Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance

Last updated
Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance
Unison Coverart.png
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s) Tecmo
Publisher(s) Tecmo
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: November 30, 2000
  • NA: March 26, 2001 [1]
Genre(s) Music
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance (sometimes known as simply Unison) is a rhythm video game released for the PlayStation 2 in 2000 which featured unique controls and generally considered to have above-average graphics for its genre of game. It is heavily inspired by J-pop, anime and the formation of musical girl groups.

Contents

Story

The game's plot, taking place in the futuristic city of Twin Ships, centers around the exploits of three girls - Trill, Cela and Chilly - and mascot Friday as they struggle against the dictatorship of a man known only as Ducker, who can use his voice to exert a hypnotic influence over people and only allow them to experience his peculiar brands of fun, which has outlawed anything creative aside from his own music; dancing, in particular, is especially prohibited. Gathered together by a man known as Doctor Dance - who happens to dress in what passes as stereotypical 1960s attire and possesses a large afro - the three girls form the musical dance group Unison, and set about putting on a series of performances over Twin Ships' airwaves to rally the public to their cause and bring dancing back to the people. In opposition of Unison are Ducker and his personal servants who routinely try to capture the girls.

Characters

Japanese names are italicized.

Gameplay

At the start of the game, players choose whether to directly control any one of the girls: Trill, Cela or Chilly. This choice roughly corresponds to a difficulty selection - Trill is Normal, Cela is Hard and Chilly is Very Hard. Once a story cutscene has introduced the song to be performed in the next act, the game moves into a practice session to teach the player the movements necessary to successfully pull off the performance. Movements are accomplished by following the on-screen markers using the PS2's analog sticks to mimic the motions of arms and legs throughout a dance; if a character on the screen is waving their right arm, the movement is likely accomplished by rolling the right analog stick like a waving arm.

For the practice session, the song can either be learned in its entirety, or in portions. In the original Japanese release, songs had to be successfully learned in parts, and then as the entire number before moving on. The US release made this process much simpler by allowing the player to keep the markers present throughout the entire game; in the Japanese version, these would progressively be taken away, meaning the player had to commit the dances to memory, making the practice session much more necessary. In either version, the game contains a total of twelve songs that can be played in "Club Tecmo" mode ("Club Afro" in the Japanese version) with up to three players by using a PS2 multitap. The song lists have some differences between the versions.

Japanese Songlist and Original Artists

American Songlist and Original Artists

Reception

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [2] Kevin Rice of NextGen said of the game, "It's not the same leap that PaRappa was, but it's a great rhythm game with beautiful graphics, excellent music, and creative controls. Recommended." [10] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40. [6] However, Four-Eyed Dragon of GamePro said, "Don't expect Unison to be anything like other dance games. Its most distinguishable feature, which is also the game's low point, is the control. Using both analog sticks, you must move in particular directions to make your character dance. With no cues, this 'dancing' is more memorization than following a beat, which makes Unison frustrating. The cutesy visuals, however, may put a smile on your face, while decent music pays homage to tunes from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. That's not enough to swing to this awful routine, though – you'll never be in sync with Unison." [13] [b]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7/10, 6/10, and 5.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game 3/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, 1.5/5 for control, and 2/5 for fun factor.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Urbz: Sims in the City</i> 2004 video game

The Urbz: Sims in the City is a video game for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo DS. It is the third Sims game for video game consoles and is the second Sims game not to be released on Microsoft Windows, after a planned PC port and sequel were both cancelled due to mediocre sales. The next release for consoles and handhelds was the console port of The Sims 2.

<i>Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001</i> 2000 video game

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 is a sports video game developed by Headgate Studios for the Microsoft Windows version, Stormfront Studios for the PlayStation version, and EA Redwood Shores for the PlayStation 2 version, and published by EA Sports for Windows and PlayStation in 2000 and PlayStation 2 in 2001. The latter console version was later published in Japan by Electronic Arts Square on June 21, 2001.

<i>NFL 2K2</i> 2001 video game

NFL 2K2 is a 2001 video game for Dreamcast by Sega and developed by Visual Concepts. It is the last game for the Sega Dreamcast in the series after being discontinued before Sega shifted to a third party publisher. Because of this shift, it was released later for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is also the first Xbox game published by Sega, and the last game in the NFL 2K series to feature Randy Moss as a cover athlete.

<i>R-Type Final</i> 2003 PS2 video game

R-Type Final is a horizontal shooter video game by Irem for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was planned to be the last mainline game in the R-Type series. However, R-Type Tactics was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, and the direct sequel R-Type Final 2 was announced on March 30, 2019, and was released on April 29, 2021.

<i>Bloody Roar 4</i> 2003 fighting video game

Bloody Roar 4 is a fighting game developed by Eighting and Hudson Soft in 2003. It is the fifth and final of the Bloody Roar games as well as the second game in the series to appear on the PlayStation 2.

<i>All-Star Baseball 2002</i> 2001 video game

All-Star Baseball 2002 is a baseball sports game released for PlayStation 2 and GameCube in 2001.

<i>Warriors of Might and Magic</i> 2000 video game

Warriors of Might and Magic is an action role-playing game developed and released by The 3DO Company for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color in 2000, and for PlayStation 2 in 2001. The three versions, although they all follow a similar storyline, are unique, especially the GBC version which is presented in 2D instead of 3D and has an almost completely different story. Each version of the game centers around the protagonist Alleron, who is wrongfully accused of committing necromancy by the Grand Inquisitor, and is exiled as a result. He is forced to wear the Mask of the Accused as a punishment for his crimes, which acts as a magnet to monsters. It is difficult to determine when the events of Warriors of Might take place in the Might and Magic timeline. However, it's speculated that it takes place in between Heroes of Might and Magic III and Heroes of Might and Magic IV.

