Wii Music

By Oli Welsh Published 17 July, 2008

Racket game.

One reason music games are so big is that they're fun to watch: the blaring chart tune, the hypnotic pulses of the display, the posturing antics of your friends. The fact that they make a good spectator sport for the whole room is central to the entertainment value and success of Guitar Hero, SingStar, DDR and the rest. It's fun for everybody, whether they're playing or not.

Wii Music is not quite like that. Watching somebody else play Wii Music - as the world found out when Shigeru Miyamoto demonstrated it at Nintendo's press conference on Tuesday - is a bit like going to your daughter's school band recital. It is cute, funny in an awkward way, uncomfortable, a mite embarrassing, and sometimes so excruciating it sets your teeth on edge. Wii Music makes a joyful, but awful noise.

Playing it is another matter. The Jam mode we sampled is a blast: not a game in any real sense, but a magnificently silly and hugely enjoyable toy. Exactly like Wii Sports, it makes no attempt to realistically simulate the activity it portrays, or provide any complexity or deep competitive challenge to it. Instead, it aims to capture the extrovert, physical feeling and fun of playing an instrument. And Wii Music does something else as well, something precious few music games do: it gives you plenty of room to express yourself.

Wii Music features fifty songs, a mixture of Nintendo themes, licensed songs, and timeless lullabies, folk songs and standards. The tiny selection we saw included Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Yankee Doodle Dandy and the Super Mario Bros theme. But, incredibly, the songs are outnumbered by the selection of instruments you can play them on.

There will be sixty: vibraphone, piano, guitar, saxophone, maracas, trumpet, bongos, double bass, taiko drum... Each one has its own unique control scheme too. More than any of its releases to date, more so even than Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Wii Music is Nintendo offering up variety of control schemes as the content itself, the meat of the game.

'Wii Music' Screenshot 1

Boo ba ba ba biddly biddly bee.

Needs an awful lot of explaining, right? Not really. Hold your hands as if you were playing the instrument, make the motions you'd make to play - if that's pressing the keys on a wind instrument, it will be pressing buttons on the remote - and the notes come out. The A and B buttons work as modifiers, often offering sustained notes or pizzicato plucks. Your Mii appears on screen, playing along with you.

The nunchuk, when used, also offers modifications on the control stick, such as holding down to strum super-fast on the guitar. The d-pad makes your Mii pull moves on the screen, as do certain gestures with certain instruments. When playing a trumpet, holding your head down plays softly and tilting it back plays loud, in a brilliantly intuitive caricature of jazz styles.

We could detail more, but much of the point of Wii Music is experimenting with each instrument to find out what you can do with it, and then letting rip. The game works out the notes you play according to the tune you're playing and the style you're playing in. Simple, steady rhythms with no modification play a straight melody, while cutting loose with the controls and improvising around the rhythm (it's shown on the screen by pulsing notes) produce wild, extemporising solos.

'Wii Music' Screenshot 2

Dum dum dum daddada dum dum dum.

It's a highly unusual and surprising system, and we reckon there's deceptively clever software under Wii Music's hood. The results aren't always pleasant to listen to - they're sometimes downright, hilariously horrible - but you can't argue that the game flawlessly captures the flair, mood and accuracy with which you're playing. There may be no sophistication to performing in Wii Music, but there is most definitely an art to it, and producing a performance that's both expressive and accurate will take practice and skill.

In Jam mode, every tune is played by six pre-selected instruments, some combination of lead melody, bass, harmony, rhythm, chords and percussion. Players take one-to-four of these parts, meaning there are always two computer-controlled parts holding the tune down and preventing it from descending into total chaos. If you want, you can call up a guide showing you when to play notes; essential for tunes you don't know, but actually something of a distraction on ones you do.

Although there will apparently be a more traditional note-matching game included, the only other section of the game we tried was the drumkit, which is an entirely a standalone mode. This uses the Wii Fit balance board for the kick drum and hi-hat, and the nunchuk and remote as your sticks. Very disappointingly, motion only controls rhythm, and not which snares, toms and cymbals you hit - the remote would barely be capable of doing it fast and accurately enough, and the nunchuk not at all. So you have to use buttons and stick to select them.

'Wii Music' Screenshot 3

Plinky boink crash squeak whoops.

