Band Brothers

[dazzybee]

This is for the people who have the game. I'm thinking of getting the game - was wondering what it was like, is it import friendly and is it great for the one player!? Also, can you create your own songs!?

Dont really know much about it and I know a few of you guys rave about it.

Sell it to me people :)

[Stefkov]

in october issue of NOM on pg 26, it has an article that japanese games are confirmed for the UK. Band brothers and elecrtoplankton, anre the ones that are mentioned and theres a pic of brain training so that might be confirmed

[Johelian]

This is one of my two favourite DS games along with Ouedan; it has a great selection of songs, a fantastic multiplayer option...everything a good music game should have. It is super-import friendly as all of the scoring has English titles and - obviously - all you need to do is hit notes on time so there is no jey text or anything. There are two issues; the "story" (really just an excuse to get you to play random songs) is in Japanese, so if you desperately want to know everything thats going on you will need to get a translation. In all honesty though, its not really integral to enjoying the game in my experience. The second is that the song titles and instrument names are also in Japanese, so initially you wont know what instrument you have just picked to play. You will learn which is which the more you play though, and they all have a difficulty level in stars (1 star=easy, 5 stars =very hard) so you wont be picking instruments that are out of your depth.

One player mode is great, and has killed unreal amounts of both mine and my sisters time; multiplayer is ridiculously good fun. Can it get much better than playing in a virtual band with your friends, especially when one of them has inadvertently picked a crappy base line with 2 notes? Well, perhaps playing in a real band - but for those of us without skill, Band Bros is a godsend.

You can create your own songs, but you may want to read a tutorial online as it can be tricky to make something specific.

In short, this is one of the reasons to own a DS IMO. Superb.

in october issue of NOM on pg 26, it has an article that japanese games are confirmed for the UK. Band brothers and elecrtoplankton, anre the ones that are mentioned and theres a pic of brain training so that might be confirmed

Yeah, I did hear that it will translated, but Im expecting a lot of the songs to change as there are a lot of J-POP/TV themes that a Western audience probably wont recognise. While I will pick up an English version purely to get new tracks to play, some of the songs on the Japanese version are divine.
________
Buy Volcano Vaporizer (http://www.vaporshop.com/volcano-vaporizer.html)

[JonathanEx]

It's a very fun and enjoyable game, I've written about it a few times. I got it in August and still play it - it's very good and the strange tracks are also a very big part of it.

[dazzybee]

SOLD!!! Great stuff, already in a band but I love music games, espeicially games I can compsoe on, then I can create full orchestration and show how good a song will be - sometimes when its just me and a guitar on a particularly simple song the others can dismiss it, but I know itll be a great song when I teach them the other sections on the other instruments, this way I can show them the FULL song :) May sound bizarre but it makes sense to me.

Also, I love games like this but I dont know anyone with a DS so one player only for me, and I know basic Kanji so I should be okay, especially after time!

I know its coming out in West, but itll have different songs on it and I want it now. Patience is not one of my strengths :)

And I also badly want Ouendan, ebay is throwing me no luck with that, so yes asia it will be when I stop spending so much money!!!

[Johelian]

Ouendan is superb, and the second of my favourite two DS games :)

You probably dont want to hear then that there is an expansion pack out for Band Bros now with extra tracks ;)
________
ARIZONA MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES (http://arizona.dispensaries.org/)

[dazzybee]

Just won it on ebay :) Don't mess about me!!

I've also just bought the media player with disks etc so I can play chuckie egg on my ds :) Oh and play lots of nes and spectrum games. Shit. I mean listen to music!!

Also bid on about ten other games, Ive gone absolutely mental, sold a few things on ebay to raise some money and I end up spending £50 in half an hour and bidding another 50 quid on other games, plus ive preordered 2 copies of simpson series 6, episode 3, mario kart, and bought 5 dvds and splinter cell pt yesterday!!! WHY!?!? I dont even like Splinter Cell that much, I just love a bargain :)

And I REALLY REALLy want Trauma Centre and Ouendan and probably the band brothers expansion pack though I can wait for that at least.

