Wii Music 'games' within the 'game' detailed
by Randy Nelson 
{ Oct 6th 2008 at 1:00PM }
On Friday we had our final hands-on session with Wii Music before its October 20 release. Our feelings about it remain more or less unchanged from our time with it at E3. It's not a "gamer's game;" it's not even really a game in the traditional sense. Its novel mechanics will be best appreciated by young children or groups of non-gamers. Nintendo itself has said as much.
Still, we wanted to finally see the "games" of Wii Music – the three modes where players are actually scored. The first is conducting with the Wiimote as a baton, which was demo'd by Nintendo back at the system's unveiling. The gist of this game is staying true to the tempo of the original work. How close you maintain the flow determines your score.
There's also a choir bell game for up to four players, which involves "ringing" your two bells as ones matching their colors scroll past. Finally, there's the most simple of the games, which tests you ability to hear different pitches. There are 10 "levels," where you are asked to place the Mii that's producing a specific tone onto a platform – match and win.
Simple stuff indeed.
Still, we wanted to finally see the "games" of Wii Music – the three modes where players are actually scored. The first is conducting with the Wiimote as a baton, which was demo'd by Nintendo back at the system's unveiling. The gist of this game is staying true to the tempo of the original work. How close you maintain the flow determines your score.
There's also a choir bell game for up to four players, which involves "ringing" your two bells as ones matching their colors scroll past. Finally, there's the most simple of the games, which tests you ability to hear different pitches. There are 10 "levels," where you are asked to place the Mii that's producing a specific tone onto a platform – match and win.
Simple stuff indeed.
Gallery: Wii Music (10-06-2008)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:09PM
So over 20 years of gaming evolution leads to this? This better not sell more than Sin & Punishment 2 & The Conduit, becuase if it does, I will lose all hope for this world.
Marty @ Oct 6th 2008 1:21PM
Yeah, god forbid something new / unique does well in this market of sequels and cookie-cutter trash.
Jfk Aok @ Oct 6th 2008 1:29PM
This crap is not new or innovative. It's about 25 years too late... Except you wont find this stuff in the video game section, it's found in the toy section.
break it down further...It's a kazoo or a recorder but you don't have to blow on anything...any you have to stair at the tv to see what the hell you're doing and you're no longer getting the feeling of making sound. By every means imaginable, video games going the way of the kazoo or any toy is a regression.
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:30PM
Marty
Are you honestly defending WiiMusic? I've seem playschool games with more depth.
The market, whether its the music, movie or games industry will always pay more attention to the investments that gain the most profit. Look at the movie industry. We get a couple good movies a year and the rest are crap. Also, look at the music industry. Great talent is replaced with non-talented Falloutboy/Soljerboy crap because alot of stupid people buy it. The game indusrty will inevitably follow in the same footsteps.
Ignatius @ Oct 6th 2008 1:30PM
By all means, do something unique... but don't suck at the same time.
Marty @ Oct 6th 2008 1:38PM
"The market, whether its the music, movie or games industry will always pay more attention to the investments that gain the most profit. Look at the movie industry. We get a couple good movies a year and the rest are crap. ... The game indusrty will inevitably follow in the same footsteps."
You mean it hasn't already? Every game released is gold? Please... that is just ridiculous. To expect every piece of music, every movie, and every game released to be amazing is unrealistic. There has to be crap to make the good stuff stand out.
I'm not really defending WiiMusic (I don't even own a Wii). Maybe I just don't understand what the problem with the title is - why does everyone hate it so much?
samfish @ Oct 6th 2008 1:40PM
"why does everyone hate it so much?"
For the same reason they hate Wii Fit...it threatens their gamer E-penis.
The-E @ Oct 6th 2008 1:46PM
Ahhhh......Samfish....this doesn't threaten my e-penis....it threatens my dignity...
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:53PM
"why does everyone hate it so much?"
Its like a slap in the face to the people that grew up with Nintendo. I mean, come on guys, do you feel kind of sad at what Nintendo has become? I do. I owned all of Nintendo's previous consoles and loved them. I have alot of good memories with Nintendo, but those good memories turn into fireballs everytime I see a crap game on the Wii.
Marty @ Oct 6th 2008 2:19PM
Nintendo started business as a trading card game company. If anything, their ability to slowly adapt to the trends in gaming has helped their company stay afloat among other, larger competitors, especially in this day and age. After the GameCube came and went, I was ready (unwillingly so) to see Nintendo call it quits. I like the company, but they just didn't seem to have 'it' anymore.
The Wii has changed that. It's brought a growing trend among PC / internet users, casual gaming, into the living room, and made bank doing so.
Yes, I regret to see them lose their grip on the 'core' gamers, but they will return to that in time. I don't think of software like WiiMusic as "what they have become," but more as something that they are exploring as they go through another metamorphosis.
In the meantime, Mario, Link / Zelda, Samus, and the rest of the crew might make appearances a little less often than normal, but they aren't going anywhere. Nintendo is just taking some time to see other people right now... but they'll be back.
Mike @ Oct 6th 2008 2:20PM
Jack of No Trades only wants games that cater to his tastes. The rest of the world can suck his e-penis.
Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrected on a... thursday?!) @ Oct 6th 2008 5:27PM
This is like defending an artist who vomits on his canvas because what he's done is original.
It does not mean that the resulting mess is good, fun, or in any way condonable behaviour.
Roto13 @ Oct 6th 2008 10:21PM
People like to forget that Nintendo has announced/released more core games than casual games. They just market the casual games more because casual gamers aren't going to actively seek them out.
So essentially gamers are whining because they're not being advertised at enough.
samfish @ Oct 6th 2008 1:12PM
Is it true that it has a Mario Paint style composer, though? I read that this weekend, but I think it was on a forum post or something.
'cuz I might actually buy it if there is one.
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 3:15PM
I don't believe there is any component in which you can "compose" after the fashion of Mario Paint or Guitar Hero IV
However, i do believe that there is some depth in your ability to "remix" by being able to mix up to 6 different instrument tracks together to build a unique take on the song at hand.
Travis @ Oct 6th 2008 1:21PM
this looks beyond stupid
josh @ Oct 6th 2008 2:10PM
Stupid? come one you can do better than that lol.. I don't get it why nintendo is trying so hard. I don't see this entertainment unit to fly.. is no longer a game unit. Im sure there gonna be stupid ppl buying this and soon it would be eating dust. They really expect kids playing this everyday o so often? come on.. The best game of nintendo was the Super Mario World for the supper nintendo. Nintendo should make games like that more often. And where the hell is our Donkey Kong game? Nintendo this year suck balls...
WorMzy @ Oct 6th 2008 1:24PM
I'll be getting it. :)
The-E @ Oct 6th 2008 1:44PM
Ahhhh.......awesome??
Duke @ Oct 6th 2008 1:55PM
To me the game looks insultingly bad, but I understand that I don't fit the demographic they are aiming for.
Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir and MR.ESC) @ Oct 6th 2008 1:58PM
I'm not sure what the target demo is, as this game makes casuals look like bigger retards then the hardest of hardcore gamers make them out to be.
Well Fed Troll @ Oct 6th 2008 5:13PM
IMO i think theyre going after the under 13 crowd (kids, as Randy can sum it up) with this one. Make'em feel like a star while stimulating theyre forgiving attention spans. (No, im not saying ALL kids)
But if they can sit down n play the most trashiest of the trash and have fun , since they havent developed taste/preference...After enough nagging this will be bought by the unwilling parent.
Vol @ Oct 6th 2008 1:57PM
Soooooo...
I'll be making music while playing with my Wii?
Next...
How you maintain the flow while playing with your Wii determines your score?
This is just too easy.
Coloow @ Oct 6th 2008 2:25PM
If it lets you waggle the wiimote just to play instruments and they sound cool ID be getting it.
As a kid I loved just playing with music instruments and waggling maracas and that stuff.
Raikage (Mr. ESC? Mr. ESC? MR. ESSSSSSCCCCCC!) @ Oct 6th 2008 2:25PM
Wait... this isn't a game...
You got me good Mr. Nelson!
Blazur @ Oct 6th 2008 2:50PM
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing a meta-review on this game!
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 3:18PM
Me too.
It'll separate the mature journalistic outlets from the crybabies stroking their e-penises.
Not strictly based upon the final score, mind, but the content of the reviews in question. We'll see which outlets just put up "omg insult to intelligence" and which ones actually review the game from an objective point of view
xgarryx @ Oct 6th 2008 8:48PM
sigh do we realy want or need more mini games compilation? whats goin to happen when the casuals inevitably get bored with this type of 'game.'
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 3:26PM
The main function of the game is still handily misunderstood. It's nothing that appeals to me, mind (i like games with a point, and haven't seen the value in the Wii _____ games aside from Sports), but it isn't an insult to intelligence
People keep trying to compare it to rhythm games. This is not a rhythm game, as most other music games are. This is a "music" game, like the editor from Mario Paint, or Electroplankton. It's obviously dressed up to have much more gimmick appeal (for the people who are hypnotized by the basic fun of motion controls), but at the core of the experience, that's what you're getting. It's just less free-form than either Mario Paint or Electroplankton.
Think of it as a remix app, if you will. That's the closest description that i can come up with, anyway. You want, say, the song Joyful, joyful with a faster tempo and an electric guitar? do it. Want to make Super Mario Bros Surface theme into a funeral dirge? Have at it. There's the point. This is not a defense of the game (they could've made it much more appealing to everyone, i think), just a clarification.
Duke @ Oct 6th 2008 4:23PM
We really are not as stupid as your posts always insinuate.
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 4:36PM
Oh, right. You're the one who thinks i "talk down" to people.
But i do believe the game is misunderstood, and that is in part the fault of the publisher. Nintendo is pitching it in part as a game for good mindless fun, but a few of the videos they've put out detail the game's merits.
I'm just trying to lend balance to the arguments, try and keep these kinds of threads from becoming a hater circle-jerk.
bm @ Oct 6th 2008 3:52PM
lol wii music sucks you guys
CAN HAS UPVOTES NOWPLZ?
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 3:56PM
No. You forgot the obligatory mention that you are going to sell your Wii, have sold it, or are seriously considering doing so.