Rock around the clock…

May 24, 2008

You see that title is clever for two reasons. Number one is it’s passed 3 in the morning so I’m up rather late, fulfilling the “around the clock” part.  And two this is about Rock Band, so that covers the “Rock” bit…….god I’m so clever….and tired….why can’t I sleep!!!

So today I manage to get hold of a copy of Rock Band and a set of drums to go with it. My original plan was just to get the basic game and use it as a fancy version of Guitar Hero, but thanks to a large pile of trade INS being traded in for a fine sum of store credit type monies, I went crazy and grabbed the drum kit as well.  Actually I lied slightly there, my real original plan was to buy the whole “shebang” of guitar, mic, drums and game, but thanks to a ridiculously high RRP of £180 I wisely chose against such a thing. 

Anyhow, I got home with it and planned a little bit of relaxing with some TNA on the telly box before cracking it open and making a loud noise that would probably end up being best described as disastrous. However plans quickly changed when founding member of Green Team;  Mr Phil arrived at the front door for a brief visit, he quickly tempted me in to throwing the kit together (a very simple build of shoving a few tubes into the correct holes), and cracking out a few tracks with him on guitar and an eager Weeman on Bass. 

This wasn’t my first time whacking the Rock Band pads, Manny and co having brought a copy back from America last year, but it had been a hell of long time since that last happened, and boy could you tell. Missed notes flew around like things that fly very well when you’re trying to come up with a simile at what is now half 3 in the morning, but despite my obvious short comings I was having a whale of a time, our set only lasted about 3 songs but even that brief foray into Rock Bands multiplayer showed the ridiculously high level of fun on offer. If only we had some one crazy enough to try and sing along. 

For the rest of the evening I concentrated on having a rummage through the various single player options the games shows off. You can of course play through the game in any one of the four disciplines; singing, bass, guitar and drums. And if you have played singstar or guitar hero or the like you will know exactly what to be expecting here.  While none of the individual sections disappoint there is an element of the whole experience that is lost in single player. Rock Band is meant for a group of mates getting together and living out all their musical fantasies that they have dreamt about since they first saw Bros on Top of the Pops all those years ago, but thanks to cruel fate all they musical talent they have is the ability to throw a recorder in your face for saying you suck at the bass (?). Ignoring the obvious comparison of Rock Band simply having more going on than Guitar Hero, when playing in Rock Band you actually feel like you’re are in a band, all working together for the common good, especially if you go into overdrive and save any of your less skilled band mates, whereas in GH3 its simply two guys playing guitar at the same time, and while fun it just lacks that extra spark when put next to Rock Band.

Another feature that Rock Band beats GH hands down is in its DLC, its cheaper, more varied, got a much vaster library, and thanks to the recently added store actually a joy to browse through. I spent best part of 1000points in one sitting alone! Add to that the level of customisation you have over your character, especially as you progress through the game, and you have a pretty good little game.

Normally a game like this, with so many vast improvements over its processors, would be an obvious buy, but thanks to the craziness surrounding the price, I don’t feel I can fully recommend it to you unless you have enough cash is be able to swim through it, but if you can get hold of it, you will not be disappointed.

Filed under: rock band, xbox |