Wii Music (Game)

Wii Music

GAME » on October 20, 2008

Wii Music allows users to play and experiment with over 60 different instruments with up to three other players, focusing on fun and creativity instead of the "play as correctly as possible"-approach found in other music games.

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Overview

First demoed at E3 2006, Wii Music is a rhythm game which utilizes the Wiimote to simulate over 60 instruments. As part of the "Wii" series and "Touch! Generations (Franchise)", the game is designed for accessibility and its particularly geared toward younger players. The game includes songs ranging from Nintendo's signature tunes, such as the Super Mario Bros. theme, to orchestral classics and cultural favorites such as "Yankee Doodle."

Gameplay

A night serenade in Wii Music

Playing the virtual instruments is based on the timing of button presses with the Wiimote and Nunchuk, and not the motion sensing capability of the controller. For instance, a saxophone demo shown at E3 by the game's executive producer Shigeru Miyamoto (Person) requires alternating between the 1 and 2 buttons, with actions not impacting gameplay but meant to add to the experience. Using these instruments, players control a band with up to six Mii musicians in a number of locales, such as a grassy field or a music classroom. Pressing buttons in time with the music will make the music sound better, and this is the only reward the game offers: there is no way to fail a song, no onscreen indication of whether a song is being played correctly or not, hence relying on both the player's knowledge of the music and personal preference. Players are, however, ranked at the end of a song by their score as a conductor.

The Wii Balance Board is compatible with the game, and can be used as part of a virtual drum kit. The drum kit and orchestra modes are two extended "minigames", with more depth to them than other instruments. For instance, the drum mode has lessons programmed in for players to learn, and possibly apply their skills to a real drum kit.

Multiplayer

One Wii console supports four players simultaneously, and was used at the E3 2008 Nintendo Media Briefing as a finale. It also uses the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for recorded video sharing. It is unclear, but likely, that the game will use the friend code setup. It does not feature online play.

Songs

There are 50 songs in the game, with 4 different categories. All Popular songs are instrumental covers, with the original artist for each song listed in parentheses.

Classical

Ode to Joy
Bridal Chorus
Swan Lake
From the New World
Minuet in G Major
A Little Night Music
The Blue Danube
Carmen

Traditional

American Patrol
The Entertainer
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Do-Re-Mi
My Grandfather's Clock
Happy Birthday to You
Yankee Doodle
Frère Jacques
Sur le pont d'Avignon
The Flea Waltz
Turkey in the Straw
Oh, My Darling Clementine
Scarborough Fair
Long, Long Ago
Little Hans
O Christmas Tree
From Santurtzi to Bilbao
Sakura Sakura
Troika
La Bamba
Over the Waves
La Cucaracha

Daydream Believer (The Monkees)
Sukiyaki (Kyu Sakamoto)
Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms)
Please Mr. Postman (The Marvelettes)
The Loco-Motion (Little Eva)
Woman (John Lennon)
Every Breath You Take (The Police)
September (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Material Girl (Madonna)
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!)
I'll Be There (Jackson 5)
I've Never Been to Me (Charlene)
Chariots of Fire (Vangelis)

Game

Instruments

There are 66 instruments.

* Piano

Galactic Piano
Toy Piano
Harpsichord
Harp
Dulcimer
Marimba
Vibraphone
Steel Drums
Handbells
Dog Suit
Cat Suit
Timpani
Rapper
Acoustic Guitar
Ukulele
Electric Guitar
Galactic Guitar
Banjo
Sitar
Shamisen
Jaw Harp
Electric Bass
Upright Bass
Galactic Bass
Trumpet
Galactic Horn
Saxophone
Clarinet
Recorder
Accordion
Bagpipe
NES Horn
Singer
Tuba
Flute
Harmonica
Violin
Cello
Basic Drums
Rock Drums
Jazz Drums
Latin Drums
Reggae Drums
Ballad Drums
Galactic Drums
Marching Snare
Bass Drum
Taiko Drum
Congas
Galactic Congas
Djembe Drum
Timbales
Maracas
Tambourine
Bells
Castanets
Cowbell
Hand Clap
Beatboxer
Black Belt
Cheerleader
Güiro
Cuica
Whistle
DJ Turntables

Reception

The game has received mixed and negative pre-release impressions from gaming outlets. Critics main concern is the gameplay's simplicity, basing itself on button-presses for a concept that is more suited to motion control. There is also negative feedback about the MIDI audio quality for instruments, the track selection being uninspired, and the visual presentation basic. However, the game is predicted to perform very well in retail, and is a pillar of Nintendo's Q4 lineup.

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