 9

Groove’s multiplayer modes are an absolute blast to play and the heart of the game.  The multiplayer makes Groove one the best party games on any system.  Besides being enjoyable to play, it is usually even more fun to watch friends/family try to keep up with your mad skills.

Overall: 8.5
EyeToy: Groove could have easily turned out to be nothing more than a “gimmick” game, but it actually turns out to be a very solid, playable game that stands above the vast majority of the games in the rhythm and dance genre.  If you enjoy any of the other games in the genre, or if you want a much more immersive videogame experience, or if you’re just looking for something different, then give Groove a shot.  You won’t be disappointed.