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[dyls]

Arggh! Endlessly conflicting reports about the controls. This reminds me of, well, almost every Wii game that has used motion control to any great extent. Motionplus can't come soon enough. I'm still on the fence, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if a sequel comes out next year with motionplus capabilities. Why not? This will probably sell pretty well over the holidays, and motionplus is certain to sell millions, and it's not like Sega's Wii support is drying up at all.

 

[ToastyBanana]

The controls aren't completely broken, you just have to flail about less (and have less fun with it?) if you don't want to end up missing. I ended up playing more rigid and robot-like to hit the optimum angles for the high, mid and low.

Does a second Wiimote work much better/more accurate than the Nunchuk? Anyone have this problem (getting it to recognize two controllers in the same circle)?

I had trouble at first but you just have to keep the front side of the wiimote or the analog stick on the nunchuk facing you as you point left or right.

 

[No6]

I think a lot of games like Final Fantasy and Infinite Undiscovery have huge learning curves. So many options, items and upgrades.

I don't think you understand what learning curve means, because Final Fantasy has a very low learning curve. Nor did MDK (as mentioned earlier), which was just a hard game. A high learning curve would be something more akin to a DOS-era flight sim, where tutorials are non-existent and you have to memorize the manual/use a keyboard overlay. More recent examples are hard to come by, because most games have pretty lengthy/extensive tutorials to explain everything.

The controls aren't completely broken, you just have to flail about less (and have less fun with it?) if you don't want to end up missing. I ended up playing more rigid and robot-like to hit the optimum angles for the high, mid and low.

I'd say that a maraca game that rewards rigid playing is almost the definition of broken.

 

[megashock5]

I'd say that a maraca game that rewards rigid playing is almost the definition of broken.

I even tried standing still and focusing on trying to move correctly from middle to high, and it would always miss the first one. Like it didn't register the movement in time.

Wish I knew what the heck I was doing wrong.

 

[Gagaman]

For anyone still thinking of getting maraca attachments, these look like the best ones to get, they do them in remote+nunchuck as well as for 2 remotes:
http://www.medusa-uk.com/maracas-for-wiimote-sl3472srd-p-1410.html
They almost exactly like the DC ones, too.

 

[Count Dookkake]

"My" Gamestop only has one set of maracas. Quick, to the Butt Mobile!

 

[Junior Asparagus]

Hmm, was considering getting this. Now I probably won't, but I'm still mildly intrigued.

I still have my DC and two sets of maracas. I also had zero problem playing the Bonelich games in Zack and Wiki, unlike many other people. Maybe I won't have an issue with this. I kind of want to try it before I buy it.

 

[VOOK]

Just got my review copy (It's not out till the 3rd here) and It's freaken awesome, my arms they are tired.

 

[Asbel]

Well, after going through the training, beating normal career and failing in hard modes (I beat one song), I see that part of the problem lies with me and part with Gearbox. So even after years of not playing the DC version, I'm still in the habit of holding the 'maracas' straight up at all heights. :/ I tend to miss middle heights from doing that. It's gonna take time and practice to break this habit and I've been sitting down and using my lap as a reminder where horizontal for the middle zone is.

But the programming could have been more robust. The detected area for middle is pathetically small and there doesn't seem to be a way to make it larger. Why not let players adjust the area of the detection zones for each height in calibration? The DC version did it. Or maybe dynamically changing zone areas that follow the pattern the game gives the player. If the blue ball is heading towards a middle zone, increase the middle area temporarily with the beat as a buffer from the controller spazzing out. Basically guessing what the player is intending to do to help them out. (Maybe they already do this?)

But otherwise, great great music! (even without the Sega songs)

 

[Chibbi Brady]

I'm just after an hours play and I'm really liking it but can definitely see that controls could pose a problem on higher difficulties. I'm getting all A's on hard at the moment, but sometimes the control just doesn't respond. It did improve when I calibrated it again though. Frustrating but isn't a deal breaker on hard, I'd assume that on higher difficulties I'll be less forgiving.

Definitely going to keep it out for a few days before deciding whether or not to buy.

 

[megashock5]

I had a little more luck last night. The issue for me seems to be that you need to be pointing up/mid/down before you shake, which is problematic when you need to quickly shift from one height to another.

I also had much better luck if I just tilted the remotes up or down from the default center without physically moving them higher or lower. However, that's just not as much fun as raising and lowering your hands (obviously in addition to tilting).

 

[Count Dookkake]

Just completed superhard. Not really sure what everyone is crying about when it comes to the controls.

I am currently ranked 3rd worldwide on total rankings under the name Some Dude!

Spoiler

Yes, the Mii is what I look like.

 

[The Hermit]

Finished normal with ease and the first stage of hard raped me worse than Megaman 9...

Anyway, listening to Gipsy Kings after so many years makes this one of the best game of the Wii for me... so good!

;_;

EDIT: for those having trouble about how to play this game, buy yourself a pair of real maracas ... common sense people.

 

[sfulifer]

I just wanted to browse and see how people are enjoying this game. I've had it for 2 days now and yes, my arms are very tired.

Like others, I was a veteran Samba player on the DC with 2 maracas controllers.

