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GameSpot editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 12/03/2008
- Released on: 11/18/2008
- Originally published on GameSpot: Ultimate Band (Wii) Review
Before you think about picking up Ultimate Band, there are two things you should know. First: there's no need to purchase expensive plastic instruments, instead you'll use your Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and imagination to mimic the instruments on screen. Second: although other full band rhythm games create the illusion of playing a song by tying notes to your button presses, Ultimate Band does not. So while you'll wave or wiggle your remote in time with a song, making a mistake will not affect the music. These two differences are what will make or break the game for many. This isn't Rock Band or Guitar Hero'but you'll still have a moderately good time as long as you overlook a few control issues
The story follows a band of your creation as it works its way through the Rock Dome tournament to become the best band around. Because this is a Disney Interactive game for the Wii, the cutscenes and dialogue have a wholesome and cheerful vibe. It may only serve as a means to usher you to your next set list, but the story's Hannah Montana-type enthusiasm is enjoyable and should please younger fans and families.
The Career mode is structured in rounds of three songs per venue. You'll have to achieve a set number of awards before moving on to the next venue and eventually to a round-ending band battle. Performing well will sometimes earn you extra awards, but because you are forced to replay songs with different instruments it's a tedious system and hurts the pace of the game. Playing songs involves waving the remote and/or Nunchuk, strumming the remote like a guitar pick, or swinging it like a drumstick in time with the music. The margin of error is wide and the default difficulty is easy, so as long as your remote is moving, you'll usually hit the notes correctly. On the hardest difficulty, the game adds in the C and Z buttons on guitars and asks for more complex maneuvers from the other instruments.
Your band is made up of four players: the lead guitar, the bass guitar, drums, and the frontman. Each position uses the remote and the Nunchuk to replicate the feeling of playing the instrument, though some are more satisfying than others. All of the instruments have a number of arbitrary remote twirls and clapping gestures that are distracting and out of place, but the lead guitar and drums come the closest to making you feel like you're playing an instrument, especially on the hardest difficulty. The bass guitar controls are similar to those of the guitar, but instead of using the C and Z buttons to switch between frets, you have to tilt the Nunchuk, which doesn't work correctly most of the time. As for the frontman, since you'll get no points for singing into the remote, your job is to hype the crowd by performing a number of ridiculous moves. You'll punch your fists, wave your arms, and clap your hands, all in time to the music. Not only will you look silly doing this, but you'll also feel completely disconnected from the songs because many of the gestures don't fit with the music. Unfortunately, since the Career mode forces you to replay many of the songs before moving on, you'll end up playing the frustrating bass or frontman parts at least a few times.
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