14 DAY TRIAL // The Nintendo Wii has already received a music game from Nintendo itself, in the form of Wii Music, which was received rather poorly by reviewers and by the public, even though Miyamoto tried to promote it as a perfect way of discovering music without going as hardcore about it as those who play Rock Band 2 from Harmonix or Guitar Hero: World Tour from Activision.
Now, 505 Games, a British publisher, is testing the same waters as Wii Music with a new title called We Rock: Drum King, which is set to arrive for the Nintendo Wii sometime in April 2009, with the aim of allowing all players to step into the rock star boots of a drummer as he joins a band and tours the world.
The main idea behind We Rock: Drum King is that only the Wiimotes are used in the gameplay so that it manages to keep it all simple, the way Nintendo gamers like it. 505 Games points out that you don't really need a room full of fake plastic guitars and drums to enjoy music and that simplicity is sometimes better than complexity.
The tracks list is set to feature 30 tunes, described in the press release as being “awesome,” an adjective which justly applies to Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild, which is going to be featured in the game. The other track revealed is Banquet from Bloc Party.
The game will initially ask the player to create an avatar and will then teach them how to “air drum,” by basically hitting the air as if you'd have a full set in front of you. Pressing different buttons on the Wiimote will simulate hitting various drums on the set like the snare, toms, hi-hat and bass. Colored indicators that scroll continuously will aid the beginner drummers.
If the game proves to be a success, 505 Games might just create a full line up of music games using the We Rock moniker. How does We Rock: Flute sound?