The requirements to be a cheerleader
nowadays are, at times, high for an individual. Not only do you have to lift a
teammate up in the air, perform backflips, do the splits, and kick your legs
above your head, but you also have to do it with enthusiasm and spunk. This is
why cheerleading, to a certain crowd, consider cheerleading a sport and take it
100 percent seriously. Well, Namco Bandai has delivered a rhythm-based video
game for the Nintendo Wii that concentrates on cheerleading – so let’s take a
gander to see how it has turned out.
The general gameplay requires
players to use two of the remotes – one in each hand as if they were pompoms –
and follow the on-screen commands. As with other rhythm-based video games,
players will have to concentrate on perfecting their timing and keeping up with
the prompts when they come up. While the choreography isn’t insanely difficult
to keep up with, players will become tired after a 30-minute session or so due
to all the handclaps and windmill arm motions they’ll be performing.
For the game modes, the main game
mode asks for players to lead their group from city to city, performing in
tournaments to gain experience before moving on to their state try-outs. When
you obtain victory, you’ll be able to recruit and bring in some new cheerleading
talent to help your team improve. If you are a gamer who can’t seem to get
enough of customizing your own avatars, We Cheer allows players to unlock
items and change up their outfits from shoes to their pompoms. Lastly, if you’re
more interested in keeping track of your how many calories you burn, there’s a
workout mode that tallies all of that.
The soundtrack in We Cheer
contains all master tracks, so you won’t be hearing cheesy cover songs by
amateurs. Having more than 30 songs, there’s a lot to be enjoyed but you’ll soon
become bored due to playing a song repeatedly over time. Newer material such as
Paramore, Natasha Bedingfield, The Plain White T’s and Boys Like Girls show up
in the soundtrack for those who follow radio music. There are also a few older
songs such as “That’s The Way (I Like It)” by KC and the Sunshine Band and
“C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” by the Quad City DJ’s that appear for nostalgia
purposes. But of all the songs, I can’t seem to escape Hilary Duff’s “Come
Clean.” My girlfriend loves this 21-year-old sensation that made her fame
through the Disney Channel because of her fashion so her song is played more
often then not.
If you become bored with the
single-player aspects, the multiplayer portion is above and beyond more
entertaining. Up to four players can join in through multiplayer and will have
the ability to play as a team or against one another. If you can find enough
people to join in, it’s a guaranteed endurance test due to how much motion
you’ll be committing to virtual cheerleading.
While We Cheer isn’t the most
exotic title this holiday, it definitely is something fresh and new. Aimed at a
younger demographic, it should find its niche with how simple the game is. The
only warning is that you better be prepared to wear out your arms and upper
body.
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Review Scoring Details for We Cheer |
Gameplay: 7.3
Your group of cheerleaders will appear on the screen and perform in relation
to your responses, so as long as you have the timing down, you’re golden.
Graphics: 6.8
Nothing out of the ordinary for a rhythm-based video game; avatars are
generic and the effects aren’t anything special.
Sound: 6.9
A little more diversity is needed the next time as We Cheer is
specifically aimed at the tweeners.
Difficulty: Easy
The game does get increasingly more difficult in the later stages, but
there’s nothing game-breaking that cause you to quit.
Concept: 8.4
Never having played a cheerleading game prior to We Cheer, I must
admit that it’s a novel idea. Maybe next time they can incorporate capability
with the Wii Fit Board.
Multiplayer: 7.5
Find some friends who’ll be enthusiastic about cheerleading and you’ll have
a pleasant time.
Overall: 7.2
We Cheer isn’t too extravagant in game modes or innovative gameplay,
but it’s an excellent diversion for a weekend.
