The Black Eyed Peas Experience - hands-on preview

Following the huge success of its previous "Experience" title for Michael Jackson, Ubisoft has granted the gift of motion-controlled immortality to the famous foursome responsible for the soundtracks to just about every major sporting event in the last five years. The Black Eyed Peas - will.i.am, Taboo, apl.de.ap and Fergie - is the multi-platinum genre-crossing group known just as much for their catchy music as they are for their well choreographed moves. Visually and musically, it’s no wonder that they were next in line for their own dance-based game.

Above: You'll enjoy a third-person view of your avatar for most of the game

At a recent Kinect event held by Ubisoft we got the opportunity to try out The Black Eyed Peas Experience and legitimately worked up a sweat while learning and performing the routine for “Boom Boom Pow.” Famed choreographer Fatima Robinson (who, besides the Peas, has worked with artists like Michael Jackson and Rihanna) is responsible for the heart-pumping footwork and her contribution to the game has given the Experience a legitimate feel. Even though “Boom Boom Pow” didn’t have a routine to it originally, the moves that Robinson paired with the song flow well and are fun to learn and perform.

Above: You'll also enjoy the Peas' lovingly rendered eclectic fashion choices

Before a full song can be performed, players must first unlock a series of stages (visually defined as concert posters in the game) that break down the choreography in the final routine. After successfully passing each stage, unlockables like clothing for your avatar are made available based on your score. The final routine pits you against the Peas in a virtual battle for dance supremacy. Silhouettes and names of upcoming moves, a gameplay feature that has become standard in all motion controlled dance games, are shown at the top of the screen to keep you in sync. Meanwhile, visual cues, like starbursts on your avatar, pop up when you’ve hit a move perfectly. At the end of the battle, besides tallying your score, a new feature that determines your followers (yes, just like on Twitter) rates your performance. The bigger your following, the more perks you can unlock for your avatar.

Above: A sampling of the final song list

A final song list has yet to be announced, though we imagine all their chart toppers will be present and, hopefully, a few lesser-known surprises. (“Joints & Jam” anyone?) The Black Eyed Peas Experience is slated for release on November 8.

Sep 12, 2011