Extra Game Review

HANNAH MONTANA SPOTLIGHT WORLD TOUR (Playstation 2 / Wii)

This isn't on the list of recommended games, but I include it as a nice little addition in the same style as the Barbie games. The version I will be reviewing will be the Playstation 2 version (emulated on a PC as usual), as all the games I review can be freely acquired and played on the PC you are most likely using at the moment. However for this game I would much more recommend the Wii version played on the actual machine, as it is mainly a dancing game, and you have to actually perform the dance moves - which is a lot of fun! However this doesn't mean you can't actually do a little dancing and other required actions while using another control scheme, as well as mime or sing the songs of course. Keyboard control, especially with some of the moves, seems to make it a little more difficult than with a hand-held controller (and of course you can choose your own keys, offering more physical movement), so the emulated version may be a bit better to play than the original. There is also a difficulty setting, but the more difficult it is, the less enjoyable it is to play (at least using a keyboard). Yet even when it's easy, it's still FUN.

The reason I choose this game is because of how it feels to play it. Recently I have been playing 'Grand Theft Auto San Andreas'. This is an amazing game; a free-roaming simulation of an entire city and surrounding lands, full of great variety and a lot of fun. Technically it's a far superior game than for example any of the Barbie games I have reviewed, however I do not include it in my list of recommended games because it is a HORRIBLE game to play. It makes me feel BAD, especially at first, but now I seem to have become more accustomed to it, so it does not seem so horrible, and I don't like that. In opposition I offer this simulation of being a pop star on a world tour as a game that makes me feel HAPPY when I play it.

In this game you take on the role of Hannah Montana, a completely fictional manufactured character. This character is played within the story by Miley Stewart, but the player takes her place and plays the part of Hannah themselves. The game is also a decent simulation of the TV show, and the characters look alright, with good impersonated voices, so if you are a fan of the show you may enjoy wandering around being a part of that world. But even if not the game has a good atmosphere and nicely simulates being a pop star of your own making.

Hannah embarks on a world tour, visiting several different countries and puts on concerts as well as making public appearances, trying to increase her fan base and sell her singles and album. The concerts begin with set songs, then the player can select their own choices for the rest of the show. There are 16 songs able to be performed, which become gradually available as the tour progresses, (and more difficult to perform). Hannah can also choose what outfits and jewellery she wears for the performances, but these must be bought from shops throughout the world, and must be earned by putting on good performances during the concerts. After the game has been completed and everything is available, then the player can continue if they wish, putting on their own concerts, making more public appearances, maybe going on a European tour or whatever you want, earning more fans and more musical success.

The game consists of three parts. First is backstage. Here you have an amazing dressing room, where you can relax, examine your awards and souvenirs, listen to the local radio music (or your own songs) and try on different outfits and hairstyles, etc. while Hannah's best friend Lola (Lilly in disguise) will often point out the choices she likes - though amusingly you are usually best doing the exact opposite of what she suggests, as should be apparent by the outfits she wears. You also have a practice stage, where you can practice the songs in private, with groupies acting as your audience.
Second, some of the countries offer a nice shopping centre for Hannah to visit, and Lola joins her as she wanders around in public, encountering fans. As well as shopping, Hannah can make public appearances in mini-games, which will get her more fans and souvenirs, depending on how well she does. She can pose for photographs, sign autographs and play acoustic versions of her songs in guitar shops. These games can be quite challenging, and also a lot of fun. In a couple of places she will also encounter Miley's brother and Hannah's driver Jackson, and get involved in one of his idiotic schemes.

But the main part of the game is the on stage performances. This is the most satisfying and enjoyable part of the game. Hannah makes a stunning entrance, then must perform the dance moves correctly in order to please the crowd. In addition she can take a break from the complex moves and head towards the crowd, slapping their hands or waving to them, etc. She can miss out a few moves or get them wrong without affecting the visual performance, but if she gets it wrong too much she will fumble and may even fall over. And if she loses it completely she will just shrug and make up her own awkward moves. The audience are pleased or displeased by how well Hannah performs, and as they reach new levels of delight they will explode with a mighty cheer. This can be quite thrilling when it happens at just the right moment. Afterwards the performance can be watched again, and Hannah stores her last three performances and reviews as videos on her mobile 'phone.

The game is visually very good, especially the famous locations, but what makes it so great is the sound: In every place the soundtrack gives it real atmosphere, and you can really get into the game and enjoy the experience. I enjoy the game even more when I am drunk and stoned, especially in London where there is a fantastic song on the radio - which is so good it is played on the streets and eventually becomes popular in Malibu. There is always the sound of activity going on, as well as people talking, either to (or about) Hannah or getting on with their own lives, and they can be quite amusing, or can really make you feel like the adored pop star. But best of all is the music. The Hannah Montana songs aren't all great songs to listen to, though some are, but they are all great fun to perform on stage. Yet in addition there is plenty of other great music throughout the game. It is a game of excellent music and sound.

Overall this game is just so much FUN to play, and produces joy, and is a great simulation of being your own pop star doing things your own way. And that is just the Playstation 2 version - you can imagine how much more fun it is to actually dance with the Wii version. (And perhaps you might like to actually dress up as Hannah Montana while you play!) Those who have performed doing anything on stage before an audience, especially performing songs, even without an audience, will know how thrilling it can be, and this game produces that same feeling when you are properly involved in it, especially when the crowd goes wild. The defining moment of the game is backstage, when you wander up to Miley's father and Hannah's manager, when among the things he might say, he asks,
"Are you having fun, bud?"

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