Wii Music

Game Music

Wii Music Review: Finally, (Insert Joke About Waving Your Wii Here)

October 20, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 5 Comments Share this

I remember back at E3 2006 when the Wii was first shown, and what was effectively a technical demo titled “Wii Music” was on the floor. It featured simple yet addictive orchestral conducting gameplay, and I was immediately excited about the prospect of interacting with Nintendo’s classic game tunes. However, as Wii Music took shape at this year’s E3 as a free-for-all music experience, I think I was with many of you out there in being skeptical of Nintendo’s approach.

If you haven’t kept up on the details, the idea behind Wii Music is that there is no right or wrong way to perform a song. You’ll basically hold the Wii remote and nunchuck and simulate the motions of a slew of instruments, triggering notes whenever you’d like that match the pitch of the rest of the instruments being played. This is definitely not a conventional approach as it effectively removes the “game” out of Wii Music, but is this approach merely a gimmick or does it provide a truly innovative musical experience?

Read our full impressions of Wii Music after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Wii Music Dated for October 20, Gamers Still Excited About Dog Instrument

September 18, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Who knew we were only a little over a month away from getting our grubby little hands on Nintendo’s stab at the rhythm game genre? I was expecting them to announce Wii Music for the holiday season, but I guess we’re going to be playing the dog instrument and more than 60 other instruments before Halloween instead.

While everyone laughs at me when I say it, I think the drums that make use of the balance board look pretty cool. I just pray and hope that the game doesn’t feature the general MIDI sound that it was sporting at E3 this year… but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to change.

Do you think Nintendo is taking the right approach on this one? Are you excited about the finally being able to “improvise jams on the fly” and share your creations with your friends around the world?

Read the official word from Nintendo and check out some always-amazing lifestyle shots after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Wii Music to Allow Gamers to Play the “Puppy” Instrument… uh, What?

September 9, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

That’s right. For all the casual gamers out there who have been dying to get their hands on the upcoming Nintendo title Wii Music, the wait just got a whole lot harder. Along with the traditional guitar, piano, percussion, and maribma instruments that were featured at E3 this year, Nintendo has been slowly revealing new instruments that will be featured in the game.

So, you can play the dog. Whatever that means. I think you’ll just have to watch the video to understand. Well, understand might be the wrong word, as I don’t think anyone really understands this.

Are you looking forward to seeing what else Nintendo has in store for Wii Music? Do you think the dog instrument can be topped by something else that’s even more ridiuclous?

[via Destructoid]
Game Music

E3 2008: Wii Music… Announced Again!

July 15, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this E3 2008: Wii Music… Announced Again!

While many were left disappointed by the lack of major titles coming out of Nintendo’s E3 Press Conference this morning, I thought Wii Music looked pretty sweet. Using the balance board for the bass drum? Pure genius! Miyamoto even took to the stage to show off the title, and the fact that it will allow players to perform classic Nintendo music from Super Mario Bros. and the like already has me sold.

It’s interesting that everyone is saying that Nintendo just “announced” Wii Music, as the title was actually on the floor at E3 2006 (and 2007) in a very primative form. Koji Kondo himself was on stage at Nintendo’s booth in 2006 showing off the title’s conducting portion. Whether that early demo makes its way into the final version of Wii Music, I guess we’ll found out soon, but it was definitely a lot of fun.

I do have a couple complaints, however, including the lacking sound quality and the straightforward arrangements. Many of the instruments they demonstrated today sounded like general MIDI. I’m sure Nintendo has a lot of work ahead of them, but I hope they give those of us who actually care about the music something new to listen to and be a part of.

What do you think of the demonstration? Which classic songs do you want to see in the game?