Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive, stayin' alive

They should have released this straight after Christmas. With all that turkey and pudding languishing in our bellies, this musical take on Twister would have done us good. We're all familiar with the Dance Dance Revolution games - they've been around for 14 years after all - which started off as something obscure we could use to laugh at our Japanese cousins, but now this comes along on Xbox and, we admit it, we're hooked. One word of advice, first: make sure you play this with a dance mat. It's a car without wheels otherwise. Make sure you get a good one too, otherwise you'll look like a Saturday Night Fever train crash as you thump your feet down on unresponsive pads.

Okay, where do we start? If you like Hi-Nrg disco, you'll like it. If you like cheesy '90s techno pop, you'll like it. And if you enjoy the new wave punk of '70s Blondie, you'll love it. There are 40 tracks to choose from (with more promised in the future via Xbox Live), some of which are indescribably bad and need alcohol to tackle, while others are more contemporary chart tunes such as Big Brothaz's Nu Flu, or, erm, Ebeneezer Goode or Wonderstuff's Size Of A Cow. Maybe not in the same league as Dance Dance Revolution, but fun nonetheless. And that's it. You take to the mat and dance until you drown in a pool of sweat. The better you keep in step, the higher your points tally and grade.

It used to make little sense playing this on your own, for it is the ultimate two-player party game, something to whip out when too many Stellas have gone to your head and people have polished off the mini sausage rolls. But, despite its obvious party appeal, single-player still has enough to keep you entertained. Four single-player modes are included - the Training mode, pick-up-and-play Game mode, Challenge mode where the Xbox sets you a goal (perfect combos for example), plus Workout mode. Yes, if you're lardy and bob in the bath, you can enter the number of calories you wish to burn off and then set about dancing them away. Beats a workout with Jade Goody any day. And did you know, dancing to Blondie's Call Me for one minute burns more than eight and a half calories? Well, you do now.

You can also select a track and, with the edit suite, design your own dance moves for it, then challenge a friend to boogie on down to your choice of footwork. This adds further appeal to something that could potentially find itself shoved under your bed after a week. But don't shove it under your bed, make sure it's out on show whenever people come over. Hell, throw a party if you must, because although it's a bit of an obscurity, it's a wonderful piece of kit to accompany the Xbox.

1. Keeps you fit!
2. Great party piece!
3. Amazing dance step editor

1. Obscure songs
2. Needs a dance mat
3. Can be very embarrassing

Power
Xbox will be your very own disco when this goes Live. Until then, it hardly uses any power at all.

Style
If you get it right you'll ooze style. If you dance like Ben L, forget it and go back to EastEnders.

Immersion
If you can keep a straight face then you'll be a dancing queen, young and sweet, only 17.

Lifespan
Limited only by the number of mates you have, calories you want to burn, or floor space you own.

Summary
A gimmick that everybody should own. When better songs are available on Xbox Live, it'll become a must-have.