Music to our ears?
The game modes are a bit of a random bag. Jam mode allows for up to 6 players, 4 human controlled and 2 A.I., to choose a different instrument and either jam along to a set track and then improvise, save , replay and share their videos via WiiConnect 24. Playing alone though is a dull and unrewarding experience, amplified by the fact that you never know whether you've succeeded in playing along to a track correctly - you simply just waggle your Wii Remote to the beats indicated by the living metronomes( known as the be-bops) who guide you along by jumping up and down in time to the music. It's fun in single player for a short period of time as you test out the various instruments, but it's really the multiplayer mode, in which the whole family can come together and create music together, that will almost certainly be the main draw.The better game modes in Wii Music are also the ones that provide some element of challenge. They come in the form of three mini-games. 'Open Orchestra' puts you in the role of a conductor and whilst you wave the Wii Remote up and down in time to the likes of Johann Strauss Jr.'s "The Blue Danube", the music speeds up and slows down accordingly. Undoubtedly, having your custom made Miis as players in the Orchestra will provide some amusement to youngsters (Jesus on Cello looks cool) and at least here you're marked on your performance, so there's some replay value in trying to improve your score.
'Handbell Harmony' on the other hand requires you to ring two bells, using the Wii Remote for the left bell and the Nunchuk for the right. As coloured bells pass across the left side of the screen, you have to ring the corresponding bell as it passes a markerl. It has limited appeal in single player due to the fact that you only play one part out of four bell ringers, so its a fairly boring experience whilst you wait for your turn. There's also fairly limited song choice, but it's a mode that might be enjoyed, a few times, by the whole family as they grab their Wii Remotes and make sweet music together Argh...the bells!
The final game mode, and certainly the best of the bunch, is Pitch Perfect, in which players have to try and distinguish different sounds from one another. Amongst the tasks on offer it requires you to listen to Miis playing various instruments whilst keeping an ear out for the different pitches and then answering questions such as "Which Mii is playing the highest note?" or "Can you put the Miis in order of pitch from highest to lowest?" There's a number of different levels to play through and it does gets progressively difficult and extremely challenging.
Sadly though, in a title in which we thought we'd need at least some musical skill to play, Pitch Perfect is the only game mode that actually tests your musical ear. The rest is just purely making noise and waving your arms around. Wii Music can be adequately summed up as being an odd blend of noise making and arm waving activities that have no real point to them.
Pros
Fun for the family, for a while.
Accessible for youngsters
Cons
Poor song list
Over simplified control scheme Lacks any challenge
It's just about making noise
Wii Music will keep the kids entertained for a few hours.(5.5/10)
