The titles that are released on the Wii never cease to amaze me. The titles that are released on the Wii that are fun amaze me even more. When NamcoBandai announced We Cheer, a cheerleading simulation game at Gamer Day, I was one of several in the audience who sat silent and dumbfounded. Cheerleading?
Do I need to explain what cheerleading is? Short skirts, pom-pons, dancing to songs or "cheers" at sporting events? It's a national pastime - seriously. The American Cheerleading Federation claims some 1.5 million participants - and this figure does not include high school cheerleading! There are competitions, exhibitions, camps and now little league. There have been movies made about it. Parents have hired people to "take out" kids who compete against their kids. It's strange.
Though primarily a female sport - it is a sport, they practice, it's very physical, they compete - there are some men. The reasons for being primarily female are they tend to perform at male competitive events. For this reason, even though I know this title will appeal to both of my boys (though one will want to play a female avatar and one will refuse to play a female avatar) the first in the series has only female avatars.
Did I mention this was fun? Yes, I have a problem with the fact that it is fun. I'm being very elitist. I was a band geek in school - we do that.
Using 30 licensed songs from the 70's through modern day pop, you will shake your booty, swing your arms, form the most difficult of formations and lead your squad to the number one spot in the uhh, nationals? The music is appropriate and fun. If it doesn't get you up off the couch then you need your hearing checked or you're awfully determined to hate this title.
Using two Wii-motes, you are presented with a red and blue line ala Elite Beat Agents to follow with your arms. If you need to bring both arms down in a sweeping motion the red and blue lines present themselves, pulse a few times (I didn't count but I caught on pretty quickly what the set-up was) then move down in time. Different movements for different arms are presented in different shapes. And this is where it gets tricky and I *cough* discovered a new found respect for cheerleaders.
What might look like a left curve straight move on the left and a left curve in for the right arm actually requires you to turn your body to the left to perform accurately. Sometimes you need to walk backwards (since the red ends up on the left and the blue on the right). Do well and you get rainbows and stars - which is all fine and dandy but I just wanted to be able to succeed facing forward.
Like any successful cheerleader you earn new outfits, cooler pom-pons and more shinies as you succeed. With three modes - Exercise mode (kill me now), Campaign mode (vs. to determine who becomes Captain) and 4-player Party Mode (does anyone own 8 Wii-motes?) you can really get your cheer on with this title. I cringe as I write this and I want to get over it. This game is fun. *cringe* I'm going to get it when it comes out. The son who likes to play female avatars will love this - and the girls around the neighborhood are going to show up often - much to the delight of the older boy. I hadn't thought of that before. I'll have to mention it to him.
I'm a mother of two boys, ages 7 and 10 and live in the chaos that ensues. I've a permanent disability that keeps me homebound, so books, kids, games and books are my constant companions. Oh, and books, too. *grins*
My children both play games so I often play them first, getting to know exactly how something may effect my sensitive and easily stimulated older child vs. my stoic and imperturbable younger.
I like games for games; for the pure enjoyment of them and believe that no game is wholly bad, though some are real stinkers.
I also have the dexterity of a camel in mittens so find playing FPSs difficult (and I also don't like the gore) and RTSs at times can stump me. I just can't seem to move quickly enough to keep up with them. Some of my favorite games are arcade games and I'll spend 3-5 years on the same 5-6 levels because I just never get any better. But, I have fun.
If she can turn and move her arms at the same time she is far better than I.
It really is a good title as much as I make fun of it. It kicked my behind! It will do very well - as it should.
My only complaint is no male avatars!
I think my daughter might enjoy this. She did competitive cheerleading for two years. She had a lot of fun while we did it.