Novel Idea, Underwhelming Delivery

Author's Rating:

Pros: Educational, novel and fun game play

Cons: Lack of songs, sometimes difficult/unsatisfying play control

The Bottom Line: 
Still fun (and a great game for younger audiences given the nonviolent themes and educational component), but falls short of the expectations and hype.

Author's Review
OVERVIEW

Wii Music has the ambitious goal of using the Nintendo Wii's unique motion-sensing controllers to simulate aspects of playing actual instruments. The game lay takes a couple different forms:

1) Players can "Jam" in a variety of formats (quick, custom, and improv). The jams can be saved and played back.

2) Users are also able to participate in a variety of different games (most of which have multiplayer options) and are given the opportunity to "jam" along on one of the handful of songs that the game allows users to play.

Like all Wii games, the graphics are cartoonish (as opposed to realistic) and the game makes use of the Mii characters/profiles that users create.  One of the areas that the Wii excels in is the richness of the sound quality that the console produces - and that's definitely one of the assets of this game.  The music and sound effects are gorgeously-rendered.

While the game can just be picked up and played, there are challenges within that allow the user to unlock a variety of rewards, from new songs, new venues, and new instruments (much like Guitar Hero).

In play, the "Jam" options allow users to treat the Wii like a multi-track recorder and record themselves playing along to a song using one of the dozens of instruments.  One can then save performances and record themselves playing up to six instruments along with a track (or just allow the AI players to play the parts as written).  As one unlocks instruments and concert venues - one can then put together a 'customized' track accompanied by a music video.  The limitation with the "Jam" option is that one can only really change the timing and volume of the note as it is already written in the song - one can't depart from the sheet music and truly 'jam' which is somewhat disappointing.

In the rest of the game play, the Games are:

- Perfect Pitch: A game that quizzes users on their musical aptitude by identifying proper pitches, arranging music (in a very simplistic fashion - does not require the ability to read sheet music), and picking out notes within a chord.

- Drums: Uses the Wiimote and nunchuk to simulate drumsticks (somewhat difficult to wield well given that the controllers are much bulkier than actual drumsticks - also the system isn't as responsive as it needs to be). This feature can use the Wii balance board to hit the bass drum pedals.

- Mii Maestro: Allows the players to conduct a simulated orchestra.

- Handbell Harmony: users hold the Wiimote and nunchuk and ring them like handbells in time with the music (like a very dorky version of Guitar Hero).

PROS

- Rich, sonorous rendering of audio.

- Novel, fun gameplay using the Wii's unique controllers.

- Handbell Harmony is just plain fun (especially with other players).

- Educational in spite of being fun.

CONS

- Not enough songs. Though more songs can be unlocked through game play, the list of songs users are able to play right off the bat is so limited that it seriously puts a damper on the fun of the game. Most of them aren't popular music, rather they're old standards like O Tannenbaum, Do-Re-Mi, and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. (The full list can be viewed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_in_Wii_Music)

- The Jam options are not very fun because they don't actually allow one to do much customization of the play; that is to say, you can't change the predetermined string of notes that will be played - all you can do is change their timing a bit. The Jam option is also limited by the selection of songs.

Unfortunately Wii Music falls a bit short in the delivery from my expectations.