FULL DISCLOSURE: Wednesday’s “Student break out moves in ‘Just Dance 2’ article was edited by an Ubisoft representative. This is in violation of the Technician’s Code of Ethics. The Technician editors regret this oversight.

Last Thursday night, the Wolves’ Den at Talley Student Center was host to a launch party for one of Ubisoft’s latest Wii titles, Just Dance 2. Students had the chance to come out and try the game for over a three-hour period, along with the opportunity to win numerous prizes related to the game.

A follow-up to last year’s Just Dance, the sequel seeks to rectify issues critics previously had with the original, while also retaining the fun elements that make the game great for parties.

Rachel Owen, a senior in english, said she enjoyed her time playing the game.

“This is a great party game,” Owen said, “and would be fun for a group to play. It’s quite infectious.”

Thursday’s event saw two televisions set up to run the game with players rotating in and out consistently during the night. Participants were also provided with free drinks and pizza, adding to the light-hearted atmosphere of the event.

Those who took a moment to join the “Ubisoft at N.C. State” Facebook group were given either a pair of sunglasses or a sweatband embroidered with the Just Dance 2 logo. They were also allowed to enter a raffle, the grand prize of which was a copy of the game.

Tim MacNeil, who helped set up the event, felt they had a solid turn out.

“We saw about 80 students over the course of three hours,” MacNeil said, “which is close to what was expected. Of the stuff we had to give away, we only had about four items left by the night’s end.”

The sense of camaraderie the game seeks to provide was evident at the launch party and helped keep the crowd up throughout the night. As students started to take part in the game, they began to loosen up and just have fun with their peers.

“Initially, guys don’t want to play games like this, ” MacNeil said. “Once they try it, though, they tend to get into it and have a good time.

As far as the game itself is concerned, an increased number of songs and game modes work to make the sequel a more complete and entertaining package.

The game comes with 44 tracks, an increase over the original’s 32, and these tracks span numerous genres and time periods. One track, Mugsy Baloney’s “Charleston,” dates all the way back to the 1920s.

Downloadable content is also being planned for the game through WiiWare. Based on the success of similar services for music games such as Rock Band 2 and Lips, the option to purchase new songs should add longevity to the title for fans.

As for the new modes, Duets adds an option for players to interact during some songs and increase the cooperative nature of the game. Also available is Just Sweat, an exercise mode in which the game monitors how much energy a player is expending while working towards various goals. Lastly, there’s Dance Battle, a four-on-four team multiplayer mode.

The core game play remains relatively unchanged from last year, which could be a slight detriment considering the lukewarm reception the first game received. Players still watch an on-screen avatar perform complex dance moves while doing their best to follow along. Also guiding the player is a series of stick figure interpretations of the dance moves at the bottom of the screen.

The problem is that the pictures are far too static to give an immediate idea of what moves need to be done. Further, by the time the avatar begins to dance, the player will have already missed out on some points. Still, the same moves appear multiple times throughout a single song so it doesn’t take too long to get a hang of the moves.

Allegra Dorafshar, a freshman in art and design, summed up her opinion of the game.

“I’ve played the first game as well as [the sequel],” Dorafshar said, “and the thing to note is that while the game isn’t precise in reading your movements all the time, it’s not about that. The point is to have fun with your friends.”

There’s little in Just Dance 2 that will draw hardcore gamers away from big releases such as Halo: Reach or Fallout: New Vegas. Instead, it provides an enjoyable party experience for casual gamers and family gatherings.