Nintendo announced it is now shipping Wii Music, their debut karaoke music game. Unlike competitors such as Guitar Hero, Wii Music lets you play up to 60 instruments with its controllers and classic songs like La Bamba can be rearranged in unique ways.
Digital Journal — In a competitive market of music games (Guitar Hero, Rock Band), Nintendo is entering the fray with a unique game: Wii Music takes advantage of the motion-sensitive controllers to allow players to physically strum a guitar, bow a violin, pluck a sitar, and more. The game offers 60 instruments to choose from, and more than 50 songs.
Tracks include kid songs such as “Twinkle Twinkle” and “Yankee Doodle,” while also including pop favourites such as “Every Breath You Take” and “Please Mr. Postman.” Wii Music also offers soundtracks to Nintendo games Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda.
Even though Wii Music players can play the exact arrangement of each track, they are encouraged to improvise with the many available instruments. For example, use a stand-up bass in Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Rock out with a bagpipe on “La Bamba” or bring a toy piano into the melody of “Sur le Pont d’Avignon.” The game humours hip-hop fans by adding into the mix a DJ, beatboxer and rapper.
Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager, said in a press release: Wii Music highlights music’s universal appeal as a fun way for people to play together and enjoy a creative experience. Wii Music can motivate people to enhance their appreciation and understanding of music and rhythm, and can even inspire them to learn real instruments.
Wii Music, available for $50, also lets you record your performances, giving you the chance to layer other instrumental lines atop each other. And you can interact with fellow gamers miles apart by sending the file electronically to friends and family members who have Wii Music.
Also, drummer wannabes who bought Wii Fit separately can use the Balance Board with Wii Music by moonlighting the board as virtual pedals for the bass drum and the hi-hat cymbal.
