Ultimate Band uses ultimate pantomime
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jun 23rd 2008 at 8:00PM }
Okay, so Disney's Ultimate Band will eternally be overshadowed by the multi-instrumental extravaganza Guitar Hero: World Tour, and even by the irritating Wii version of Rock Band. And it's true that Ultimate Band suffers from a case of miserable cover songs. But Disney and Fall Line Studios have impressed us with smart design that plays to the Wii controllers' strengths.
Rather than merely simulating the experience of having a guitar or drum controller, producer Manferd Naber explains that Ultimate Band takes an impressionistic approach to simulating the act of playing music. You play notes in time to music as usual, but there's also an emphasis on rock-star gestures like the Pete Townshend windmill maneuver or "a belt buckle spin a la ZZ Top."
The lack of actual singing is also turned into an interestingly bizarre gameplay mechanic. As the "Frontman," players wave around with the controllers representing their hands, to "pump up the crowd." Ultimate Band may turn out less than great, but at least it's going for something original.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:23PM
GH:WT will overpower this, though this could be a big thing in the younger community who don't have access to $200 for GH or RB.
And...Disney Studios announcements are only important to me when Kingdom Hearts is involved. :D
Sora267 @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:35PM
"And...Disney Studios announcements are only important to me when Kingdom Hearts is involved. :D"
I agree.
SuburbGuerrilla @ Jun 24th 2008 9:28AM
"Disney's Ultimate Band will be on store shelves this holiday season"
... and the same copies will still be on the shelves in February.
Christopher @ Jun 24th 2008 3:11PM
This hardly surprises me. In the world of Disney produced music, they don't give a pikachu's ass whether the music is any good or the talent can sing. If you can pump up the crowd and look sexy even though you are 13, you can be a Disney Musician.