<i>Silpheed: The Lost Planet</i> 2000 video game

Silpheed: The Lost Planet is a 2000 shooter video game. It is a direct sequel to Silpheed. It was developed by Treasure and Game Arts, and published in North America by Working Designs. The game is a vertical scrolling shooter in which the player controls 019, a Silpheed of the planet Solont's SA-77 Squadron, as it takes on countless alien enemies.

<i>Fight Night 2004</i> 2004 boxing video game

Fight Night 2004 is a 2004 boxing video game developed by NuFX, Inc. It features Roy Jones Jr. on the cover. It is the successor to EA's previous boxing series, Knockout Kings. Four sequels followed, Fight Night Round 2 in 2005, Fight Night Round 3 in 2006, Fight Night Round 4 in 2009 and Fight Night Champion in 2011. Its chief features are a career mode, in-depth and reasonably realistic fighting and an analog stick-based control scheme dubbed Total Punch Control, which was re-used, with enhancements, in the sequels.

Yōko Asada is a Japanese voice actress from Hyōgo Prefecture. She is affiliated with the talent management firm 81 Produce.

<i>Supercar Street Challenge</i> 2001 video game

Supercar Street Challenge is a racing video game developed by Exakt Entertainment and published by Activision for PlayStation 2 and Windows in 2001.

<i>EverGrace</i> 2000 video game

EverGrace is a 2000 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2 (PS2). It was released in Japan in April 2000 by FromSoftware, North America by Agetec in October 2000 as a launch title for the PS2 in the region and PAL territories in January 2001 by Ubi Soft and Crave Entertainment.

<i>Star Wars: Starfighter</i> 2001 action video game

Star Wars: Starfighter is a 2001 action video game, developed and published by LucasArts, that takes place right before the Battle of Naboo. The player unites alongside three starfighter pilots and is allowed to take control of several different spacecraft to help stop the invasion that threatens Naboo.

<i>Monster Rancher 3</i> 2001 video game

Monster Rancher 3 is the third game in Tecmo's Monster Rancher series. It is the first game in the series for the PlayStation 2.

Vanessa Lee Evigan is an American actress. She is the daughter of actor Greg Evigan and model and actress Pamela Serpe. She is also the sister of actress Briana Evigan and singer-songwriter Jason Evigan.

<i>Glass Rose</i> 2003 video game

Glass Rose is a point-and-click adventure psychological horror video game developed by Cing and Capcom's Production Studio 3 and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 2. It was released in Japan on November 6, 2003 and later in Europe on March 26, 2004.

<i>Blade II</i> (video game) 2002 video game

Blade II is a 2002 action beat 'em up video game developed by Mucky Foot Productions and published by Activision for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Originally scheduled for North American release on the same day as the theatrical release of the 2002 film of the same name, it was ultimately released on September 3, the same day the film was released on DVD.

Gallop Racer 2003: A New Breed, known in Japan as Gallop Racer 6: Revolution, and in Europe as At the Races Presents Gallop Racer, is a horse racing video game developed and published by Tecmo, released in 2002-2003 for the PlayStation 2.

<i>G1 Jockey 3</i> 2002 video game

G1 Jockey 3 is a thoroughbred horse racing simulation video game produced by Koei for the PlayStation 2. Although the G1 Jockey series had been gaining popularity in Japan, this was the first game in the series to be released in North America. In contrast to Tecmo's Gallop Racer series, which focuses on every aspect of horse racing, G1 Jockey 3 focuses solely on the jockey.

<i>FIFA 2001</i> 2000 video game

FIFA 2001 is a football simulation video game and the sequel to FIFA 2000. It was succeeded by FIFA Football 2002. It features Paul Scholes on the UK cover and Ben Olsen on the North American cover. The game's Spanish cover features Gaizka Mendieta on it. It was released on 31 October 2000 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation, and on 24 November 2000 for PlayStation 2 as a launch title in Europe. The PlayStation 2 version was originally slated for release in the U.S. on 7 November, before it was delayed to 28 November. A Game Boy Color version was planned but cancelled.

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (March 23, 2001). "Tecmo Sets Official Date for Unison". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ Semerad, Jay. "UNiSON: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ Edge staff (February 2001). "Unison [JP Import]" (PDF). Edge . No. 94. Future Publishing. p. 99. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ Johnston, Chris; Dudlak, Jonathan; Sewart, Greg (May 2001). "Unison [Rebels of Rhythm & Dance]" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 142. Ziff Davis. p. 108. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "プレイステーション2 - UNiSON (ユニゾン)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 86.
  7. ↑ "Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance". Game Informer . No. 97. FuncoLand. May 2001.
  8. ↑ Davis, Ryan (March 22, 2001). "Unison [Rebels of Rhythm & Dance] Review". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ Chen, Jeff (April 3, 2001). "Unison [Rebels of Rhythm & Dance]". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Rice, Kevin (June 2001). "Unison [Rebels of Rhythm & Dance]". NextGen . No. 78. Imagine Media. p. 85. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ Kennedy, Sam (May 2001). "Unison [Rebels of Rhythm & Dance]". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . No. 44. Ziff Davis. p. 100. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  12. ↑ Schkloven, Emmett (May 4, 2001). "Unison [Rebels of Rhythm & Dance] (PS2) Review". Extended Play . TechTV. Archived from the original on January 18, 2002. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  13. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (June 2001). "Unison: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance" (PDF). GamePro . No. 153. IDG. p. 104. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.