We already have several Rock Band games to choose from, but now it's time to make room for one more. Lego Rock Band is a surprisingly fun extension to the series, following the same formula, but with a twist. Trendy glam/rock characters have become Lego figurines, bopping to the beat. Stages were built brick by brick, and some even shake.
The Lego presentation is only part of the fun, though. Where Lego Rock Band succeeds is its song selection. We understand it's an all-ages compilation, but unlike Band Hero, Travellers Tales and Harmonix set out to make this music enjoyable to play. There are a few duds in the bunch, like Katrina and the Waves' "Walking On Sunshine" (again) and Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting". Other than that, there's a wide assortment to choose from, including Europe's "The Final Countdown" (yes, it's marvelous), Blur's "Song 2" and Incubus' "Dig", among others from the 80s and 90s. We even smiled while playing Korn's cover of "Word Up".
What's cool is how some songs interact with parts of the story. You'll occasionally come across Rock Challenges, requiring you to play as loud and successfully as possible to complete a certain task. For instance, you'll need to bring down a seemingly indestructible building with the power of The Hives' "Tick Tick Boom" in one scenario, while scaring off ghosts as you jam to Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" the next. These are the game's most entertaining moments, and even the Lego characters get into it, singing along with the lyrics. Superstars also pop up, including Lego-ized versions of Queen and David Bowie.
Aside from that, the gameplay is still the same. You'll be able to sing, strum and drum your way through each performance using instrument peripherals. Sadly, the game doesn't have Lego-specific devices, but older ones work just fine. The interface is easy to follow no matter what you're using, and the option to turn off the kick-pedal with drums is a huge plus for younger players.
You can play through any of the songs in Free Play, or check out the Story mode, where you'll build upon your band's success. Along the way, you'll acquire a manager, get new modes of transport (we love the tour speedboat) and earn new gigs. It's similar to what we've seen before in Rock Band, but Travellers Tales gave everything a comedic charm through cinemas. You can also unlock new goodies to dress your characters in, including a Frankenstein head.
Not everything is rock-worthy, however. While the game still has plenty of local multiplayer options (up to four players can perform at once), it doesn't feature online play through Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. This is a small bummer, as there are those who no doubt want to play with their friends who aren't in the same zip code.
Still, the game does have online accessibility when it comes to song porting. Lego Rock Band works easily with most Rock Band/Rock Band 2downloadable content through Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network (sorry, Wii owners), with no additional charge. There are songs that can't be copied due to "mature" themes (most of Spinal Tap's stuff), but that doesn't ruin the experience. (If you don't have any DLC yet, we suggest starting with the latest Foo Fighters pack that includes "The Pretender".)
Furthermore, if you still have the other Rock Band games, you can transfer Lego Rock Band's entire set. It'll cost you $10 (800 Microsoft points), but it's a small price to pay for 45 songs.
Despite the lack of online play and songs missing from the set list, Lego Rock Band's happy presentation, enjoyable soundtrack and rockin' gameplay will keep you entertained for quite some time.
Reader Comments (1)
Lego Rock Band seems pretty much the same as Rock Band, only different characters moving on the screen.