Ballroom dance help

[The OG Dominic]

Let me preface this with the fact that the ballroom dance in this game is the worst rhythm minigame of all games.
Anyway, I've been trying to get good at this minigame so that I can marry the guvna's daughter. however, although I mostly get the movement prompts correct, I keep losing the hearts at the top of the screen because I didn't press the button at the right time or something.
How do I press the buttons at the right time?

[QWERTY]

Well as far as i remember the lady usually gives you hints in the form of gestures on what will be the next move to do. I remember also that the rhythm is important, it may be not easy at the beginning but the dance music has it's own, try to focus on the music

[unca.alby]

Time it to her head nod, which usually is also in time to the music.

It's a waltz in 3/4 time, so you can generally more-or-less count "one two three, STEP two three, one two three, STEP two three". Be on the look-out for advanced moves towards the dance ending where there will not be a break between "STEP two three STEP two three".

She points left or right to go left or right, numpad buttons 4 or 6. Most of the time, it's Left, Right, Left, Right, (two more sets? don't remember) then something else.

She gestures left or right, and a little towards you, for a rotate left or right, buttons 1 or 3. Most of the time, it's Left, Left, Left, Left then something else, or Right, Right, Right, Right. Which is to say if you press 3 once, relax and press it three more times, then get ready to do something else.

She lifts both hands off to her sides to approach her. Button 8. Almost always followed by Rotate Left, button 1, two or four times, then repeat that set.

Sometimes she lifts both hands in a pushing motion towards you, you back up. Button 2. This is a more advanced move, so I don't see it often and can't tell you what usually follows.

I like to keep my hand over the numpad with index finger on 4 and ring finger on 6, ready to switch when needed. Watch for her head nod!

It also helps to buy dancing shoes from the Mysterious Stranger in the Tavern. There are two kinds, get both as they become available. They're good for erasing one or two mistakes, so long as you're more-or-less in the right direction (e.g. you hit 4 when you should have hit 1), but try not to rely on them. They won't fix all your mistakes.

[The OG Dominic]

okay so...
-one, two, three, STEP
-head nods
-dancing shoes

thanks guys, appreciate it. It's cool to see a game that was pretty obscure when it came out still being played 14 years later.

[Davypi]

In addition to the rhythm, pay attention to the dance step patterns (link below). There are only eight patterns of steps that the game will give you. Once you know the first step, there only two possible second steps and after that you know the entire 4 or 8 step pattern. The other thing is that some people have found double tapping the correct key will produce a success more often than a single tap.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1130930048

[unca.alby]

Originally posted by Davypi:

The other thing is that some people have found double tapping the correct key will produce a success more often than a single tap.

Also true in the sword fights. It's probably a game glitch.

[Fritz Bittenfeld]

Originally posted by unca.alby:

Originally posted by Davypi:

The other thing is that some people have found double tapping the correct key will produce a success more often than a single tap.

Also true in the sword fights. It's probably a game glitch.

"it's not a bug it's a feature."

[unca.alby]

Originally posted by Grand Protector Mosley:

Originally posted by unca.alby:

Also true in the sword fights. It's probably a game glitch.

"it's not a bug it's a feature."

"No extra charge"

[Fritz Bittenfeld]

Originally posted by unca.alby:

Originally posted by Grand Protector Mosley:

"it's not a bug it's a feature."

"No extra charge"

That comes in the 19.99 Expansion Pack that includes a patch to "fix" it.

[mattgo]

I've never been able to be successful with this and had the game since late 2004. New computer it wouldn't play due to the old DRM used not working in WIndows 8+, but when installed it automatically installed to Steam. I'd say if they make a new one, get rid of the dancing part altogether (or include a cheat to automatically win it.) Maybe have the romance more like the 1980s version?

[+Analbi]

I have been playing on Rogue, bought the dancing shoes, and i curiously got the blinking markers onto where to move, is that thanks to the shoes or that i am not in Swashbuckler, which is the maximum difficulty therefore no guidance/tips?

[Marvin]

First time you dance, you get the marks, even on Rogue, possibly washbuckler. After that the hint area is removed or at least minimized. If it's minimized, you can bring it up by clicking on it.

[Joe Coffee]

Originally posted by The OG Dominic:

Let me preface this with the fact that the ballroom dance in this game is the worst rhythm minigame of all games.
Anyway, I've been trying to get good at this minigame so that I can marry the guvna's daughter. however, although I mostly get the movement prompts correct, I keep losing the hearts at the top of the screen because I didn't press the button at the right time or something.
How do I press the buttons at the right time?

Not the answer you want to hear, but practice makes perfect.

Also utilize a previous save if you absolutely botch the dance and try again.

Admittedly, I am clumsy at dancing having put the game away for while. Even if I did press the corresponding dance-movement key, I'd still stumble. I think it has to do with exact timing while the button is flashing.