Need to sell more stuff!!

What makes matters worse is that my housemates owe me rent and billmoney, one of them is away for a few weeks so I wont get that, and my car died tonight :( On my way to a workshop too so I wont get paid for that, and its gonna cost to get it fixed or (likely) get a new one!!

Need to sort my life out :) Got to laugh though havent you!!?

EDIT. Turned into a bit of a rant that. Sorry, but things have been crazy lately, been working on a theatre tour and thats had nightmare after nightmare for it, plus Im working 16 hours a day (when not doing workshops and walking my blasted (ninten) dog) on my next film project - brain collapses after a while and need to vent :)

[Johelian]

Man tell me about it - five games have dispatched to me over the last couple of weeks that I had completely forgotten that I ordered, so my finances are screwed :) Plus the other day I cracked and ordered thee Studio Ghibli DVDs...damn.
________
PAK SUZUKI MOTOR (http://www.suzuki-tech.com/wiki/Pak_Suzuki_Motor)

[dazzybee]

The internet is EVIL!!! Its TOO easy to buy. I just hope I lose on my bids (though wont be THAT bothered if I win!)

I look forward to Band Brothers and if OUENDAN doesnt have any replay value Ill buy it off you ;)

[Johelian]

The internet is EVIL!!! Its TOO easy to buy. I just hope I lose on my bids (though wont be THAT bothered if I win!)

I look forward to Band Brothers and if OUENDAN doesnt have any replay value Ill buy it off you ;)

Im still playing Ouendan waaaay too much - although Im now on the last level on Insane mode and you really need to be in the zone to even attempt it (which I havent been lately...damn this flu-like illness!) If you like music games or zany anime humour youre pretty much guaranteed to love it.
________
Ford i4 dohc engine history (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Ford_I4_DOHC_engine)

[JonathanEx]

Also, I love games like this but I dont know anyone with a DS so one player only for me, and I know basic Kanji so I should be okay, especially after time!


Oh please. I know NO Japanese and I can navigate it fine - you'll be ok! Besides, the poster manuals are really helpful.

[craig]

Stage 15 on Ouendan is nigh impossible for to clear on hard. I went through all the stages on hard with little trouble but the final stage just makes me want to rip my DS in two.

Is Band Brothers similar in this repect ?

[dazzybee]

I guess ill have to import it then, prob in a while, MUST CURB SPENDING SPREE!!!

Thanks for all your advice and info - I eagerly await my game.

[Locky]

Just wondering - has anyone bought the Band Brothers expansion card (request selection) yet? I noticed that it's £20 on Yesasia.com. Is it worth getting?

[Johelian]

Stage 15 on Ouendan is nigh impossible for to clear on hard. I went through all the stages on hard with little trouble but the final stage just makes me want to rip my DS in two.

Is Band Brothers similar in this repect ?

Hard or Insane? Im on the last level on Insane ;) Its pretty much the same but with smaller icons that appear pretty much on the beats so you cant really plan ahead.

I got to I think level 4 (out of 5) on Pro Mode of Band Brothers and gave up doing them; its just too difficult for me. For some reason my brain cant process certain combinations of buttons. Still doesnt stop me from just replaying the songs though/

Just wondering - has anyone bought the Band Brothers expansion card (request selection) yet? I noticed that it's ?20 on Yesasia.com. Is it worth getting?

I have it on order but it hasnt turned up yet...I will let you know ;) I think it has something like 30 odd extra tracks, which is well worth it already as far as Im concerned.
________
EDSEL CITATION (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Edsel_Citation)

[dazzybee]

Games arrived, absolutely loving it though struggling through it. One thing, on the one player main mode when you do the songs and you can choose what instrument you play, how do you know which ones yo have already done, or does it even matter. Theres a few songs ive done a few instrumnets of but when I went back I couldnt remember which ones, surely theres a way of knowing which ones youve played. Also, what happens when you play through the songs? How do you unlock harder modes and can you play whichever difficulty? So many questions :)

[dazzybee]

Just went back and thers a few 'new' instruments, what does this mean? Sorry if im being stupid!!

