Guitar Hero's Mii Freestyle mode explained

by JC Fletcher { Aug 21st 2008 at 9:00AM }

Vicarious Visions has confirmed that Guitar Hero: World Tour on the Wii will have not only all of the content found in the other versions, including DLC, but it will also have an exclusive "Mii Freestyle" mode, which we first heard about yesterday. But it goes beyond just having Miis in the normal Guitar Hero game.

Mii Freestyle mode is actually an exclusive game mode in which players can create music on the fly using Guitar Hero guitars and drums -- or the Wiimote and Nunchuk as air drums, Wii Music-style, if they want to for some reason. The instruments lay down predetermined notes or sequences onto the familiar Guitar Hero note chart according to the style of music chosen. It's sort of a jamming version of the Music Studio found in the game. Vicarious Visions' David Nathanielsz calls the mode "a helpful bridge between the core game and the Music Studio in Guitar Hero: World Tour for Wii owners."

The Wii World Tour, then, has all of the features of the other versions, plus a new exclusive mode. The only thing the other systems have on it now is graphics, which matter very little in a music game. Barring accidental monaural sound output or something, the Wii version will now be the superior version. Take that, Rock Band!

Gallery: Guitar Hero World Tour

I want to read about Guitar Hero all ni-i-ight, and eat Guitar Hero cake!

Tags: activision, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-world-tour, mii, music, red-octane

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

rouroniJohn @ Aug 21st 2008 9:12AM

thats the greatest news...we kinda got cheated on the previous one, but this makes up for it

dsendecki @ Aug 21st 2008 9:14AM

Want.

fco. @ Aug 21st 2008 9:35AM

"The only thing the other systems have on it now is graphics"

...and instrument compatibility with other music games.

Anyway, being the pesimist I am, I'm sure they'll find a way to screw us. I don't picture the big sites reviewers agreeing to call the Wii version of any game as the definite one.

Mike Sylvester @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:58PM

Though it may not have translated to sales, a lot of reviewers agreed that the Wii version of The Godfather had the most going for it.

Tom @ Aug 21st 2008 9:42AM

Well, I'm glad the Wii's actually getting some attention for once. Only thing I don't like is the DLC. If it's like the DLC for the Wii version of Rock Band where you have to blow 30 bucks on a disc full of songs you may or may not like if you want just a few good ones. that's another area where the other areas beat the Wii version.

Guess we'll have to wait and see which ersion's the best.

Timdogg @ Aug 21st 2008 10:07AM

That is not DLC, that is a disk. GH:WT will HAVE ACTUAL DLC! So no worries my Wii owning friend!

Bad Mojo @ Aug 21st 2008 9:57AM

Now this has some promise.

How cool would it be to actually be able to export this as an .MP3 file and incorporate it into other programs such as Apple's Garageband program.

Now that would be exclusive awesomeness!

bukizzle715 @ Aug 21st 2008 10:31AM

The Wii version needs more exclusive stuff like this. Now if they'd only announce something about excluse DLC, say Nintendo theme songs? That would be awesome.

WalkingCarpet @ Aug 21st 2008 10:33AM

I just read the article over at IGN. does this mean that we can only use Miis in this mode or in all of the modes?

Chris @ Aug 21st 2008 11:14AM

I'm debating if I want to pick this up for Wii or 360. This just caused the scales to tip in the Wii's direction.

BrandonIT @ Aug 21st 2008 11:16AM

Funny. All the hate on "Wii Music" and now GH adds "Wii Music-style" gameplay and it's news and "want".

Weird...

Mr Khan @ Aug 21st 2008 4:24PM

Because Guitar Hero is primarily a game first, with freestyler as a fun bonus, not entirely a freestyling toy

Now, if Wii Music added something like the HORSE game, something to make it competitive, then it would have merit too

(HORSE like in basketball, as it looked kinda confusing to me when i wrote it)

Garu @ Aug 21st 2008 11:18AM

I have GH3 and that would have been enough for me. I like the game, but I probably wouldn't buy another GH game. However between this and the addition of the Miis, I'm sure to buy this!

For some funny Wii reviews check out this guy on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/wiiviewr

jan_halmes @ Aug 21st 2008 11:21AM

Looks awesome. My big problem with the Guitar Hero/Rock Band games is they allow for zero creativity. This news just changed my whole outlook on that.

Roto13 @ Aug 21st 2008 12:17PM

Last step: make the instruments cross-compatible. I want to get both Guitar Hero and Rock Band now that I know I won't have to pay for two sets of instruments. I'd choose that over this extra mode. But if they manage to fix the instrument thing, too, I'm totally getting the Wii version. It's even cheaper.

Steeldog29 @ Nov 10th 2008 7:52AM

They are cross compatible, you can play Guitar Hero World Tour with rockband drums, except you might have to buy the Symbol Attachment for it, plus, You should get guitar hero world tour full band experiance and then buy just rockband, hope this helps,

shadowchaoscontrol @ Aug 21st 2008 12:22PM

now, is there a real character creator, like in the other versions, or is the only way we can play with custom characters is with miis

bukizzle715 @ Aug 21st 2008 12:50PM

There's a real character creator as well.

