POSTED 22/11/14


FANTASIA: MUSIC EVOLVED

Harmonix/Disney Interactive

...and now we’re going to play a piece of gaming that tells a very definite story.

In 1940, Disney’s Fantasia changed the way music and film interacted. In 2014, Harmonix and Disney’s Music Evolved has changed the way music and games interact.

Sure in theory it might sound like full-body Elite Beat Agents with sorcerer’s duds instead of snappy suits, but spend even a few minutes playing and you’ll realise why it’s so much more.

Past the sometimes irritating, but quintessentially Disney, fluff involving a sorcerer bloke named Snrub- erm, Yen Sid, his ditzy helper, apprentice you and a story of magic and Nickelba- uh, noise, lies one of the best rhythmic encounters this side of PaRappa.

Basically, you conduct songs by swiping your arms around, punching the air and holding one hand there while the other toddles off to swoop onto another note. These notes always follow something in the music, but not necessarily the beat. It may be vocals, it may be bassoon, but it always feels right once you rhythmically click.

Progression unlocks extra stuff, allowing flitting between (sometimes jarring) remixes, or adding your own squiggly riffs to proceedings. It’s also needed to unlock songs in free-play. Grrrrrrr...

While rather brief, the 30ish track song list – which, naturally, can be bolstered by costly DLC - is a mostly inspiring mix of classical, classic and contemporary. The Police question Mozart, New Order succeed Missy Elliot and Elton praises the Lorde.

But, in a fit of utter WTF the cheaper digital version includes more content (extra remixes) that costs disc buyers $15+.

While these mercenary money-money-money-give-us-more-money-we-want-ALL-your-money-now policies markedly taint proceedings, we can’t deny that Fantasia: Music Evolved journeys beyond mere hyperbolic titling. It, more than anything previously, validates the Kinect’s existence and is a vital, involving experience for anybody with even a single musical bone in their body.

No, we’re not taking the Mickey...

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