PopStar Guitar's slip-on fret sheath exposed

Okay, so the prophylactic jokes are strong with this one, but bear with us as we attempt to stick to the straight and narrow about XS Games' PopStar Guitar for Wii. It's a game that, if this were an SAT exam, would be to Guitar Hero as Mini-KISS is to KISS: somewhat short of the real thing. The screen shots look rather simplistic and, of course, familiar, but what stands out is the sheath accessory that slips onto your Wiimote, giving you four (yes, just four) fret buttons to manipulate while you "strum" with the Nunchuck. After a few hours of this we think you're more likely to be in a wrist brace than rock 'n roll heaven. It's an experience you can feel for yourself when the game hits stores at the end of the month.

[NHAnimator @ Oct 17th 2008 9:27AM]

...and it's ribbed - for her pleasure.

[farfisa @ Oct 17th 2008 9:43AM]

...not yours

[Samboini @ Oct 17th 2008 12:34PM]

Yes, it does look like something a porn star would ram down her schmoo.

[ugg.tryptophan @ Oct 17th 2008 2:36PM]

shmoo?

[Flashpoint @ Oct 17th 2008 9:40AM]

another useless wii accessory...

[Nouman @ Oct 17th 2008 9:42AM]

I Wii Accessory rack would sell.

[Boarderwoot @ Oct 17th 2008 9:52AM]

Enough with the rythm games already. Guitar Hero and its competition Rock Band. End of story. Let's try focusing on improving gameplay of other generas instead of trying to make a quick buck on a couple accesories which just rehash a concept that's been done 10 times over already.

[Goatee Man @ Oct 17th 2008 12:44PM]

Psh... More like Rock Band and its competition Guitar Hero.

I know, I know... But I do so love Harmonix.

[IT-Accountant @ Oct 17th 2008 10:08AM]

Epic Fail

[nickr @ Oct 17th 2008 10:14AM]

I can't believe I paused "November Rain" in the middle of the solo to watch that video. Terrible.

[Grey Acumen @ Oct 17th 2008 10:16AM]

I don't see what the issue is here. This is basically the same as what was done for the DS. I rather like the idea of the nunchuk being used for the strum bar, and maybe even use the joystick in place of the whammy bar.

Also, this thing is just a piece of plastic that extends the A, -, 1, and 2 buttons out, so no electronic parts = cheap as hell. Instead of spending $60 for a guitar, you spend maybe $5 - $10, and what do you lose? 1 button, big deal, that's provided the b trigger doesn't get used to your thumb or something too.

Actually, this is almost exactly how I envisioned using the Wiimote and nunchuk to do these type of games in the first place, so I'm totally for this.

[Grey Acumen @ Oct 17th 2008 10:21AM]

I'll also add that yes, the song in the video were pretty craptacular, as was the display for the notes to hit, but I've never particularly been that moved by any of the songs from Rock Band or Guitar Hero either, so i basically look at this is just aiming for a different genre. There are people who like rhythm games that don't necessarily want rock.
my above comment was just talking about the controller, which I do like.

[kal326 @ Oct 17th 2008 10:44AM]

Turn that thing on its side and I swear it looks like something straight out of Fisher-Price that my nephew has. I would totally expect something to pop up whenever you hit one of the colored buttons.

[steve @ Oct 17th 2008 10:50AM]

vibrator

[Corazu @ Oct 17th 2008 11:28AM]

Sweet. So instead of pretending to play a real guitar, we can pretend to play air guitar...

[nickels @ Oct 17th 2008 11:33AM]

i like the concepts but dont think it would be good for wrists at all
have wireless nunchuck then you could really get the air guitar sim going :D

[refriedbeans19 @ Oct 17th 2008 12:19PM]

no wonder i own a ps3 and 360, the will is too babyish for me

[refriedbeans19 @ Oct 17th 2008 12:20PM]

*wii

[Riley @ Oct 17th 2008 12:22PM]

I imagine using this thing is about as comfortable as playing guitar hero without a guitar strap. I wouldn't recommend it for more than one song, because unless you're constantly holding down buttons, it's not comfortable to hold at all.

[Mac @ Oct 17th 2008 12:55PM]

Don't circumcise my wii wii plz.