UK PRODUCT PREVIEW: High School Musical: Senior Year: Dance!

It’s a revolution of almost unparalleled power. Bypassing the cinema and heading straight to DVD, it’s unlikely that even Disney knew the phenomenon it was about to create when it unleashed High School Musical onto the world.

But now that the revolution has happened, Disney’s mammoth franchise has begun to target gaming.

With European games sales of 1.8 million units to date, HSM is already a major player in the games market – but the arrival of HSM3 is looking to take this to a brand new level. So far the franchise has been focused on Wii, DS and PS2, but as the next-gen machines begin to penetrate deeper into the family market, Disney feels the time is right to follow suit.

It’s no coincidence that the publisher has chosen to unleash its new range of High School Musical games shortly after the arrival of HSM3 in cinemas – the press hype has been huge, and never has the brand been as prominent in the UK as it is currently.

“This October saw the third instalment of High School Musical hit cinemas,” marketing manager Burcin Ergin explains to MCV. “It has already smashed pre-booking records so this gives a pretty clear indication of the excitement out there for the franchise.”

HIGH SCHOOL DREAMING
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance is a fan’s dream come true. Featuring the energy, dancing and music of all three HSM movies, players can use a dance mat to boogie to the trilogy’s tracks, with film footage from familiar locations and dance moves from the film’s top stars including Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor.

Players are also free to create their own individual Wildcat character.

Multiplayer gaming is also supported and, although all versions of the game support dance mats, the non-Nintendo versions will also allow players to use the joypad.

Progression through the game is rewarded with new songs, characters, clothing and accessories, too.

RELEASED: November 21
FORMATS: Wii, 360, PS2, PC
PUBLISHER: Disney Interactive
DEVELOPER: Page 44
DISTRIBUTOR: Centresoft
CONTACT: 0121 625 3388