Before I start this review, I'd like to state (for the record) that I'm a pretty big Beatles fan. I'm also a big fan of the "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" series of games. With that said, I have to admit that I really enjoyed this game. I bought the "limited edition" bundle that comes with the Hofner Bass Guitar, Drums, Mic, and Mic stand. It also comes with some collector's Beatles postcards.
Hardware:
All of the instruments that came with this bundle seems to have a high build quality. Even the mic stand seemed surprising 'sturdy as hell' :) The MCcartney Hofner guitar especially stands out. It's beautifully made and looks very much like a real guitar. The details in the paint-job was a pleasant surprise. It even has a little light sensor on it that can automatically calibrate screen timing and response time of the guitar.
Game:
The game itself is a brilliant tribute to The Beatles. It's beautifully rendered with details and nuiances that were well thought out and executed. The intro video to the game is probably one of the best I've ever seen. Even the menu transitions in this game are beautiful and creatively done! A lot of love and care was taken to make this game... and it really does shine through. The music itself was painstakingly remastered and just sounds amazing! I liked that all the songs were available to play (in quick-play mode) right away without having to unlock them. The game features 45 Beatles songs spanning their whole career. Of course I would've liked more songs... but I also understand that they couldn't fit every single song onto the disc. I heard that more songs will be available for purchase at a later date through the online store though.
Gameplay:
In "Story Mode" you can play individually or in a band and it basically follows their career. The graphics are done really well and there is a lot of attention to detail apparent. For example, the guitars they are holding look really detailed and when they are strumming the guitars, they are strumming the real chords and notes. The concert halls seem like they have been rendered to look exactly like the venues they played. Some of the songs start out with them recording it in the studio... but then zooms them into a music video that was especially made for the song. The 3D rendered videos of these songs are just amazing and it's hard to concentrate on strumming when you're trying to look at the music video at the same time :)
Quickplay mode lets you pick any songs you want to play (either solo or with a band) or create your own set-list of songs from the compete list of songs. There is also an online play option for both Story mode and Quick-play, though I haven't really tried it out yet. As always, here is a quick list of Pros and Cons I found while playing this game:
Pros:
-Graphics, videos, and Styling of game is done right!
-The re-mastered music sounds great and is offered in surround sound option.
-Wide array of songs that span their career
-Instruments and hardware seem to be of high build quality
-Game-play is fun and Menus are easy to navigate and understand... plus, beautifully rendered.
-There is a nice surprise when you beat the game... but I'm not telling! :)
-Setting up the instruments was pretty easy.
Cons:
-Medium difficulty mode on Guitar and Bass seems too easy, while "Hard" mode is a big leap from "Medium"
-No expansion song packs available at launch.
-Limited Edition bundle is pretty expensive (retails at $[...]
-Missing some great songs... like "Hey Jude", "And I love her", and "Strawberry Fields" to name a few.
Conclusion:
If you are a fan of The Beatles music, this game is a must! The music is better than you've ever heard it, and it looks visually stunning! If you can't afford the limited edition bundle ([...]I would recommend that you buy just the game itself because it's compatible with many of the guitars and instruments of the older Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. My guitar from my 'Guitar Hero World Tour' worked great for this game. My tip is to buy a complete band bundle from one of the previous games (like Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero World Tour) and buy just the Beatles game. That way you'll have a complete band of instruments and 2 games to play instead of just one. In a word, I have to admit that this game "Rocks" :)
You can be the Walrus
Review Date: January 18, 2010
Reviewer: Eric B, Los Angeles area
This was my first experience with the Rockband games. Me, my wife, and two kids (8 and 10) all love playing this game. It looks and sounds great. It doesn't take long to get used to playing the game especially on easy mode once you get your instruments sync'd up.
Paying [a lot] more for the authentic looking Beatles instruments was worth it to me becuase they work well and look cool enough to leave out in the livingroom. It was hard to tell how the two USB inputs were going to allow me to play the guitar, drums, and sing with the mic, but one of the two wireless recievers has two inputs allowing for three USB devices. If you want more than three you will have to use an additional USB splitter.
Rock On
Review Date: January 21, 2010
Reviewer: Max's Mom,
Beatles RockBand is a unique gaming experience. While the kids are rocking out on the guitar and drums, parents can grab a mike (or 2 or 3) and sing along to classic tunes. It is a complete sensory experience. The audio and visual components are top notch and fun for both gamers and spectators. Musical and non-musical people can enjoy this game. The story line follows the Beatles through various venues and is a fun way to revisit their history.
Since our son takes music lessons and we have real instruments in the house - drums, guitars, keyboards - I resisted buying what I thought was a fake approach to music. Beatles RockBand has actually helped my son figure out drum patterns and best of all, it provides neutral feedback for ability. You can't argue with the screen - either you got the note or you didn't.
When you run out of songs you can purchase more through your gaming system over the internet. I found this to be an involved process and would have preferred to just buy a hard copy rather than seemingly imaginary software but the additional songs are well worth the effort and price.
Beware - it's easy to get caught up in the game and hours disappear. Beatles RockBand is a relaxing and fun experience, and there are far worse things to be addicted to.
A variety of gameplay environments pulled from the Beatles career, including Cavern Club, Abbey Road and Shea Stadium.
Includes: "The Beatles: Rock Band" software for PS3, Höfner bass controller, The Beatles branded Rock Band drums, microphone, microphone stand, and special content.
A song list of more than 40 Beatles hits, as well as additional DLC to follow via PlayStation Network.
The first music game to offer harmonies as part of gameplay, challenging players to recreate The Beatles’ vocal blend.
Works with all Rock Band and most Guitar Hero controllers and microphones.
[...] waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. In this beatles rockband bundle game you won’t just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark [...]
[...] waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. In this beatles rock band special game you won’t just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark [...]
[...] waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. In this beatles rock band special game you won’t just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark [...]
This Game Rocks! Great for any Beatles Fan
[...] waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. In this beatles rockband bundle game you won’t just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark [...]
[...] waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. In this beatles rock band special game you won’t just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark [...]
[...] waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. In this beatles rock band special game you won’t just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark [...]
God save Beatles!