While at PAX, I had a chance to check out some of the upcoming Nintendo titles including Animal Crossing, Rhythm Heaven, and the ever so misunderstood, Wii Music. Since Nintendo’s keynote at E3, a bad taste had been left in my mouth by the name I had always loyally stood by. I’m happy to say, Nintendo has won my heart over yet again.


Animal Crossing- During the press preview on Friday, I was lucky enough to find an open station for Animal Crossing. Now, I’m one of those dorks that actually uses the Wiimote strap, and this time it really paid off as I was awarded with a Wiimote tin case filled with gum, all for my responsible efforts. Sweet! Now, I don’t really speak with experience when it comes to Animal Crossing since I’ve never played the Game Cube version. However, I am a big Harvest Moon, and based off of that alone, I felt comfortable with both the controls and actions. While I didn’t get to spend a lot of time playing Animal Crossing, my short stint of catching bugs in a butterfly net and cutting down trees for fruit was enough to catch my attention. I will definitely be picking it up for the Wii so Coop and I can go fishing

Rhythm Heaven – When I think rhythm games, my mind tends to go for the musically based Harmonix and Activision titles. But like, oh let’s say Wario Smooth Moves, Rhythm Heaven for the DS offers a lure of mini games that are awesome, pretty random and quite frankly, kind of weird. The controls are extremely simple, as you only use the stylus.

I first started off fueling robots. It took me a little while but as I finally got the hang of it, my assembly line began to speed up and my robots were getting bigger. While my work was mediocre at best, I was “encouraged” with the saying “Sometimes being ok is good enough!” Wow, thanks Rhythm Heaven? Next I had to control an overzealous chorus member who you’d literally have to “close” the “yap” of by holding your stylus to the screen. If you let the little guy sing for too long, his two other chorus buddies would look upon him disapprovingly, a look I’m ever so familiar with. Now whether it was the DayQuil, sleeplessness, or that the game was just that funny, Rhythm Heaven made me laugh like nobody was watching. Too bad people totally were.

Wii Music – The floor was really crazy on Saturday and was nearly impossible to walk, but come Sunday morning, everyone was either really exhausted or at the Wil Wheaton panel, so I took a chance and jumped in on some Wii Music. As I’ve said before, Nintendo’s keynote at E3 put me off, and honestly, I was severely under whelmed by ther presentation of Wii Music. Still, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and used my media badge to get a full demo. I got to admit it, you guys, I liked it! I played the Zelda theme as Princess Peach with a tuba alongside of Miyamoto. Ok, not the real one, but the best I’m going to get. Generally, I’d feel kind of stupid holding a Wiimote to my face and playing it like a horn, but it was pretty fun. Unlike many games, Wii Music isn’t competitive. I’d say it was more cumulative, where you can continuously improve your skills and redo any part to create the perfect performance. There is of course the option to send your songs, videos and album artwork to your friends and let them rate or tweak to their heart’s desire.

I feel the need to defend Wii Music as I believe it has been both misunderstood and misrepresented. It isn’t Guitar Hero, it isn’t Rock Band, and most importantly, it’s not trying to be either one of those games. Wii Music is really it’s own kind and being a game that doesn’t leave anyone behind, I can see it being more of a portal to other musical rhythm games for when you’re ready for that challenge and competition. I’m not sure if I want to pick up Wii Music for myself, but I most definitely won’t be turning down any gigs.

 

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