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Posted on: Nov 15, 2007
Rock Band
WORDS BY: Dan Amrich
Instruments of Destruction
If you’re not the co-op type, each instrument can engage in head-to-head Tug Of War or Score Duel matches. When you see two drummers flailing away on Expert just inches from each other, you’ll know the meaning of “Flirtin’ With Disaster.” And the drums themselves are pretty damned sturdy; we battered a final production model for several days without incident (though we did nuke a prototype). They’re not indestructible, but they were built with abuse in mind.
The Stratocaster guitar controller feels a bit like a toy, but compared to the X-Plorer, it’s quieter, requires only a feather touch, and makes chord changes noticeably easier. Its five extra buttons closer to the body are designed for hammer-on passages — you don’t need to strum as often if you play up high. However, while the guitar is attractively clean, the Braille-like bumps on the middle button are too subtle, so it’s hard to know where you are on the fretboard sometimes, and we kept bumping the five-way effects switch accidentally. The Guitar Hero II and GH III controllers work fine in Rock Band, but you sacrifice the Strat’s extra functionality. As with real-world guitars, which peripheral you use will come down to personal taste.
Another element that might not immediately thrill people is the graphics. Harmonix has opted for a grainy visual style, bathing the slightly cartoony characters in intense stage lighting. The music-video look grows on you over time, and soon you’ll be far more focused on the robust animations (watch for the singer to stage-dive) as well as the excellent lip-synch and accurate finger positioning on the instruments. You’ll like to watch.
All The Way Home
Thankfully, there’s no one watching us play the finale to “Welcome Home.” Fran has finished wailing about demons playing out on the shores of compassion or whatever. Paul survived his stint on the drums...with a little help from his friends. Corey anchored the song by locking into his bass groove, and now we’re all button-mashing for an epic arena-style ending, whaling for bonus points. It wasn’t pretty, but we came together — as a band — and kicked Coheed and Cambria’s ass. That’s what counts. Rock Band isn’t about getting 100% or even the Special Edition bundle’s hefty but well-worth-it $170 price tag; it’s really about how exhilarated you feel when you play. It’s only rock ’n’ roll, but hell yes, we like it.
Coming tomorrow in Rock Band Week: The most embarrassing Rock Band video you will ever see!
PREVOn Xbox 360
- Gaming’s most intensely rewarding co-op experience.
- Three solo campaigns and a multiplayer career in one game.
- No bass solo career; no multiplayer career online; vocal game is more about accuracy than passion.
- Next year, can we sing backup?
Sat, 10/17/2009 - 18:49
Posted by wickland
yeah the guitar is hard to use, but also the stupid drums kept breaking on me.
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 12:15
Posted by lespaulbarona
I meant the guitar is hard to use not the notes are hard to play.
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 12:15
Posted by lespaulbarona
I love this game the only bad thing about it is the guitar because it is really hard to play. I can't wait for Guitar Hero World Tour!!!
Sun, 06/08/2008 - 06:02
Posted by Scars4Life8989
I love rockband and i just beat it today!
Fri, 04/11/2008 - 05:29
Posted by geek24
$160 hmmmm... ill pay
Fri, 02/29/2008 - 20:11
Posted by Shinoobi Daniel
this game freakin ROCKS!!!!! anybody want to play? my gamertag is shinoobi daniel
Mon, 02/11/2008 - 16:18
Posted by dietcoke4fatty
im sorry but this shouldint be game of the year, i know its just an opinion but there were so many 10s, why choose rockband over them?(just a opinion
Wed, 12/26/2007 - 15:37
Posted by GMAN CLAN
Oh and Commander X99 i just bought the bundle it includes: A Mic, 1 Guitar, the Drumset(with sticks) and it comes with a usb adapter to plug all of the usb cords into so don't overlook that piece of equipment or you will be missing a vital piece of the game. Hope i helped.
--My Gamertag is GMAN CLAN. Check me out on xbox live!
Wed, 12/26/2007 - 15:35
Posted by GMAN CLAN
I Love The Game!!! My only complaint is the drums need to be softer...and is it just me or is it really hard to see the Hammer on notes on the guitar part. i play a really fast section and i have no idea where i can hammer on so i miss a bunch of notes because for some reason i have to strum when there are 80 notes going up and down a scale??? That annoys me a lot otherwise its a great game!
--My Gamertag is GMAN CLAN. Check me out on xbox live!
Thu, 12/13/2007 - 17:16
Posted by Commander X99
just if anybody out there can solve my problem i am wonderin? what all comes with bundle? ive heard u get the drum set the mike and 2 guitars,others have told me only 1 guitar comes with if anybody out there knows please help me!
Tue, 12/11/2007 - 19:48
Posted by WJ3005
can you earn the easy achievements by playing on a harder difficulty? translation: do i get the easy achievement too if i do a complete play through on medium and get the medium achievement? etc... The fact that GH3 didn't have this ticked me off.
Fri, 11/30/2007 - 11:12
Posted by SharpShot303
GamerTag=SharpShot303
well overdrive or (starpower) is acctivated by doing your solo and then hitting the last note in the solo usually the green note at the end so then you get overdrive the bad thing is you really cant use the overdrive when you want so its like a one chance thing if you hit that note at the end of that solo then you get it if you dont then your f**ked.
Fri, 11/30/2007 - 11:07
Posted by Lazyman0022
How do you do overdrive or whatever for drums?
Fri, 11/30/2007 - 06:41
Posted by SharpShot303
GamerTag=SharpShot303
whats cool about this game is that even now your all a band you can all pick different diffucalty levels to play on witch is cool. another thing is that the guitar finaly dosent make that clicking nosie when you strum
Sat, 11/24/2007 - 13:14
Posted by saggin good
i love it i just wish you could use the controller
Thu, 11/22/2007 - 11:33
Posted by Swishpronoob
I have a question about this game. Will each individual be able to choose an individual difficulty when playing co-op? I wish I could get this game but the Air Force does not pay me enough.
Mon, 11/19/2007 - 12:01
Posted by cart00nstrip
I really want this game, but I just can't justify the price for the near future - Mayhaps next year...
Sat, 11/17/2007 - 15:12
Posted by BEARamos713
I want to watch Dan sing a Coheed and Cambria song.
Sat, 11/17/2007 - 10:22
Posted by PaperLantern
So, are a lot of OXM's reviews going to be on this site?
Sat, 11/17/2007 - 10:07
Posted by Kamikaze8
i personally think guitar hero looks better, and feels better, but it has no drums, so that y i want this...
Fri, 11/16/2007 - 07:03
Posted by SilentMerc3nary
Rock Band is a game I will be getting when it drops down in price. I'm not paying 170 for this. Guitar Hero FTW!!!