This makes it pretty fiddly and challenging even for a real drummer, which we most definitely are not. There will be a tutorial for the drums, and we imagine that getting through it will be a challenging game in itself. Amid the terrible clatter we made, the one moment when a coherent rhythm started to appear was very rewarding thanks to the excited clapping and chanting of the on-screen Mii crowd. But it's probably not enough to drag us through the painful learning process for the drums.

More than any Wii release to date, Wii Music is a toy. We don't mean that as a criticism - it's a technically amazing, totally accessible, funny and entertaining toy, and will be a proper riot for anyone in the right kind of loose company. It will probably be misunderstood by many who look for gameplay systems in it rather than suspending disbelief, letting themselves go and expressing themselves through it. Those people love it. And the people watching them from the sofa might even love it a little bit too, through the winces and the gritted teeth.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • robg #1 4 years ago

    It sounds a bit like what actually happens when you learn to play an instrument.

  • brokenkey #2 4 years ago

    As much fun as Ectoplankton, no doubt.

  • the_dudefather #3 4 years ago

    watching them play this on stage it looked incredibly embarrassing, especially the incredibly gay jump they do at the end

    hopefully it will be fun to play though, rather than just waving your arms like mad in the hopes of reproducing 'twinkle twinkle little star'

  • andywilkie35 #4 4 years ago

    i'll only get it if it's got some Muse and Radiohead on it

    oh so i wont then

  • Darkedge #5 4 years ago

    sounds like for 15-20 quid sale anything more and it will be too much for yet another novelty that will wear off very quickly.

  • bitesize #6 4 years ago

    As much fun as Ectoplankton, no doubt.

    i really doubt it. certainly from what i've seen so far, looks nothing like it... which is a shame cos that's what i was hoping for...

  • jamespo #7 4 years ago

    sounds crap

  • Rintintin #8 4 years ago

    twinkle twinkle little star...my 2 year old daughter will love this. A must buy for my family i think.

  • gamingdave #9 4 years ago

    Looking forward to getting my hands on it, should be fun, at least whilst trying out all the tunes and instruments.

    Have to say I doubt I could satnd watching people playing it though, music played out of time/synch is something that grates my ears and head more than polystyrene (?sp) and nails down blackboards.

  • gerg #10 4 years ago

    The thing is, this isn't even as creative as Electroplankton. In games like Electroplankton and Spore's Creature Creator you have a pure sandbox where you can create anything you want. You don't get that here - you have to settle for pre-chosen tunes to play along to. Nintendo should really make a "create what you want" mode the main focus on the game, and focus on interactivity between players by allowing them to send their tunes to each other, edit them however they want, and then send them back for the other players to edit again. But still, Miyamoto's goal to make a music game where the focus is the enjoyment of playing harmoniously together in a band is an admirable one.

  • barchetta #11 4 years ago

    The lack of a 'physical' connection to whichever instrument you want to play is going to de difficult for some I reckon. The premise though - and the apparent fun the game engenders - is just the sort of reason I bought the kids the Wii. About time.

  • CallousB #12 4 years ago

    Sounds better than I was expecting...but I'm not sure I'd pay full price for it.
    Seems like it should really be a £20 title..£30 max.

  • Razz #13 4 years ago

    "As much fun as Ectoplankton, no doubt.

    i really doubt it. certainly from what i've seen so far, looks nothing like it... which is a shame cos that's what i was hoping for... "

    +1,000,000

    It really is a shame. :(

  • Raz76 #14 4 years ago

    Does it come with a packed-in lobotomy?

  • rhubarbandcustard #15 4 years ago

    Wii Music = Guitar Hero for special needs people

  • spekkeh #16 4 years ago

    But there is a sandbox element in there, right? Playing the piano and the drums seemed to be pretty random, as was the jazz tune they performed on stage at the beginning. I do agree that there definitely should be a WiFi share your creation option for this to remain remotely interesting after you've tried out all the instruments..

  • JediMasterMalik #17 4 years ago

    "Does it come with a packed-in lobotomy?"

    It's the only way to enjoy it ;)

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #18 4 years ago

    It will probably be misunderstood by many who look for gameplay systems in it rather than suspending disbelief, letting themselves go and expressing themselves through it. Those people love it.

    /turns to camera

    Nice!

  • gerg #19 4 years ago

    @spekkeh: You can share videos of your tunes with friends, but I think it would be better if you could send the tune data for other people to edit on.

    Anyway, for anyone doubting the Drumkit mode after the horrible, horrible E3 conference, check out this video. So much better.

