Ultimate Band review

Ultimately, this is nowhere near as good as Rock Band or Guitar Hero

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Cheap compared to other band games

  • +

    Wild stage moves

  • +

    DS connectivity

Cons

  • -

    Doesn't feel like playing at all

  • -

    Songlist is average sized

  • -

    all covers

  • -

    No microphone

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Music games such as Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, and [shudder] Rock Revolution typically rely upon controllers in the shape of the instruments they’re imitating to help sell the experience. But not rhythm-action music sim Ultimate Band - it sticks with the basic Wii remote and Nunchuk.

So, you don’t strap on a plastic guitar or bass and “play” it. You hold the nunchuk in your left hand, pressing the C and/or Z buttons like they’re frets (unless you’re on easy difficulty, which requires no buttons at all), and “strum” with the remote. You’ll also do other gestures to execute a “windmill” strumming motion, clap along, or hit the whammy bar. It’s not terribly accurate or precise – especially on bass, which has you tilting the nunchuk instead of some of the button presses – like a “real” controller would be.

Similarly, you don’t grab drumsticks and hit a downsized electric drum kit. You hold the nunchuk and remote in your hands and move them downward to hit drums, flick them to the side to hit cymbals, and make a swirling motion to “spin” the sticks in your fingers. It too, lacks in the accuracy department.

As for singers… well, there’s no mic, so you instead use the remote and ‘chuk to strike poses, wave at the crowd, clap along, punch the air, and so on. But you don’t actually sing. At all. Thus, accuracy isn’t really a concern here because there isn’t any.

More info

GenreFamily
DescriptionWhile the DS version of Disney’s rocktacular music game has a weak song list and strong controls, the Wii version flips the script with more songs and broken controls. It’s not remotely as good.  
Platform"Wii","DS"
US censor rating"Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+"
UK censor rating"",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.