PixlBit

These days, music rhythm games require a somewhat expensive peripheral or in some cases multiple peripherals in order to fully enjoy the game. We Cheer 2 isn't one of those rhythm games, instead the game takes advantage of the Wii Remote's motion sensors in order to perform specific movements the game requires. The end result is a very enjoyable rhythm game that stands out from many of the other rhythm games currently on the market.

In the game you play as a male or female cheerleader that aspires to be the captain of a cheerleader squad. You start off as a cheerleader newbie and move up the ranks as you gain experience by performing in various competitions. While you move up the ranks, you’ll be able to unlock various items ranging from outfits, new venues, and songs to harder versions of the current songs in your track list.

We Cheer 2 is controlled with one or two Wii Remotes. Holding the Wii Remote(s) you move your hand(s) in the patterns that are shown on the screen. If you play with two Wii Remotes one pattern is tied to your left hand and the other to the right. If you play with one Wii Remote, you pick what hand you want to associate it with. The patterns in the game range from simple linear movements to more complex circular-like movements. The patterns have a trace line and an end point similar to the ones found in Elite Beat Agents.

Like most rhythm games, the movements are based on accuracy. If you performed the movement accurately, you will see the word "Cool!". If you’re not as accurate you’ll see things like "Missed", "Slower", "Faster", or "More Energy!". In order to make them stand out, all of the words are color-coded and have an audio cue associated with them.

During each song there are two opportunities to earn extra points - Stunt time and Bonus time. When Stunt time occurs, players will have to perform specific patterns represented by rainbow-colored trace lines. When you properly perform these patterns you will see tiles on the bottom of the screen that spell out a phrase. Following this, Bonus time immediately takes over, requiring players to frantically shake the Wii Remote(s) until all the tiles disappear.

On the lower right part of the screen there is a megaphone icon that gradually fills up as the song is performed. When the megaphone is filled, players have officially passed the song. Like most music games, upon song end a score breakdown and a letter grade based on performance are revealed.

We Cheer 2 offers a variety of modes for both single players and multiple players alike. The main single player mode is called Cheer Squad, which in essence, is the story mode of the game. In this mode you play as a cheerleader that arrives at a school in hopes of joining the cheerleader squad, who eventually ends up leading the squad. The other main mode, Championship, is a free play mode where you pick a song and a venue to perform it in. Both modes allow you to earn experience points in order to advance your rank as a cheerleader and unlock things in the game. In order to practice your skills, the game offers a Training mode to both practice routines and exercise.

The various multiplayer modes support up to four players, though each player can only use a single Wii Remote. Players will compete against each other to earn the highest score. Aside from the competition mode, players can also enjoy a variety of other head-to-head mini-games.

Players should not expect to be blown away by the graphics. The venues and characters have a bright art style, which is appealing, but doesn’t help the game from looking like a standard Wii game. Some venues pay homage to Namco franchises such as Galaga and Pac-Man.

The game has only a few issues, the worst of which are occasionally inaccurate motion controls. While it's never game breaking, it’s annoying when the game fails to recognize a motion you performed correctly. Though not a technical issue, the soundtrack is quite short, offering only 30 songs each with varying difficulties. Also, I have to admit that I am not a fan of the featured songs. In all fairness, the songs suit the game well and are a ton of fun to play regardless.

Ultimately, We Cheer 2 is a great rhythm game that takes advantage of the Wii's unique mechanics. While the game has a few minor faults it still proves very fun, even without all of those expensive peripherals.