With the release date set for 2003, have got all guns blazing at to promote Dancing Stage Fever. It is fifth in the series but only the second to come out on the PS2. It has revolutionised the gaming world and created a whole new sector of business for many games manufacturers. None however, seem to be able to take the crown from the rulers of the roost Konami.

It seems as though this may all change soon as Bigben are releasing Dance:UK. It works along the same principle as Dancing Stage where all you have to do is press the correct directional buttons as they come to the correct sections on the screen, and in time with the music. As with Konami's title the game is much better played with the dance mats, where you use your feet as opposed to your fingers.

Both games have a plethora of song choices, both golden oldies and modern tunes as well as some in-house created by the developers.

Dance:UK has some small niggles for me. The way in which the arrows appear on the screen is quite misleading really. With Dancing Stage they travel up the screen giving you plenty of time to react but with Dance:UK they fly towards you which doesn't give you much time to see which direction they are pointing in, and the perspective is so bad it takes you half the song to realise when they are to be pressed.

The visuals on Dance:UK are also a little lacking. There is very little going on in the background to keep onlookers amused. This is contrasted with the new addition to Dancing Stage Fever with the famous songs featured all having the actual videos which correspond with the song.

Unfortunately for Bigben, from what I've played Konami are still leagues ahead, but with the lack of improvements in this current addition to the series I believe Konami may be running out of steam... Konami are however already making headway into the newly-similar realm of computer karaoke. Truly phenomenal Konami, well done!

By Chris Monk