Remember Shigeru Miyamoto conducting a virtual orchestra as a prelude to what the then un-launched Wii was capable of? That was at E3 2006 but only now is Nintendo finally on the verge of releasing the game.

Wii Music, as it is cunningly titled, let’s users loose on a collection of over 60 instruments in order to perform any of the 50 included tunes. The latter embraces a generous spread of toe-tappers from booming classics, game themes (Super Mario Bros is in there) and ‘Cult pop’, whatever that entails. Meanwhile the selection of instruments features steel drums, saxes, various guitars and, well, heck knows what else seeing as barking dogs are also included. As long as there’s a bassoon in there somewhere we’ll be happy.

All 60 instruments are recreated using the WiiMote and, where appropriate, the Nunchuk - just in case you were having nightmare visions of the biggest, most expensive box of peripherals ever conceived.

‘Jam’ is the main mode of play, in which gamers become one of a six-member ensemble - the other ‘Tute’ characters being controlled by the Wii. This mode itself is broken into ‘Improvise’, ‘Quick Play’ and ‘Custom Jam’ variants. In brief terms Improvise is a useful practice option, Quick Play lets the Wii contol the settings, meaning a different experience each time you play, and Custom Jam allows users to choose the style, speed, Tute accompaniment, performance venue and so on.

On top of that there’s the fun-sounding Virtual Drum Kit which features 15 interactive tutorials and successfully simulates an entire kit using the Remote and ’Chuk as sticks and, if you’ve got one, the Balance Board as the bass drum. Finally there’s the conductor mode as made famous by Shiggsy and where the Remote becomes a baton controlling the speed and volume of a full orchestra. Oh, and there’s a ‘Pitch Perfect’ quiz to test your knowledge of musical theory. Erm…

Okay, however you decide to play, once a song is completed it can be saved as a video clip, given a record sleeve and uploaded for the amusement/derision of friends and family via WiiConnect24, where they’ll be able to rate and even remix your efforts to their giddy hearts' content.

All in it’s a surprisingly fulsome package - the gameplay is supposed to be pretty testing too. Most of all, though, it looks like a total blast and it’s coming your way on November 14th. A sleeper contender for Xmas number one, perhaps…?