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THQ hits right note with Band Mashups

New rhythm game steps into the ring which will allow leading player to control the music playing in-game.

Music and warfare: together at last, according to THQ. In Band Mashups, gamers can play against a friend, battling not only to win, but to stop hearing songs in marching-band style, and switch to rock instead.

To start playing, gamers will select from one of five musical styles to play: rock, funk/hip-hop, country, marching band, and Latin. In the background, 30 chart hits from the last four decades will play--in the musical style chosen by whichever player is currently winning.

Alongside the two-player versus mode will be a single-player mode, where gamers will play as one of 11 bands battling to seize control of New Cadenza city away from the evil Mr Hong.

The 70 weapons available will be musically themed too, including sniper violins and flamethrowing guitars. Band Mashups is due out in April exclusively for the Wii, and we have a full hands-on preview complete with screenshots and movies.

43 Comments

  • Stavr0s

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 12:01 pm GMT

    I still say that they need to get a guitar for this. . .otherwise. . .

  • SLjimbolian

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 9:29 am GMT

    Interesting concept, but I got a bad feeling its going to end up as yet another ho-hum game.

  • McDog3

    Posted Feb 10, 2008 10:04 pm GMT

    You know that lame quote "That's so crazy, it might just work!", well, this is one of those situations....

  • nate1222

    Posted Feb 10, 2008 2:01 pm GMT

    I think this game has the potential to rock. Some of you hatin' a** meatheads don't get it: Gaming needs risk takers, right now. I love FPSs, but they've become too cookie-cutter for me (or alotta people, for that matter) to spend my money on. A cartoony rhythm game with some over-the-top stuff might be one of the few to push things in a new direction. Gaming is about escapism, this looks pretty damn escapist to me.

  • clickster_34

    Posted Feb 9, 2008 6:38 am GMT

    Sounds pretty lame...

  • BigSmitts07

    Posted Feb 8, 2008 7:03 pm GMT

    never evenimagined a game like this...

  • blackie8

    Posted Feb 8, 2008 3:48 am GMT

    this looks random but somewhat entertaining

  • stncldrwg

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:16 pm GMT

    This game makes no sense at all.

  • peacenutman

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 7:53 pm GMT

    LMAO, flamethrower guitar? sniper violin? Where can I get those in real life? Imagine you on the street play sniper violin, then sniped someone who call you a loser, the cops would never know!

  • Ottosmann

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 5:56 pm GMT

    You've got to be kidding me...

  • CyphenX

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 5:19 pm GMT

    Flame-throwing guitars, eh? One thing that this game needs is a ton of guitar-case weapons in reference to Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
    Oh, and the game itself doesn't look terribly exiting.

  • Ministry4390

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 5:06 pm GMT

    Sounds like a dud.

  • townsenda1

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 4:48 pm GMT

    I'll wait to see how this one plays out. It might be cool. We will see.

  • mad_tyger

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 4:19 pm GMT

    ... I'm geting tired of music games and shooters. Please come out with something different!

  • AlexandLandon

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 3:53 pm GMT

    It's so funny that some many people claim this is a rip off of Guitar Hero and Rock Band yet..Harmonix ripped off of Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania..a Guitar and Drum simulation series that started in the late 90s. At least this game looks different.

  • jakob_187

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 3:22 pm GMT

    I watched the video, and it looks like it'll be fun to play. All these people griping about a game that they HAVEN'T played...and yet this seems like one of the most competitive rhythm games coming out. Definitely interested in checking it out...and I'm going to laugh at the guys trash-talking right now when the game becomes a critical and sales hit.....

  • X-RS

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 2:20 pm GMT

    if i want a musical game it would be like osychonauts, in terms of art and humour. the world would be filled with snotty rich fat poeple. when you killed them theyd go "oaoaoao-aaoaooaoa-aoa-ao". and you would also here classical music as well. youd be running people over people while listening to sugar plum fairies (like in saints row). and when you got into a high combo mode, this heavy metal would come one, and everything around you would catch on fire.

    that to me sounds like a fun musical game. not some stupid rythm game.

  • Petri87

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 2:06 pm GMT

    @powerframe8 - Its not like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. You probebly wont have a guitar and such since it has 70 "weapons" and a packing whit 70 peripherals would cost around $2.000 and not to mention you having to switch instrument whenever the song changes. It will mostle likely be a light gun game whit rythem elements.