You will absolutely need to calibrate before you play this and pay attention to how the graphics are showing you to position the controllers. Very important. Shaking should also be done in the direction you're holding the wiimotes (i.e. like in real maracas except in the middle positions where it's best to shake them sideways as opposed to up/down). It didn't click with me until I got the attachments and did what felt naturally. After that I could get solid B's and some A's on hard difficulty. There are still some occasions when I'll have a super nice combo going and some weird quirky controller action shows up super rapidly and all of a sudden I'm at a C as the system and I try to catch up. I'm still surprised how huge a curve is between Normal and Hard is. If only I didn't get a blister thanks to the "official" horrible attachments poor grip. I'm gonna buy another set so I can use two wiimotes as the limited cord length is annoying me.


Good luck all. Don't let the learning curve deter you. It's a hugely fun game esp with 2 players. If you stay at normal/easy, an absolute blast to be had. IMO Gearbox did pretty well considering the Wiimote's limitations at detecting rapid movement.

 

[megashock5]

Okay, I recalibrated and it's a little better. However, I have a new question...

Is there any way (cheat code, etc.) to unlock the songs other than career mode? My skill level is about Normal, and I'm having no luck clearing songs in Hard.

Other rhythm games (DDR, Donkey Konga) let you play any song at whatever skill level you choose. I want to be able to play some of the locked songs at Normal level. Having to beat them on Hard to be able to play them on Normal seems backwards.

Also got a copy for my mother, the quintessential non-gamer. She'll never play this on anything but Easy. Sucks that she can't play all the songs on the disc.

Anway, anyone got anything?

 

[skybaby]

Attention personal opinion ahead: The controls are horrible. You're supposed to forget through practice that the controls are there, like in guitar games it must be intuitive and 2nd nature after a while. I don't see this happening here at all, there is always a point where it fails and it's frustrating as hell

 

[ToastyBanana]

After playing lots more it feels like the wiimote is too sensitive in registering movement as a shake. When a shake is detected it kinda locks the target for a fraction of a second on the target it thinks you were on. As a result I'd fail the faster songs with long alternating up and down dots. I tend to just move my wrists slowly instead of whipping my arms when possible with gentle shakes to avoid missing. Just passed hard and working through super hard now.

 

[D-X]

Official Maraca Pack next month (for some stupid reason)

http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29103_samba-de-amigo-wii-photos-des-maracas.html

[/url]

 

[Gagaman]

Official Maraca Pack next month (for some stupid reason)

Why couldn't have these of been day one? ;_;

Received the game this morning and have pumped a few hours of it so far. I can definatly see where there could be issues if I start playing in hard, but I'm only playing on easy and normal for now. It took me a little while to figure out how certain poses worked, and I was messing about with the input for a while to get it feeling right. Oddly enough i seem to be doing better using a remote and nunchuck set up than I was with duel remotes. Posing both remotes in the middle right seemed to be giving me a lot of trouble until I figured out that you have to have them turned facing you one above each other. It's hard to explain, but once you've got it it's easy enough, just a little odd. It took a while to fight with the controls but I think I've more or less got it now, at least until I attempt hard.

 

[The Hermit]

Just finished superhard mode on career... fantastic game and, like every rythm game, once you get the groove it becomes quite easy.

It´s true, the control aren´t 100%... but more like 97%. The are almost 0 difference playing double wiimote and nunchuck, except that the cord can annoy you sometimes.

Anyway, fantastic game, incredible music, I recommend everyone to play this!

 

[dfi]

I picked up the game. I was able to pass normal mode without much difficulty, but hard mode is well, hard.

Any tips?

 

[jrricky]

so, has this become the official thread?

 

[The Hermit]

I dunno... apparently since Nights ,people kinda lost faith in Sega franchises. Too bad

 

[Spruchy]

Controls are so bad, unplayable for me ;[

 

[marc^o^]

After many days spent on Wipeout, I finally got the game yesterday.

No matter how you can used to the controls with practice: the game is not even half fun as it used to be on the Dreamcast. From GOTY to D(isappointment)OTY.

 

[Gagaman]

I've made a quick Dreamcast/Wii comparison article over here.

 

[DDayton]

So I stopped by a local GameCrazy and played through a few songs today...

Okay, there is a learning curve, but once you "get" it, it isn't that bad. I was coasting through a few songs. True, they were on Normal difficulty, but hey, I was never very good at Samba to begin with. My point is that I started off missing lots of notes due to what seemed like directions not registering; once I was a bit more careful with my Wii Remote placement and gestures, it seemed fine.

 

[dfi]

the controls work fine in easy and normal, but once you hit hard, its pretty crazy. I haven't been able to get the controls working on hard yet.

EDIT:

Played the game for 4 hours tonite. I finally get the controls. Everything is based on the angle of your wiimote/nunchuck. Height doesn't play into it at all.

Holding the wimmote/nunchuck parallel to the ground is middle.

Holding the wiimote/nunchuck vertical pointing up is up.

Holding the wiimote/nunchuck vertical pointing down is down.


After I figured that out, I was able to beat hard mode. And now the game is super fun and not frustrating at all.

Its hard at first, but once you figure out the controls, everything just clicks.

The music is just awesome. Tons of great tracks, and you get a good workout too!

 

[gkryhewy]

Official Maraca Pack next month (for some stupid reason)

http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29103_samba-de-amigo-wii-photos-des-maracas.html

[/url]

Is that europe only? I'm about to buy the game and maracas as an xmas gift (US), but I might hold off if the bundle is coming here.

 

[later]

What puzzles me the most is the fact that alot of times the multi-shaking action (red circles) also isn't recognized.. How hard can it be to detect that, at least detect it in mid-play?? But no, it's not detected at all, breaking my combo. Thanks!