Gamers and music lovers of all ages will realize their dream of becoming a rock legend when they build their own band or jam alone, all fueled only by the power of the Wii controllers and the DS stylus. Disney is working with some of the very biggest names in rock, alternative, popular, emo and indie rock music, allowing band mates to play sets from a broad selection of current hits and all-time rock favorites. Friends and families can rock out on guitar, bass, drums or as the front man.
Working with leading London-based music consultants, Radial Music, Disney has chosen to combine familiar classics with today's hottest songs in creating Ultimate Band - a product with global appeal across all age groups. Instantly-recognizable songs from classic rock to current hit singles will bring players together for endless hours of entertainment.
WorthPlaying has posted exclusive screenshots from the upcoming Wii 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".
