We will rock you: A Rock Band Review
It’s like reaching one of those moments when nothing can go wrong.
Riley is on the guitar, hitting every note without fail, as is Doug is playing the bass. Joe is on drums pounding away and setting up the rhythm for me to follow.
I can hear the crowd chanting along as we approach the ending of ‘Creep’ by Radiohead. My throat is hoarse from belting out the high and low notes. I know we have to finish strong—the fickle fans demand it.
As the final chorus ends, the crowd cheers and gives us a standing ovation. We played the song flawlessly and won the battle of the bands on “Rock Band.”
Harmonix’s “Rock Band” is just what he name implies: Grab your instruments or microphone and join forces with your friends in what is perceived as being one of the most socially interactive games released since “Rayman Raving Rabbids” for the Nintendo Wii. It’s like starting a garage band with your friends without years of practice.
The game allows you to play in a solo mode, where you can either take up the guitar, bass, drums or microphone. However, it truly shines when used in into a social setting with friends.
When playing alone, gameplay-wise, “Guitar Hero” presents a greater challenge for someone who is less than a casual gamer. When choosing between both games, it becomes more of a question of musical taste.
The learning curve of the game is much easier that that of “Guitar Hero III.” “Rock Band” has a steady progression of difficulty between levels. Expect the game to become increasingly difficult with any additional sequels to the games or with additional downloadable content. The game follows the same pattern as games like “Dance Dance Revolution,” where earlier incarnations were easier to play, and each additional release or expansion became progressively harder in order to make the game challenging.
Even with an expansive song list, ranging from the 60s (with the Rolling Stones) to more modern music ( like Fall Out Boy), the music selection in “Rock Band” feels thin. By including downloadable content within respective online stores, the possibility of expanding the available songs is infinite… for a price. Songs available from release date include Metallica, the Police and Queens of the Stone Age. Prices will range from $5.49 for a three-pack or individual tracks will sell for $1.99 each.
The “Rock Band Special Edition” pack is quite pricey at $179, nearly costing the same amount as a video gaming console. The instruments included in the set have a solid feel to them. The set includes a very stable drum kit (although the foot pedal can be difficult to place comfortably), a microphone of good weight and a guitar that is modeled after a Fender Stratocaster that is more realistic and easier to play than any of the guitars that come with the Guitar Hero series. It should be noted that the guitar from “Rock Band” is not compatible with “Guitar Hero,” although the latter can be used with “Rock Band.”
The four instruments connect to the console via USB ports. Some PlayStation 3 models have four ports in front, while the Xbox 360 only has two. To remedy that, The Xbox 360 version of “Rock Band” includes a powered USB hub, which needs to be connected to a wall socket.
We give the game 9.5 out of 10 for four reasons: it brings social gaming to a new level, the controllers are extremely well-made, the song list is practically timeless and it’s so damn fun to play.
-Originally published by the Shoreline Community College student paper, the Ebbtide-