  • secombe #20 4 years ago

    How is it an almost entirely postive preview from people who have actually played it can draw so much negativity? Would loved to have seen this comments thread had Wii Music been completely borked.
    Edited by 1 at 17/07/08 @ 12:33

  • Fl0yd #21 4 years ago

    Jack Thompson is going to ballistic over this.

    He hates sax and violins in games!


    /coat

  • JediMasterMalik #22 4 years ago

    Because it's a complete non-game. There seems to be no objective, goal, or challenge.

  • Heitzu #23 4 years ago

    I'm expecting the market to be flooded with crappy 3rd party remote addon things that make it look like the instrument if it sells well.

    everyone remembers the Wii Sports plastic crap right, Tennis rackets, sword attachments that sort of stuff.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #24 4 years ago

    Jack Thompson is going to ballistic over this.

    He hates sax and violins in games!


    /coat


    Joke of E3!

    /hands over Golden Jaffa Cake

  • secombe #25 4 years ago

    Because it's a complete non-game. There seems to be no objective, goal, or challenge.

    Surely learning to play the instruments is a challenge?

    It's apparently very good fun...I can't ask for too much more than that out of my games personally. I think this sums it up...

    it's a technically amazing, totally accessible, funny and entertaining toy, and will be a proper riot for anyone in the right kind of loose company. It will probably be misunderstood by many who look for gameplay systems in it rather than suspending disbelief, letting themselves go and expressing themselves through it. Those people love it.

  • JediMasterMalik #26 4 years ago

    Secombe - How does it help you learn an instrument?

  • Raz76 #27 4 years ago

    flOyd wins the thread

  • bad09 #28 4 years ago

    "Surely learning to play the instruments is a challenge? "

    LOL, do you think GH helps you learn the guitar as well Secombe?

  • JedEvangelion #29 4 years ago

    Why wish for it to be like Electroplankton when Electroplankton's still out there, what would putting it on Wii add?

    This looks great fun, can't wait to play it. Don't need a traditional structure for something to be fun to play.

  • Weezer #30 4 years ago

    "Because it's a complete non-game. There seems to be no objective, goal, or challenge."

    And so will last about a weekend before the novelty fucks right off.

    "Wii Music = Guitar Hero for special needs people"

    Chortle! I can see the worthy news report now: "Wii music game helps keep these tragic youngsters entertained"
    Cue lots of swaying and out-of-time 'music'

  • secombe #31 4 years ago

    Secombe - How does it help you learn an instrument?

    I didn't say AN instrument (i.e. real life), I said THE instrument, as in the ones in the game. Although at the end of the day if it gets people interested in playing for real that can only be a good thing.

    Learning to drive the cars in GTR2 is a challenge, I'm under no illusions that it will help me on my trackdays in real life, however! This is no different in that respect.
    Edited by 1 at 17/07/08 @ 12:52

  • canIdoyabombsforya #32 4 years ago

    Learning to play the violin etc is for spotty pale faced nerds who rarely leave their bedroom, err... hold on.

  • bitesize #33 4 years ago

    Why wish for it to be like Electroplankton when Electroplankton's still out there, what would putting it on Wii add?

    erm, cos it could be like a hugely expanded electroplankton, obviously. electroplankton is great, but pretty limited. i want a big expanded sequel on wii please, would be the best thing ever. wii music, however, is not it.

  • MORZTAN #34 4 years ago

    @ Fl0yd

    Zing! Joke of the day!

  • gingerlink #35 4 years ago

    As long as they find a way to add a full sandbox band mode the game, it will be good.

    If it's JUST playing along with these tunes, then there's not going to be much variation and it's going to get boring. A full snadbox on the otherhand would let you create whatever the heck you want and that's just limitless.

    We may not have seen all the game has to offer yet. To be honest, I think it's a brilliant idea for a game, but I think they've gone the wrong way about certain things within the game.

  • gerg #36 4 years ago

    What's the problem with this game? If you don't like it, don't buy it. It's as simple as that.

    And yes, you may be a bit bitter when Nintendo expects you to get all hyped up about a game that may not be designed to appeal to you, and there's seemingly little left on the line-up. But if you've been following any of Nintendo's announcements over the past six months you'd have realised that Wii Music and Animal Crossing are certainly not their only games for the holiday period, and that they're going to announce more (hardcore/core) games closer to the time period.
    Edited by 2 at 17/07/08 @ 13:38

  • varsas #37 4 years ago

    If it's JUST playing along with these tunes, then there's not going to be much variation and it's going to get boring.

