Of all the casual console games, the dance genre may be the most lucrative. Based upon the sales success of the mega-hit Just Dance series and Harmonix’s addictive Dance Central (review here), developers are tapping into a new market of gamers. THQ has decided to join this ka-ching party by releasing its take on the genre, Dance Paradise.

Dance Paradise’s feature set offers elements from both Just Dance and Dance Central. Like Dance Central, the title is available only on Microsoft’s Kinect, which means that it will be more immersive than Just Dance so long as the motion detection works well. Dance Paradise also offers dance routines from “professional dancers” so you won’t be flopping around doing the latest dances from Sprockets. Where THQ’s version may have a leg-up on Dance Central is that two players can dance at the same time as can be seen in the trailer below:

As you will notice from the video, Dance Paradise makes use of Xbox Live’s Avatars, who will display your movements onscreen, and shows the music video that accompanies the songs. Additionally, THQ’s dancing game has a career mode and offers an extensive dance track list:

  • 50 Cent - In Da Club Akon - Bellydancer Atomic Kitten - Ladies Night Brick & Lace - Love is Wicked Caesars - Jerk It Out Cassius - The Sound of Violence Cassius -Toop Toop Daft Punk - Around the World David Guetta ft Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over Debi Nova - Drummer Boy Empire of the sun - Walking on a Dream Fall out boy - Dance Dance Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax REMIX Geri Halliwell - It’s Raining Men Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl Gwen Stefani - What You Are Waiting for Kenna - Say Goodbye to Love Kevin Rudolf ft Lil Wayne - Let it rock Kool & the Gang - Celebration Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Lady Gaga - Poker Face Laroux - Bulletproof Lil Wayne ft. Static - Lollipop Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive MC Hammer - Can’t Touch This Mika - Lollipop Mika - We are Golden Nelly - Hot in Herre No Doubt - Hey Baby Orianthi - According to You Pixie Lott - Mama Do Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up Rihanna - Disturbia Shaggy - Hey Sexy Lady Snoop Dogg ft Pharrell - Beautiful Sophie Ellis Bextor - Murder on the Dancefloor Starsailor - Four to the Floor Supergrass - Alright Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart Yelle - A Cause des Garçons

Dance Paradise certainly looks to be a player in the genre. Hopefully, the competition will continue to raise the quality of these titles and not result in a burnout similar to that of the instrument-based music games.

Dance Paradise is now exclusively available for the Kinect on Xbox 360.