Rock Band Review (PS3)

This rock 'n' roll simulation game pulls off the unthinkable --
letting even the most musically untalented experience what it's like
to start a garage band and taking it to the top -- all without leaving
the living room.

From the creators of Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II comes Rock Band, a
music and rhythm game that lets a four-piece ensemble rock out to
guitar-driven songs from the '60s to present day. The entire setup
costs a reasonable $169 , considering you get the game, a guitar, a
drumset and microphone attachment. But wait a minute, you ask, since
four people can play, why do only three instruments come in a pack?
The good news: the guitar, drum and microphone will also be sold
separately, so you can buy them one at a time, or add an extra guitar
controller to play bass. The bad news: you can't buy single
instruments until February '08. The good news: you can use an old
Guitar Hero II controller to fill in until then.

Once the controller confusion's straightened out, up to four people --
online and off – can jam to songs, each guided by their own set of
notes on screen. Guitarists push the corresponding colored buttons
while pressing the strum bar; the drummer hits the correct colored
drum head with the included drumsticks and the singer matches the
pitch of the vocal track as the words scroll by. For anyone who's
played Guitar Hero, it's easy to pick up and play the guitar. The
drums takes more time to get used to, but once you get the hang of
banging skins and pressing the attached foot pedal as directed on
screen -- you'll shove your bandmates out of the way just to stake
your (rightful) claim on the drum throne.

Mock rockers can jump into the action Solo or in Multiplayer mode.
Solo Quickplay and Career are a great way to brush up on your skills,
but Multiplayer mode is where it's at. You can jump right into the
action in multiplayer Quickplay, but we recommend taking the 10
minutes to create a band from scratch. Name the band, go to the Rocker
Creator to custom-mold your on-screen shredder, pick a hometown and
then set off to conquer the world, one club at a time.

The better the band performs, the more cash and fans it acquires,
which unlocks new venues and so forth. Fail a song – the band not only
gets booed, but they lose fans and have to gain them back again before
advancing to new areas. The rewards and punishment give a real sense
of accomplishment (and loss).

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