EDIT. Okay I figured it out, when Ive played them and donw ell enough it automatically changes to harder mode and on here it tells you your highest score. Okay, is there anyway of playing an easier setting? (thinking if I let someone play it for example or wanna beat high scores)

Cheers

[skarmachild]

I want this and Ouendan!!111 Even though Ouendan will never be released here. Import galore. I'm gunna wait if Jam With The Band ever get's released here.

[dazzybee]

Okay, so I dont fully understand it, the ones with the gold starts are the hardest difficulty, and they keep the score, however the easy ones still dont keep highscores. Why? Very confusing. Also, ocasionally the right hand side is open to play (bomb game) dont fully understand this mode either!? Very confusing. Me sleep now........zzzzzz

[Johelian]

Just got my Request Selection in the post yesterday - some great new songs on there, but they are mostly rock hard, especially considering I havent seriously played BB in a while (damn you Ouendan!) A few ninty tunes make an appearance; while I recognise several, the only one I can name is the Animal Crossing theme. Oh, and it has the Numa Numa song on there - sweet!

dazzybee, you have to play the "Missions" to advance and get more difficult challenges and basically open everything up. Cant remember offhand which option it is, but the screen should have a door on it, and loads of text will scroll by before you can knock on the door with the touchscreen and go in to make your first recording. When I first played it there was so much text I thought it was something I would have to come back to later, but really you just need to sit through it all and tap on the door when its finished. Then you will have to play 3 random instruments in 3 songs, obviously starting with the easiest ones.
________
Concerto (http://www.honda-wiki.org/wiki/Honda_Concerto)

[dazzybee]

Thanks Johelian, I played it in bed for a little while last night and understand it more and how when you beat recording ticket 1 it unlocks the 1star harder mode, 2nd recording ticket 2star instruments etc. It's a great game isnt it? Cant wait to unlock edit pro mode though the rcording mode is actually really good, it can actually understand the notes (not always, but mostly).

I bet the multiplayer is brilliant!! Keep us updated on how the expansion pack turns out!

[dazzybee]

Sorry to be double post but I must say that this game is MUST for everyone - buy it now!! It's brilliant. Edit Pro mode is great, you can compose anything with (almost) no limitation!! THe DPad can be a little too fiddly on occassion but generally its easily one of th ebest DS games out there. And those waiting for it to come out here, then theres loads of songs here you wont get!! Its worth it.

Whats the expansion like Johelian? Is it worth getting? Is it actually an expansion or is it a standalone game (like the DOnkey Kongas)?

[Johelian]

Its just a new set of songs to play, which comes on a GBA cart that you must have plugged in at the same time as the main game. There are some cool songs on there, but they are more technical than the ones that come on Band Brothers - I guess that they expect you to be moderately good if you like it enough to get the expansion :) Well worth it IMO just because it gives you new material to play with.
________
VOLCANO VAPORIZER (http://vaporizer.org/reviews)

[dazzybee]

I played multiplayer last night on band brothers and it was amazing, when I tried playing today the other people (we only have one cart) were on EASY where you just press the dpad or a button, but last night it was on normal mode!! I really dont know why this is and wondered if anyone knew!!! We wanna play now before we go out, but we dont know how to put the others on different difficulty settings!!

[Sarka]

I've got Ouendan in my house, in my Mum's drawer of Christmas mysteries. I noticed that out of my £200 budget for Xmas I've only spent £150 and I'm thinking of ordering either Band Brothers or Electroplankton. My gf really wants Electroplankton and I love making music in any shape or form. But BB looks really attractive, even thouhh I have no idea what you do in it. What other games is it like? Is it kinda like Donkey Konga but you make the music yourself or what?

I should really read a preview or something... damn my lazy Sundays!