GI.net: "If asked 5 years ago, few may have guessed the success of the music game genre. Would any have guessed that it would surpass the sports genre? And, so quickly? Fall Line Studio's Senior Producer, Tim Huntsman, describes Ultimate Band as a "performance based music game" which tries to "incorporate the unique technologies available on the Wii and DS." What does this mean? No peripherals. Just you, the music and the machine.
Though there are several differences between Ultimate Band and the leading music game on the market, the lack of peripheral is perhaps the most important. This isn't a package of simulated musical instruments intended to be used with the Wii or DS; the console itself becomes the simulated instrument. Let me rephrase that: the console becomes any one of a number of simulated instruments.
This week, Tim Huntsman, Art Director Mike Thompson, and Development Director Mark McArthur were on-hand to speak to a number of press members regarding the inspiration, design and unique qualities of this upcoming title."
MyWii writes: "One would think that after the success of music games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, a new entry into the genre that didn't include some sort of instrument peripheral probably wouldn't be all that good. After all, we've seen the genre evolve from PaRappa the Rappa and early Beatmania titles in Japan, with most rhythm-based music games nowadays including an add-on so as to create a realistic music-creating experience. When it was announced that Ultimate Band would use only what came with the Wii console, gamers couldn't help but be skeptical – a guitar game with no guitar? A band game with no microphone or mock drums? How exactly would that work? "
GamersInfo writes: "As human beings, we like music. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. We LOVE IT. No matter what a naysayer might say (like Steven Pinker who calls it "noise"), we spend hours of our lives listening to it. How many times has a bad soundtrack decreased the sensation of something great? How many times has an awesome soundtrack feel like its icing on a cake? Don't believe me? Go read Oliver Sacks' Musicophilia. Anyway, rhythm games need a strong soundtrack (and rhythm, of course), or part of the fun falls to the side. I got my hands on Ultimate Band, a rhythm game for the Nintendo DS. It may not live up to its namesake, but it's a solid game nevertheless."
GamesWeasel writes: "Although it's certainly not as fun as playing actual instrument peripherals, it's certainly an option if you or your kids fancy a rhythm game but don't want to hire a roadie to look after all your plastic guitars, microphones and drum kits".
