Wii Music

"At last, a new kind of music game."

Wii Music is not your typical rhythm game. You are not expected to parrot back a specific sequence of notes according to specific timings (except in one or two of the minigames; see below). You are expected to actually make music. This is important, because most pre-release expectations of the game came from the perspective of rhythm-game fans. Discard these expectations, as they make no more sense for Wii Music than they would for Halo. Come instead from a fresh perspective, because this is a new kind of music game.

Graphics - 8/10
There's really not much to say here. The graphics are in typical Mii style, and they look good given that design decision. They get the job done without getting in the way, which is about as much as could be asked for, especially in a music game.

Sound - 9/10
Most rhythm games focus on a single genre of music, usually pop or rock. While some pop is included with Wii Music, it also branches into many other genres: classical, folk, show tunes, and even a few NES classics. Further, these songs can be rearranged into many more styles beyond the originals. The songs are put together MIDI-style, but this was a technical necessity: this type of game simply could not be done with static recordings as rhythm games often use. Despite this, the music comes through very clearly and at high quality.

The selection of instruments is nothing short of dizzying. In addition to a selection of pianos, guitars, drums, and a typical orchestra set, the game goes into more exotic methods of making music: DJ turntables, NES sound effects (implemented as a horn), electronica-style synthesizer effects, choral voices, and more. Some more whimsical instruments also exist, such as dogs, cats, cowbells, and a cheerleader.

Finally, while not strictly music related, I feel the need to include a note about the tutorial character: a stereotypical late-Renaissance European composer. While he is voiced in a gibberish style reminiscent of Okami, he has a clear and recognizable Italian accent. This is awesome.

The main flaw in the music is in the choice of tutorial songs. I suppose I shouldn't be using the plural, however, because there is only one song used in all of the tutorials: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. While it is admittedly a very good choice for people getting the hang of the game, as its tune is simple and easily recognized, it gets old around the fifth or sixth time you hear it over the course of the tutorial alone. The orchestral rendition is quite nice, though.

Gameplay - 10/10
There have been fears about the game's controls not directly determining the notes being played. Those fears can be laid to rest; while the user does not have complete control over a note's pitch, other factors such as timing, volume, and note length are all directly under the user's control, and some instruments also do have some control over pitch. The player can also add other flourishes, depending on the instrument: arpeggio effects, chords, and sometimes alternate sounds and, yes, pitches, are all available. The same mechanisms can be used to make your Mii show off: spins, jumps, instrument twirls, and so on, depending on what you are playing. The general feel of the motion controls is spot-on: no closer to playing the real instruments than something on the level of, say, Guitar Hero is to playing a real guitar, but close enough to capture the feel of playing. This is expressive control at its finest.

The game also includes a series of music-related minigames. Mii Maestro, in which you conduct an orchestra (or chorus in one case), resembles the conducting demo first demonstrated before the Wii was released. The orchestra follows the beat and emphasis that you set, and you are graded based on your performance. This can be surprisingly difficult, as you are given no metronome during the song: you can hear a sample of what the piece "should" sound like before you conduct, but after that you have only your own instinct to set the beat. This is a lot of fun, and the musical arrangement is done quite well.

The handbell minigame is the part of Wii Music that is most like a traditional rhythm game. As in a real handbell chorus, you are responsible for two specific notes; other players can do other notes, and the computer will fill in for any unoccupied seats. Notes then scroll by, and you play your notes when the time comes; standard rhythm-game fare. The motion controls are important here, however, as they insist on proper handbell form; if you swing too wildly you'll find yourself playing multiple notes, just like with real handbells, and you will be docked points for it.

Pitch Perfect, the final minigame series, actually tests more than your knowledge of pitch: flow and mood are also taken into account. Don't even try this minigame if you are tone deaf. In addition to matching tones, you will also be tasked with ordering tones, recreating tunes given only a set of notes to work from, and my personal favorite, which I call the "blame game": a group of Miis will play a chord wrong, and you must identify which instrument hit the incorrect note.

Challenge - (unable to determine)
If the old sayings are to be believed, each of us is our own harshest critic. The jam sessions of Wii Music leverage this: after every session, you are asked to grade your own performance. You are, however, also subjected to a replay of said performance. This makes getting a good score much harder than it might seem, if you intend to play seriously. Of course, some will point out that it is possible to simply give yourself perfect scores on every performance, and some people will probably do this. Because of this, the challenge of the jam sessions can't really be determined, as it will be different for every player.

The minigames follow a more traditional system: the game grades you based on your performance. All three are quite difficult for someone untrained in music. However, since these minigames are not the main feature of Wii Music, I have not counted their difficulty above. The only reason I even included a Challenge section in this rating is that prior to the game's release, many people expressed concern about the game's challenge due to some early comments which led some to believe that the game might not be graded at all. This section is there to address those concerns.

Multiplayer - 10/10
Pure musical bliss. There just isn't anything more to say about it; making music with people is just fun. In the jam sessions, the computer will fill in for parts not covered by any player at the moment, but players can then go back and fill those parts in. Everyone needs to play a different part, but multiple players can use the same instruments, so there is no need to fight over the saxophone.

Overall - 9/10
Once again, this is not a typical rhythm game. In fact, it's difficult to classify under currently popular genres, because while it is definitely a music-based game, it is not of a type that most people are used to. But it is one of the finest gaming experiences this generation has yet offered, and not to be missed.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/29/08

Game Release: Wii Music (US, 10/20/08)