Beatles Rock Band was announced over a year ago and since then the weight has seemed endless. But it was finally released yesterday, and as soon as I got home from work, I sat down to play. The Story Mode simply gives you a chance to unlock all the songs and progress chronologically through the Beatles’ career, beginning at the Cavern and ending at the Let It Be Rooftop concert. Playing straight through and beating each song, it took about three hours to complete. But the game offers so much more than those three hours of playing time! As you progress, you also unlock rarely seen photographs, challenges, and other bonuses. You can play guitar, bass, or drums, and you also have the option of singing either the lead for each song or the harmonies.
A new album will be released for download beginning with Abby Road in October, and so you’ll have just enough time to master the forty-five songs that were included with the game.
The graphics are absolutely amazing, and each moment is infused with the spirit of the band. However, you don’t have to be a huge life-long fan to appreciate the game. The songs are sufficiently difficult on Hard and Expert to provide a challenge for fans of the gaming series, and of course, there’s plenty of online game play and challenges.
Overall, I give Beatles Rock Band an A+!
September 17, 2009
Now You’re the Fifth Beatle!
September 10, 2009
Rock Hero
Two of the most popular video games in the past three years are the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series. Guitar Hero had the advantage of being first, but Rock Band was the first to offer a truly cooperative game-playing experience. As a result of the popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, there have been countless knockoffs, featuring a wide variety of music and types of gameplay. But ultimately, none of those other copycats even come close to the status of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. And now, this week, two new releases are battling for dominance.
Activision has the slight edge with the early release of Guitar Hero 5. With nearly 100 new songs, expanded gameplay (four people can play guitar at once), and the ability to play with your XBOX 360 avatar, it’s certainly an awesome game. But tomorrow, on 9/9/09, the newest Rock Band will hit store shelves. Rock Band Beatles promises to take the entire genre to the next level. With some of the best songs ever recorded, amazing graphics, and the cooperative gameplay that the Rock Band games are known for, this has the potential to be one of the best games of 2009.
More thorough reviews of both games will be coming later this week!
