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E3 2008: Ultimate Band Updated Hands-On

By Jon Miller, GameSpotPosted Jul 17, 2008 5:05 pm PT

Like Rock Band with an air guitar.

If you stumbled across someone playing Ultimate Band on the Wii without knowing what disc was in the console, you would think that person was probably crazy or having a seizure. The motion controls are some of the most eccentric that you'll find on the Wii, especially for the band's frontman or frontwoman, charged with pumping up the crowd with fist pumps and wild poses. Then again, you'll probably have a lot of fun.

Although we covered Ultimate Band during our pre-E3 coverage earlier this summer, we had no problem rocking out on the air guitar at the Disney Interactive Studios booth at E3 2008 in Los Angeles on Thursday. We immediately loaded up "Beverly Hills," as made famous by our favorite nerd rockers Weezer. All of the songs are covers, each with two vocal tracks for male and female singers in your fully customizable band. We had a male singer, and the soundalike track was remarkably accurate, or accurate enough for us to dazzle the show floor with our air-guitar riffs.

Fans of music games will definitely dig the different air instruments: guitar, bass, and drums. The frontman position seemed a little gimmicky with all of the ridiculous arm motions; no word on why vocals and a microphone are not included as an option. The good news is that you don't have to fork out extra dough for add-on peripherals, and the motion controls were surprisingly responsive and accurate.

If you're a fan of Guitar Hero and Rock Band and you're looking for a more family-oriented music game, check out Ultimate Band when it hits Nintendo's Wii and DS this holiday season.

25 Comments

  • JattDon

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    wow

  • SalFlame

    Posted Aug 1, 2008 8:57 pm PT

    WOW...Just WOW i mean please dont make a game to help more ppl including littli braggy kids to call themselves rock stars its not like i mind this game at all right now its just to many already.. and incase anyone wants to ask, i do play real instruments actually 4 so just dot ask no offense im not judging it truly till ive tried it i still think guitar hero on DS is enough for the DS
    And Sharvie Your Picture is annoying

  • Wiidude16

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 5:53 pm PT

    this kinda ooks good but it will prob be bad

  • Jackyll87

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 12:50 am PT

    This is definitely good news for me as i neither have enough room for the peripherals nor can i afford all of them.

  • Sharvie

    Posted Jul 26, 2008 4:54 pm PT

    How Original.

  • scorch-62

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    I'll admit it... This game looked absolutely horrendous.

  • sco14

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 12:17 pm PT

    hey shadowmaster are you even any good at real guitar cause i play4 diffrent instruments quite well i might add

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 3:18 am PT

    there is absolutely NO WAY i'm gonna buy this, but how exactly does it work?

  • tyzwain

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:36 pm PT

    Yep well not everyones a Hendrix. I feel special when pretending.

  • KokutenNagaki

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:36 pm PT

    But, 8shadowmaster8, I FEEL like i'm a rock star

  • 8shadowmaster8

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 10:44 pm PT

    I think I'll stick to the real thing. As in GUITAR. Really, people should start playing guitar instead of fake stuff. (even though I personally believe it's fine to play Rock Band {I hate guitar hero aka Activision} as long as you dont go thinking you're a rock star)

  • shinian

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 6:19 pm PT

    The live stage demo of this wasn't that great at all

  • ironscoug

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    Again i stress, DONT BUY THIS GAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • ironscoug

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 3:31 pm PT

    Oh come on!!!!! If you are at least TRYING to beat the competitors ( Rock Band Guitar Hero) you have to put some kind of instrument with it with the exeption of wii music wich looks awesome to me. This is a worthless atempt at a music game. I'm definatly not buying it and neither should YOU!

  • ognen

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 6:00 am PT

    Great

  • zombieman666

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 1:15 pm PT

    yay for music games

  • gmax Site moderator

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 2:04 am PT

    Wii waggling - Extreme!

  • Macgyver40

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 10:48 am PT

    How many music games do we need

  • km1498

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 9:05 am PT

    I think I'll stick with the real thing..or the fake real thing(as in guitar hero and rock band).

  • Hungry_bunny

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 8:54 pm PT

    No thanks... there are just to many other games like this I'd rather buy.

Ultimate Band Quick Links

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Check Prices: $11.21 – 29.99

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Ultimate Band

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    5,680 of 77,799
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    WII Rank:
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    Highest Rank:
    56 in 2008
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  • Number of Players:

    1-4 | Offline Modes: Competitive, Cooperative

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    Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. Learn more

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