Yes, this is an interesting challenge: do the Step exercises with the sound off. Yes, that's right, no sound whatsoever.

Based on my attempts so far, I can say this:

* Your timing will initially go completely to (bad word).
* As you concentrate more on timing, the accuracy of your steps will suffer.
* My scores haven't sucked this hard on those games in ages. This morning I managed 463 on Advanced Step - normally I don't get less than 600.
* The music, therefore, is more important than I thought, and this is the fault of the (quiet) backbeat that matches the proper timing of the moves. Without the music, you must rely on your vision, and you lack the active feedback given by the different tinkly sounds.

Similar things affect Rhythm Parade, even with the Wiimote sound still on - my previous advice to ignore the music is still sound, in that you don't actively follow it, but you must have it around. Unlike the Step exercise, however, the effect on your score is relatively small.

Big Top Juggling, however, is not affected by this, because all the timing is done against overtly visual cues.

Anyway, that's the challenge: turn the main sound off (but leave the Wiimote sound turned up) and give Step a try. The goal is to get your score back up.

Leave a message here describing your experience...

Enjoy!