    At the very least there will be some variation due to the sound modifiers and at most all notes will be completely off key and time.

  • groovychainsaw #38 4 years ago

    It reminds me of those kids toy's you had when you were 2 or 3, where you just press buttons and the tune sort of plays regardless, the sort of thing you'd drop down the stairs to see what noise it made, and then get bored. Now admittedly, 60 different things to drop down the stairs to make noise sounds fun, but surely its jus ta gimmick, no? They can't be charging full price for this, it isn't anything, it's not a game, it's not a training device, it's an interactive screensaver, at best...
    Don't really see the appeal in this, think I'm just a miserable git tho /sigh

  • Whizzo #39 4 years ago

    This is a Fisher-Price "game" isn't it?

    Oh.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #40 4 years ago

    "sounds like for 15-20 quid sale anything more and it will be too much for yet another novelty that will wear off very quickly."

    So?

    They're all sold at Toys R Us amoung tat from China

  • canIdoyabombsforya #41 4 years ago

    @groovychainsaw
    "Don't really see the appeal in this, think I'm just a miserable git tho /sigh "

    Who wants to grow up anyway? Certainly not the crazy Japanese who bring us these cute and colourful games.

  • WinstonChurchill #42 4 years ago

    Why on earth would we be looking for gameplay mechanisms when playing games on a games console?

    Oh right.
    Edited by 1 at 17/07/08 @ 15:12

  • Genji #43 4 years ago

    This sounds like sick fun - like Electroplankton but with more instruments, and more players.

    I'll definitely pick it up, and probably enjoy every drunken minute of it. If other people don't feel like they can enjoy something like this... well, whatever. That's their choice.

  • Darren #44 4 years ago

    Wii Music sounds innovative and unique but it doesn't sound like it's particularly fun to play once the initial buzz has worn off. Time will tell I guess but I can't see myself buying it. My parents might for their Wii though.

  • gingerlink #45 4 years ago

    @groovychainsaw

    I may need to get a house with stairs just for that, I wanna see what it sounds like!

  • trfe #46 4 years ago

    This is a joke compared to GH and RB.

    Another reason that the wii is a perfect system for kids.

  • FenderMaster #47 4 years ago

    so nursery rhymes eh?

    yeah, i'm 22 Nintendo

  • tardo #48 4 years ago

    >>Only game I will buy from now on with Wii in the title is Wii Sex.

    "learning to flail your arms randomly whilst disgusting midi garbage seeps from the speakers is not, nor never will be, considered a game. "

    honestly!

  • eepic #49 4 years ago

    i rather play guitar hero on my 360 than this totally fag "game"

  • ChrisS #50 4 years ago

    It's a great preview, this. It's nice to read an opinion that isn't just immediately cynical about Wii Music, or essentially saying 'oh, it's not a game therefore it's worthless' like some of the US sites. It's measured in its praise, but there does seem to be some genuine enjoyment there. Either way, I'll be getting it because it'll be the perfect title to experience with my son, who will be approaching his third birthday when it arrives.

    The Wii still needs a WiiWare Electroplankton though - where you can share your compositions over WiFi, and save them. I think it'd really work well with the remote acting as a kind of theremin, and thinking about how the different plankton work, the pointer control would be a perfect substitute for the DS stylus. You could even maybe have some kind of link-up feature with the DS version.

  • The-Bodybuilder #51 4 years ago

    The creating of wii music along is justified in the creating of fl0yds joke. Excellent.

    As for this? Hmm, well, atleast it's agreed it's not really a game.

  • Genji #52 4 years ago

    I couldn't give two shits about whether its a proper "game" or not. Call it "entertainment software" or something - whatever suits you. It looks great to me, and I will probably enjoy it, just like I enjoy similar "non-games" such as Electroplankton and Animal Crossing.

  • bigbadbeasty #53 4 years ago

    Moan moan... bitch bitch...

    Great don't buy it. For me it looks great, should be fun. Yes it could get boring very quickly, but lets be honest, most 'AAA' titles often have only a weekends worth of gameplay anyway.

  • rare_uk #54 4 years ago

    Ellie on BBC

  • andywilkie35 #55 4 years ago

    sounds shit

  • HammyWammy #56 4 years ago

    Nahhhhh! I'll give this a miss. Thanks but no thanks

  • dani08 #57 4 years ago

    it looks ok. but it wouldnt be my first choice. It seems like nintendo just went a bit to far to TRY and impress us