  • powerframe8

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 1:15 pm GMT

    ...Are people reading it at all?

    This sounds pathetic. Will it have "guitar hero" peripherals. Only 30 songs from the past 4 decades?... WTF LATIN>! Theres too much going on. And all of its smelling like crap-

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 12:45 pm GMT

    I probably won't get it, just not good at them games and don't want to get good at them. I have a hard enough time playing other games

  • Ithok

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 12:22 pm GMT

    Sounds like it could be fun. I'm in as long as it doesn't up up like Wayne's World for the SNES

  • ghost867

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 12:20 pm GMT

    I was excited, until I saw it was Wii only. No offense, but I don't have a Wii, and I don't want one. I'm not interested....

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 11:59 am GMT

    Seems like people are jumping on the band wagon. Literally.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 11:44 am GMT

    check out the preview and video on IGN http://wii.ign.com/articles/850/850132p2.html looks pretty interesting indeed.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 11:38 am GMT

    hmm sounds crazy. kind of want to try it out.

  • Endogene

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 11:29 am GMT

    guess it's kind of hard to get into the consept for those used to guitar hero and rockband but stay open minded on this one, the music mini games in rayman raving rabbids (wich used the wiimonte and the nunchuck) were really fun so the gameplay should work out.
    I do agree however that me to i'm a bit sceptic about the theme and some of the mecanics but i'll guess we'll see how it turns out when it's done

  • TallicaFan2005

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 11:19 am GMT

    I'll stick to Rock Band.

  • membernametaken

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 10:52 am GMT

    Where is a preview of this, Wiidan?

  • Taegre

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 9:38 am GMT

    Shame it's not coming to 360. A game like this could have infinite replay value with Custom Soundtracks.

  • WllDan7

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 9:15 am GMT

    This game actually looks good. I saw the preview for it and it just looked plain fun.

  • Darkstar_Sinada

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 9:08 am GMT

    Wow, rhythm-based games aren't fads or anything now.

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 9:06 am GMT

    This is a lame idea, but im sure dead brain suckers will think is cool.

  • SeeD

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 9:01 am GMT

    That sounds terrible.

  • ClassicPlayer

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:58 am GMT

    Just stick with the awesome Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band, and screw the Wii and this game. If you want a Guitar Weapon, just look at Nevan from Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening.

  • twiztdmike

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:57 am GMT

    Too bad I can't give humidity's post more than one thumbs up.

  • twiztdmike

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:44 am GMT

    Another commercial in the form of news. This is getting to be too much.

  • PEELEDbanana

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:41 am GMT

    Now that is just crazy!

  • VagrantChild24

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:22 am GMT

    This is one of those games that is trying to be innovative that will either fail or be pretty sweet. It's tough to get a good idea from the article though. I think I have to wait to see either gameplay footage or screens to really understand how it plays before making a judgement on this one.

  • CTAWATER

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:22 am GMT

    I would love that Humidity. Unfortunately, I don't think Rock Band is programmed to song notes besides the prerecorded notes in a song. I also thought it would be awesome if EA came out with a program with a monthly fee that would enable you to upload your songs from your 360 HD and convert them to play on Rock Band but you run into that programming issue again. But your idea would be great for the next game they hopefully come out with. More freedom equals more replay value, which everyone wants.

  • Humidity

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 8:10 am GMT

    Sorta off topic but I'm looking for opinions. Rock Band; what would be the interest level if players could compose, record, and upload to XBox Live their own original songs. It would cost the "bands" around $100 to upload the songs but then they would be available for free download. I think this would be a great way for new bands to get exposure at a minimal (compared to recording studio fees, etc.) cost. Opinions?

  • murder_tool

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 7:03 am GMT

    So is it a shooting game where the winner chooses the music and with stupidly themed weapons to or a rhythm game? Sounds rubbish and if the winner had rubbish music couldn't you just turn it down your end defeating the whole dodgy concept anyway.

  • Life-is-a-Game

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 7:00 am GMT

    Well I just read the preview @ ign...sounds interesting and looks promising to me

  • Sticboy posted Feb 7, 2008 6:46 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Sticboy

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 6:46 am GMT (hide)

    First Post =P

    This game is ridiculous....wut the heck is it for???

    sounds extremmely pointless to me

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