Harmonix, the MTV-owned studio based in Boston, MA, is in the process of releasing it’s latest gaming project, Rock Band game. Judging by the pre-order response, it’s definitely a winner! If you haven’t got your hands on this yet, RUN, don’t walk to your nearest gaming store!
The Rock Band game lets four players participate as members of a virtual rock band. No more “air guitar” here: if you’ve ever imagined yourself as part of a band, this game can help you go one step further by allowing you to “play” the part of either the guitarist, drummer, bass player or lead vocalist. Once you’ve “played” all four parts, you can then combine them as one and view your very own rock concert! Even if a player fails in one part, his screen area just turns gray while the band plays on. If another player manages to activate Star Power, the player who failed can rejoin the band.
You can start off by creating your own band logo. You can then create your own band character and set up multiple avatars that play different instruments. The full action “on stage” movements are great: you can have your vocalist stand center stage or “work” the entire stage as they sing.
Both guitar parts feature ten frets. The first five frets are standard and the second five are reserved for solos. There’s also a five way switch that allows for self applied sound effects.
When you work the drum section, it’s wild! You have to hit four different colored pads and work a kick pedal attached to the drumming unit. Rock Band made sure none of the band members were left behind in doing free form. If your “fills” as a drummer are good enough, you, too, will qualify for Star Power.
Vocals feature a phoneme detector that picks up certain letters as you say them. Once you’ve built up enough well-known phrases, the game allows you to sing free-form; do well enough at this, and you’ll trigger the game’s Star Power.
If you haven’t been able to earn it, there’s also a Whammy Bar included so you can activate Star Power when you need it.
Although still in the works, MTV’s Harmonix will eventually set up access to an international Rock Band community so you can find bandmembers from all over and share your “road trip triumphs” with all! The Rock Band game comes jam-packed with features and so much more, you might not believe it until you grab your own copy of the Rock Band game and Rock On!
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Rock Band for XBox 360
Rock Band for Play Station 3
Rock Band for Play Station 2
