The Release List 04.03.09: Major Minor's Majestic March, Rhythm Heaven, and Gardening Mama
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 04.03.2009
Major Minor tries to stomp all over Wii Music, Rhythm Heaven comes out just in time for the DSi, and Mama leaves the kitchen and gets dirty in the garden.
I'm a little late with this week's column. Well... later than usual. Those two-hour drives to and from GDC must have taken their toll on me as I've been sick ever since I got back from the Thursday session. It's good that there weren't too many good games that came out this week or else I'd never have gotten this done...
This week's highlightsNote: Release dates are subject to change
Major Minor's Majestic March (Wii)
In a town where everyone is into marching, a young boy who is more into video games and basketball is somehow put into a situation where he has to go out and assemble a marching band. Fortunately, he recently came into possession of a magical baton that allows him to recruit members into his band on the fly. Now all he has to worry about is keeping his new recruits from leaving.
Major Minor's Majestic March is all about establishing a steady tempo. This is done by waving the Wii remote the way drum majors wave their batons in parades and marches. You're going to want to maintain a certain pace so that everyone in your procession is happy. Band members with large instruments prefer to go slower while those with smaller ones prefer to go faster. Of course, you can make things easier on yourself by being more picky about the band members you enlist (done by swinging the Wii remote in the direction of your next victim). However, limiting your band members also means reducing the layers of music (instruments) that are added to the current song, which in turn affects your final score.
Out of all the games that I tried at E3, this is probably the one that I put the most time into at the event, mostly because it took me a little while to figure out how to whip my band into shape. Once I figured that out I found Majestic March to be a pretty fun rhythm/tempo/dancing game. At the very least, it's a far better and more interesting GAME than Wii Music. While definitely not for everyone, I think that those who actually give it more than twenty minutes will find something that they can have fun playing when nobody else is around.
Fun facts:
- The game was developed by the same ones who were responsible for Parappa the Rapper.
- My flailing around why trying to figure things out got some lady from the Microsoft booth on the other side of the hall to come over to see what I was doing. It's up to you to figure out what to do with that information.
- The game uses instrument samples, not midis, so it sounds better than one would expect.
- Trust me - the game is more fun than it looks.
1. I didn't pick up the new/sealed REZ vibrator that I saw on a shelf for only $5.
2. I skipped out on getting Rhythm Tengoku Gold even though it was on sale in every electronics store I visited.
I guess things turned out ok in the end for me since Nintendo was nice enough to pass out copies of the localized version to those who attended Iwata's keynote at GDC last week. Giving out copies of a game to a few hundred attendees might seem a little extreme, but considering the scant attention the game was getting prior to that act, I think that it was a pretty good marketing move.
Rhythm Tengoku was first released on the GBA and did pretty well in Japan despite being released on a dieing system. The sequel, Rhythm Tengoku Gold, was released for the DS last year and also sold quite a few units. Unlike the GBA game which made use of both the d-pad and the A button, Gold is controlled completely with the stylus. The same gameplay mechanics apply though - listen to sound cues and tap accordingly. This simple description doesn't do the game justice so check out the video down below to get a better feel for what is in store for you. If you're into rhythm games, especially Ouendan!, Elite Beat Agents, and/or Space Channel 5, this should be right up your alley.
More options:
Most of the games in Rhythm Heaven are different from the ones found in the original. So, if you happen to pick it up and find yourself enjoying it a lot, keep the GBA game in mind. It might be worth importing.
look at their reactions when the player makes a mistake
Gardening Mama (DS)
Yes - it exists. Gardening Mama is essentially Cooking Mama in a garden setting. It's great for fans of the series as it gives them something different to do. However, non-fans might want to stay away as the game doesn't seem to stray far from its predecessors.
Has her voice always been that annoying?
The other US releases Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II (PSP)
Dance Dance Revolution Disney Grooves (Wii)
Don King Boxing (DS, Wii)
Guitar Hero: Metallica (PS3, 360, Wii)
Jewel Master: Cradle of Rome (Wii)
Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (PC, 360)
Ocean Commander (Wii)
Ski-Doo Snowmobile Challenge (360)
Tokyo Beat Down (DS)
