Nintendo Wii

If you are into Elvis and/or Rock & Roll music this is at least an interesting game to check out, but be warned it does kind of stink. To start with let me say I think it had some great potential and at first I was actually impressed with it. First off the idea is kind of unique with you being an Elvis like character in a music land scenery using a guitar as a weapon. Basically I thought the graphic part of the game was original and appealing. While the graphics were top quality it was not what made it a bad game. Even the sound is pretty good with different rockish tunes in the levels.

It was the gameplay experience that made this into a horrible game, which is what it usually comes down to for me anyways. The tutorial is pretty easy and actually one of the better tutorials for a Wii game. The problem is that it is does not seem to end up really preparing you for the real levels. The real issue, though, is the controls are horribly done. You jump by lifting the nunchuck and executing a double jump takes way more skill than any casual gamer who might even think of picking this game up probably has. The worst part is the camera angle is never set up right and you have to do an aim with the Wii remote changing of view type thing as you move through the game with the joystick on the nunchuck. Now if you have ever played computer games were you move with the arrows and change the camera angle with the mouse, then that is kind of what you end up doing with the slight issue of it not being anywhere near as precise.

Bottom line is this game is just plain frustrating, but if you can manage to somehow get a hang of the controls with little frustration it can be kind of a fun or at least unique adventure game.

So, I have already written about how I feel the makers of Rock Band really made the wrong choice in taking so long for a Wii version only to give Wii owners the gimped PS2 version in this post.  At that time I was still thinking Rock Band was worth buying if you only have a Wii because it is still a fun game and has depth to it.  It just does not have as much depth as the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.  Now that I have heard about Rock Band 2 coming out this November for the Wii, I am thinking if you have not bought it, then you may want to hold out for that version, as it remains a possibility that it will at least have some of the online features.

I have not been able to find much on if Rock Band 2 for the Wii will be like the other versions for Xbox 360 and PS3, but it is only coming out two months after the Xbox 360 one and it seems to have more to do with that console getting it as an exclusive title for a little while than the creators lagging to make it for the Wii. From the general stuff about Rock Band 2 it does not seem like it will overall be that big of an improvement if you have the full version of Rock Band for Xbox 360 or PS3, but if they add online capabilities to the Wii one Rock Band 2 will be a great improvement over 1 on the Wii.

Dance Dance Revolution for Nintendo Wii is a fun active game for the Wii and much easier to get your hands on then Wii Fit at the moment. It is not as varied in things to do as Wii Fit, but it can at least be a workout playing this video game.

Dance Dance Revolution has been around for awhile as an arcade game and even a console game including the Mario Mix one that came out for the Gamecube. The Wii version of Hottest Party takes the game to the next level, though. It is not just about stomping your feet on the right arrows in beat with the music, but it involves increased coordination by mixing some beats that require you to shake the Wii remote or nunchuck.

I personally am not that good at the game and anything past medium I get all mixed up on and fail, but I still enjoy this game and perhaps one day I will get enough practice to do expert. Even if you just do medium you get a decent work out and it is at least a fun workout.

The music selection is not all that interesting to me, as my favorite genre is country and that does not make it in this game, but I will admit the songs are mostly ones with good dancing beats to it. While the music is not entirely my taste, it is bearable and of good sound quality for a Wii game.

The graphics are great for a Wii game and the characters are interesting, although it would be cool if they had Mii functionality, but I understand that is not easy for Third Party games.

Overall I think this is an awesome game for the Wii and does an awesome job of at least incorporating the Wii remote and nunchuck a litte, which is something I never expected from a Dance Dance Revolution game. It certainly can make exercising fun and has a workout mode to help you track your time and calories burned.

Back in May I played Rock Band for the first time at someone’s house. I fell in love with the drums part and really wanted to get it for myself. I, however, only own a Wii and the Wii version did not come out until yesterday. I considered waiting for the Wii release, but instead split the cost of it and bought the PS2 version with my brother, who owns a PS2. Having first played on the XBOX 360 I was kind of disappointed at the more limited features on the PS2 version. In the end, though, I am glad I did not wait another month and a half to buy the same limited Rock Band for the Wii.

Though I have not personally played the Rock Band for the Wii, I have played the PS2 version and both are not as good as the XBOX 360 and PS3 versions. They gave the excuse for the Wii one that they focused on the hardware and gameplay experience being up to quality, as if that is an excuse for not allowing you to make custom characters or having any online capabilities.

Now for the PS2 one being limited I can understand because the PS2 is not the current Playstation console, but for the Wii version there is no excuse for them limiting the gameplay. Not to mention the fact that they took so much longer to come out with this limited version for the Wii. If I had heard it was not a limited version like the PS2, then I would have been willing to wait at least until November for Rock Band as a real Wii version. As is, though, it is ridiculous.

So, is Rock Band for the Wii really worth buying? Well, I will say I have enjoyed many hours of playing the limited PS2 version and that proved worth the money. On the other hand, though, if you are just into playing guitar or singing, then go with one of the Wii games that are specifically that. In the end it is only worth it if you want to do the drums or have a multiplayer band experience, which is a good enough reason to purchase it and a lot of fun can be had. The thing is, though, that it seems a major rip off to cost $170 and not even be the full version of the game. If you own a PS3 or XBOX 360, then you should definitely get it for one of those systems, however, if you own a Wii I suggest at least holding out until the price comes down. Heck, it may even be cheaper to go out and buy a PS2 used and Rock Band, which just came down to $99 for PS2.