RatMasterD21 @ Aug 21st 2008 12:30PM

it seems like they are paying attention to the fact that alot more ppl buy the wii GH's and they need to adress the issue that alot of said ppl arent as skilled as "Hardcore gamers" plus this gives it a very Wii music feel and thats a plus in my book. Yea I HAVE to buy this game for wii. Its looking better and better everyday.

treqie @ Aug 21st 2008 1:50PM

"The only thing the other systems have on it now is graphics" There is also one other feature the others don't have - the ability to pay more for less, due to wiimote integration. I so love the idea of having to cough up more dough than 360/ps3 owners to play with friends. Thumbs up Activision!

Gewurztraminer says: R.O.B. is the last Cylon! @ Aug 21st 2008 7:04PM

Well, Wii owners with GH:WT will have two options:

$80 to purchase two Wii remotes

OR

$400 to purchase a PS3/360 to save on having to buy remotes for instrument controllers

Now, which are they more likely to *already* own?

hmm...

ZombiePikmin @ Aug 21st 2008 2:04PM

1.Good job Activision 2.F-Zero theme Now!

Kwad @ Aug 21st 2008 3:00PM

Lame. This is going to be used by people once then never used again.

Mrkinator @ Aug 21st 2008 3:40PM

I don't know. I don't trust activision anymore. They ruined Guitar Hero. They're trying to dazzle us with some features (Kwad said it best) that you'd probably use once. Rock Band is giving us what we want. A music game! (So is Activision, but imo they add stuff that isn't necessary.) I bought Rock Band Wii and have to say It was well worth it. I've played this WAY more than GHIII (not just the drums and mic).

Go Rock Band! I may be the only one at Wii Fanboy who seems to like it, but whatever!

john @ Aug 21st 2008 4:09PM

u are an idiot, how could u enjoy rock band wii better than guitar hero 3 wii. guitar hero 3 at least had online play and intergratable guitars(save lot's of green). rock band didn't even have DLC or online play at all an the new songs u wanted were on a shitty disk which songs u may not even want. it was shitty. i think i know why, cause u suck at guitar hero3 and your just mad at it, rock band is to easy. little pussy.

Gewurztraminer says: R.O.B. is the last Cylon! @ Aug 21st 2008 7:14PM

Does Rock Band for the Wii lack features? yes
Is it less fun because of it? debatable, to be sure

I jumped into this genre with GH:III for the Wii and, not having a PS3 or 360, decided to completely ignore Rock Band until the eventual release of GH:WT. At first. Then, the PS2 version of Rock Band went on sale for $100 and I figured, if I don't like it, I'll just sell it back. Or whatever. And, despite the lack of features, the game is a lot of fun. I can see the potential and can understand how the full featured versions are having as much success as they are.

I've nearly had my money's worth and likely will trade in RB for GH:WT, but hopefully Nintendo's instruments will also play nice and I'll just decide to get RB2 anyway.

What was my point? Oh yeah... features are good, but a lack of features doesn't kill a game.

CubeGuy @ Aug 21st 2008 4:41PM

"Take that, Rock Band!"

Sure. Enjoy your Guitar Hero.

...

Did I just bash the Wii? ACK!

Wait no... just GH:WT.

I'm safe.

tomacho @ Aug 21st 2008 8:54PM

guitar pro5 is way btetter than that shit of compositor game.

Highlar @ Aug 21st 2008 9:50PM

I was tempted to get Rock Band Wii. We have GH:III around here, and it is a blast to play. The online matches are smooth and play great. Rock Band Wii was a huge interest...until I heard about GH:WT. It seems to really have all the same kind of features of RB on the HD systems (DLC, online play, character creator), plus the Music Studio to make/share PLAYER created songs (sure, there could be lots of junk out there, but that's why they limit you to only 5 songs online at first), and NOW the addition of this new mode of play...RB just doesn't stand a chance so far against GH:WT as it currently stands. Then again, we really haven't heard much of anything about what RB2 will have for features/modes and how they will differ/not differ between the HD versions and Wii. THAT will be interesting to compare to GH:WT Wii version once we get more details. But as it looks to me now, RB2 for the Wii has got a LONG way to go to try to measure up. Its obvious that Activision/Vicarious Visions KNOW which system ate up GH:III over the others. :-)

sonich04 @ Aug 21st 2008 10:25PM

Meh. I'd rather have the better graphics, character designs, transferable DLC, Dolby Digital audio, cross compatible peripherals and superior setlist that Rock Band 2 offers on PS3 or 360. HOWEVER, I can admit that Harmonix blew it with their RB1 wii release, but they seems to be making up for it with RB2. And Activision has really bastardized the GH series at this point. "Axe" body spray dancers? GH:Aerosmith? A touch-pad for 'catching' notes? It's become way too muddled, and therefore less fun for a group to play. So despite EA/Harmonix's prior fuck up, I'd still stick with the originators.