Joystiq impressions: Battle of the Bands (Wii)
by Zack Stern 
{ Apr 5th 2008 at 6:00PM }
THQ's under-the-radar Wii game, Battle of the Bands is coming out this month. I recently saw the game in action, and I finally have a grasp on its concept. Thankfully renamed from Band Mashups, Battle of the Bands pits two gamers against each other in a Wiimote-only rhythm competition. As Guitar Hero-style commands float by, players flick the controller down, left, right, or shake it with the beat.A successful string of hits activates the "battle," firing shots at the enemy band. An aptly timed B-button blocks those volleys. This attack-and-defend mechanic controls the tug-of-war between the two players; when one is leading, the shared song plays in their chosen genre, flipping between hip-hop/funk, rock, country, marching band, and latin. The game's 30 different songs all have these versions, so you could hear "Whoomp! (There it is)" as country or "Man of Constant Sorrow" in hip-hop.
The game is heavily tuned for two players, although single-player options are included. I think it'll make a good party game in limited doses, and unfortunately, it's another Wii game that should be online but isn't.
Gallery: Battle of the Bands (Wii)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 5th 2008 6:09PM
Short write up for a game that is almost definitely going to be looked over.
Oh well.
Superstar90 @ Apr 5th 2008 6:37PM
It's mechanics sound stupid. It's just like shake it back and forth instead of having any real difficulty, like Boogie.
finnith @ Apr 5th 2008 11:45PM
It sounds like something that could be implemented as MP for Rock Band.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 6th 2008 1:14PM
No, it doesn't. Because if it's a simple game like this, it may be tolerable. In something more complex, like Pump It Up, where this concept of versus rhtyhm game debuted, it's broken. Works in Frequency. It's broken in GHIII. Frankly, I would prefer if they kept anything besides score attacks out of Rock Band.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 5th 2008 7:10PM
ummm so is it good or not?
Cheswick @ Apr 5th 2008 10:33PM
Its a preview not a review. They don't tell you if its good or not cause its not finalized and much can change.
fscker @ Apr 5th 2008 9:41PM
Where's the rest of the review?
Synner @ Apr 6th 2008 5:10AM
Wow, so it's a cross between boogie and samba de amigo. looks retarded and childish
FSK405K @ Apr 6th 2008 7:19AM
The second sentence of this post is: "I recently saw the game in action, and I finally have a grasp on it is concept."
Why do so many Joystiq bloggers not know the difference between "its" and "it's?"
Zack Stern @ Apr 6th 2008 12:05PM
Thanks, FSK405K. Sometimes it's an editing/typing mistake.
Redface @ Apr 6th 2008 11:14AM
The sad part about this whole thing is that I really want to like this game. Like really really want to. Because I think it's a great idea, and the music sounds awesome, but I don't know enough about how it plays, and quite frankly it likes it sucks.
paragraph @ Apr 6th 2008 12:33PM
*grumble*looks like SOMEONE isn't reading his Game Informer*grumble*
GI has had a preview on this for more than a month now. I don't expect Joystiq Bloggers to crib, but usually you're much ahead of them.
Anyways, not much said here that isn't said there. Definitely worth a rental if you have a sense of humor and/or a Wii collecting dust.
Oh: Would you like to Reserve it with your Doom Pie?
Deck @ Apr 7th 2008 12:37AM
Now I admit, my knowledge of this game is very limited. So I can't say too much about. But the one video I saw of it on Youtube (back when it was still titled Band Mashups) seemed like a chaotic hick knock off version of GH3 or RB. It seemed absolutely terrible.
Though it may perhaps turn out stronger, and actually be fun, I think it is still quite iffy.
Kristen @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:42AM
Everyone's saying how it's not complex enough but that's the point of Wii. It's supposed to be for everyone. As someone who is physically limited, and can't play GH or RB, I think it sounds great!