Dancing Eyes

Dancing Eyes[lower-alpha 1] is a 1996 puzzle arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. It features gameplay reminiscent of arcade games like Qix — players control a monkey named Urusu-San as he must complete each level by destroying all of the tiles off the grid of a 3D object. Most levels revolve around the player slowly removing the clothing off of women, alongside destroying cobras, UFOs, and cardboard boxes. There are enemies that must be avoided, and there are also power-ups that grant different abilities. The game runs on the Namco System 11 hardware.

For the medical condition commonly known as "Dancing Eyes", see Nystagmus.
Dancing Eyes
Promotional sales flyer
Developer(s)Namco
Publisher(s)Namco
Designer(s)Masateru Umeda
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
  • JP: September 1996
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Created by Masateru Umeda, the designer for Namco's The Outfoxies, Dancing Eyes has gained notoriety for its sexual nature and comical design. Its characters were animated using motion capture, many of whom were voiced by well-known figures in the anime industry. Namco executives were skeptical of the game during production, as it broke away from the company's traditional family-friendly model. The game was openly disliked by publications in its initial release, who viewed it as "inappropriate" for arcades. Retrospectively, it has been praised for its quirky characters and fun gameplay, often being compared to games such as Qix or Gals Panic. A remake was announced for the PlayStation 3 under the Namco Generations series, but was cancelled.

Gameplay
Gameplay of Dancing Eyes

Dancing Eyes is a 3D puzzle game, with gameplay often compared to Qix (1981). The player controls a monkey named Urusu-San, who must complete each level by eliminating all tiles off the grid of a 3D object. In most cases, the level involves the player destroying the clothing off of women, however it can also revolve around destroying UFOs, cardboard boxes, and a cobra around a trapped body builder. Enemies will appear and give direct chase to the player, which must be avoided or will cost the player a life.[1] There are also power-ups that appear that give Urusu-San different abilities, such as a speed boost or the ability to increase in size.[1] Completing a level allows the player to briefly round whatever object was in the level as it poses for the camera.[1]

Development and release

Dancing Eyes was created by Masateru Umeda and a team of six others within Namco. Umeda is best known as the designer of The Outfoxies, a 1995 fighting game that is seen as a predecessor to the Super Smash Bros. series.[2][3] It was programmed for the Namco System 11 board, a 3D arcade system based on raw PlayStation hardware.[1] The production team used motion capture to animate the game's characters, several of whom were voiced by prominent voice actors within the anime industry. Each of the characters were given their own personality and backstory so they would not be memorable for just their sex appeal. One of the characters, "Bunny", was modeled after one of the developer's gym instructor.[4] Due to Dancing Eyes being a drastic departure from their usual family-friendly image, Namco executives were unsure about the project during development.[4] The game was published in Japan in September 1996.[5] Promotional material acknowledged the strange concept and characters.[6]

Reception and legacy

The arcade game magazine Game Machine reported that Dancing Eyes was among the most popular arcade games during the month of October 1996.[8]

Retrospectively, the game has gained attention for its risque, comical nature. Writing for GamePro, Ray Barnholt likened its gameplay to Taito's Qix and Kaneko's Gals Panic series, finding it to be fun and one that doesn't take itself seriously.[9] He also complemented the graphics for being impressive at the time, as well as for it not solely relying on its suggestive themes.[9] Barnholt wrote: "Despite the groan-worthy sexism going on, Dancing Eyes doesn't really take itself seriously. It shows that if you take out the suggestive material, you can still have a fairly fun game on your hands."[9] Arttu Ylärakkola of GameSetWatch described it as "a perfect example of the kind of Japanese arcade weirdness that gets giggles from anyone who's ever seen the game".[1] He stated that the game itself was of low quality, but had an odd charm to it through its bizarre premise and simplistic gameplay.[1] Retro Gamer compared it to Konami's Amidar, commenting on its strange, sexual theme and "nutty" concept.[10] They said that it was a "surprisingly polished" game, with good gameplay and responsive controls.[10] Retro Gamer also found the lack of a PlayStation conversion surprising, due to the arcade system being based on PlayStation hardware.[10]

In 2011, Namco Bandai Games announced that a high-definition remaster of Dancing Eyes was in production for the PlayStation 3 as part of their Namco Generations line of modernized arcade game remakes.[11] Although it was announced as being exclusive to Japan, English translations options hinted at a possibility of it seeing an international release.[12] It was also compatible with the PlayStation Move motion-based peripheral.[13] The announcement generated confusion and distaste from several publications, who commented on the game's sexual appeal and bizarre premise.[11][14][15] The company became quiet about the project for over a year, until it was announced as being cancelled in 2012 for "various circumstances".[16][17] Push Square believes the game's controversy was a factor in its cancellation.[18]

Notes
  1. Japanese: ダンシングアイ, Hepburn: Danshingu Ai

References
  1. Ylärakkola, Arttu (2 February 2007). "'Arcade Obscurities' - Namco's Dancing Eyes". GameSetWatch. Game Network. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. Burns, Ed (November 22, 2012). "The Outfoxies". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018.
  3. Sullivan, Lucas (September 19, 2014). "15 Smash Bros. rip-offs that couldn't outdo Nintendo". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017.
  4. "Dancing Eyes Developer Roundtable" (in Japanese) (14). Namco. Nours. 1997. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). ナムコ Namco. アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005) (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Amusement News Agency. p. 53. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  6. Dancing Eyes promotional pamphlet (in Japanese). Namco. September 1996.
  7. Delpierre, Christophe; Daniel, François (April 1997). "L'arcade dépasse les bornes! - Dancing Eyes (Namco)". Player One (in French). No. 74. Média Système Édition. p. 43.
  8. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 528. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 October 1996. p. 25.
  9. Barnholt, Ray (20 June 2011). "Arcade Games That Time Forgot: Dancing Eyes". GamePro. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  10. "The Unconverted - Dancing Eyes" (75). United Kingdom: Imagine Publishing. Retro Gamer. April 2010. p. 56. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  11. McWhertor, Michael (16 June 2011). "After Pac-Man, After Galaga, Namco Generations Gets Weird, Pervy Dancing Eyes for PS3". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  12. Siliconera Staff (6 January 2012). "Is Namco Bandai Bringing Dancing Eyes Overseas? [Update]". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  13. "Dancing Eyes Should Be The Most Salacious Game With A Monkey You'll See Today". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  14. Cundy, Matt. "Dancing Eyes is a PS3 game about a tiny monkey that removes women's clothes. Here's a video to prove that such a thing exists". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  15. "女体にサル。伝説のアーケードゲーム「ダンシングアイ」がPS3で発売決定。ナムコご乱心（？）のスクリーンショットを大公開". 4gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  16. "『ダンシングアイ』開発中止が決定". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. 26 April 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  17. JG Fletcher (19 October 2012). "Dancing Eyes and the death of a Generation". Engadget. Verizon Media. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  18. Newton, James (25 April 2012). "Move Stripping Game Dancing Eyes Canned". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
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