Harmonix has created a musical experience that borrows elements of some of their previous work but also feels fresh. Fantasia: Music Evolved doesn’t require you to move or stay on the beat in the same way that Dance Central or Rock Band does. However that does not make it any less active. The visual cues of Fantasia involve your hands(and arms) leaving your legs free. While sitting or standing you will swipe, slap and sway your arms to the music in a way that feels like you’re almost conducting it. Given the name of this game – that would be quite apropos.
While you can jump in and start playing songs in the eclectic library solo or with another, there is a story mode. The story is nothing really memorable but it is ultimately enjoyable and also serves as a tutorial, albeit a very long tutorial. A nebulous yet distracting force known as “The Noise” is supposedly ruining music in various seasonally or location based realms. By interacting with the creatures dwelling in the realms and playing songs you can eliminate the nefarious noise.
There are several ways the game lets you put your own spin on any given song and provides an option to record it as well. Some people may not be thrilled that songs and remixes are gated by a rather lengthy story mode, I certainly wasn’t initially. It grew on me. A party mode is in the options section to unlock all of the songs(but not the remixes). Yen Sid, The Sorcerer, and a plucky young woman named Scout in addition to a narrator are there push you along should the carrot on a stick of achievement points, songs and remixes be insufficient. As goofy as it sounds, Harmonix has already allowed people plenty of opportunity to play and dance to music – sans peripheral Fantasia adds the ability to feel it in a completely different way.
Recommendation: Worth a buy – if you really like interacting with music in a unique way
Full Disclosure: The Xbox One version of this game was provided to GameEnthus by the developer.
Genre: Music Guidance?
Developer: Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studio
Platform(s): Xbox One
Price: $59.99
Links
http://www.harmonixmusic.com/games/disney-fantasia-music-evolved/
http://GameEnthus.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gameenthus-podcast-video-games/id286435007?mt=2
Scale:
Worth a buy – paying full price for fans of the series or genre makes sense – often includes a caveat
Worth a buy on sale – not quite full price worthy but close, – often includes a caveat
No – borrow it if you must play it
Please no – Don’t waste any time and/or money on it