Since Dancing Stage Megamix I have become something of a dance floor demon. Not only did it help me tone up my flabby derrière but it also reinforced my sense of rhythm allowing me to hit my local arcade with full confidence in my moves and stun the wannabe Travoltas with some insane up/down/left/right stomping action. Many a time I cleared the dance mats, having busted out so many awesome grooves that no-one dare come near me for fear of scorching themselves from my white hot style. Open mouthed they gaped in awe as the beats took hold of me and I was taken to boogie wonderland, then further up into disco heaven. But that was a good long time ago now and sadly over the last few months my mojo ain't been workin'. I've been loosing touch with the fever and letting my groove cool off, which is why I was so happy when Konami's newest dancing title came up for review. Big hair? Check. White flared suit? Check. Ridiculously pointy shoes? Check. Open high-collar shirt with enough chest hair to thatch a roof? Check. Everything appears to be in order, let's get down to some Dancing Stage Fever.

Loading up DSF gives you an overwhelming sense of déjà vu if you've ever played Megamix and in all honesty the similarity is more than a little disappointing. The only immediately noticeable difference is the shade of the menu background and very minor changes in the fonts! A few real changes come at the options menu, where on screen dance partners can be added or changed. In true Wacky-Jap form, most of these characters are outrageously bubbly and utterly ridiculous. On occasion these sprites do nothing but annoy and confuse while you're attempting to time your feet to the arrows on the screen, but they can be turned off so there's no real problem, you're just left wondering why bother.

The gameplay breaks down into different modes, each rather much the same as the last, only with a different focus. Lesson mode for example teaches you the basics of the game and is a good place to start if you're new to the genre. Training mode lets you go through individual routines for specific tunes and is for the more proficient user who wants to get to grips with those particularly difficult moves, while edit mode enables the would-be disco dominator to compose his or her own steps to any of the beats.

Game mode is where the real fun is to be had though, with almost thirty tunes to choose from. As is the tradition with this genre, most of the music is techno-pop with a smattering of well-known artists lending famous songs to the mix. This time around Madness, The Undertones, Thin Lizzy and the Spice Girls all contribute with some classic tunes like 'Wannabe' and 'Cool for Cats' enhancing the standard lesser known tracks. There's plenty of karaoke opportunity, as well as the chance to watch a few of the videos while you boogie. Workout mode makes a comeback with its calorie counting conscience that monitors both calories and cumulative weight loss. As with Megamix this is a must have title for anyone seeking a different avenue of healthy aerobic exercise, because this is quite simply great fun, especially for any couples out there who want to try something new together.

As with previous Konami dancing games the presentation is vibrant and more often than not fits well with the music. Life without the dancing partners is infinitely more pleasurable, as not one of them can dance properly and the camera angles can be vomit inducing. On the downside, many of the tracks have been shortened just that little bit too much, making you feel a little cheated at times. I would have liked to see some remixes and longer versions in addition to the standard ones but then maybe that's something for the next version.

It has to be said that despite the enjoyment you get from Dancing Stage Fever, someone needs to take Konami aside and suggest that the next instalment had better not be so similar. I love the game but I would have to be pushed to fork out for it, so I don't see why any lesser fans should pay for it when they can just grab a copy of Megamix from the bargain bin. It's perhaps fair to say that this incarnation has a wider variety of music styles and caters for a broader taste but to be honest it's all down to personal taste. I find the retro tunes and eclectic techno of this title slightly better to dance to but the difference is negligible. If you can pick up Megamix cheap then that would be a better introduction and if you already have it and are expecting anything different from Dancing Stage Fever, you'll be disappointed. But if you're hankering for more of the same and a set of new tunes then you really can't go wrong.

Reviewed by Tom LeClerc for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).