Rock Band: The Verdict

I’ve been playing Rock Band a fair bit since I got it a few weeks ago and… I LOVE IT! The Guitar controller is a MUCH better shape for me and although the strumbar having no clicky sound throws me a bit I think it’s probably better and wish I’d started out with a silent strumbar so I’d be used to it.

The drums are really good fun, but sadly I have ELs so they have no sensitivity whatsoever (no sock mod for me). I haven’t even got around to finishing the Easy Drum Tour yet, but there is another reason for this. The drums are pretty loud to people downstairs (and I can’t do a lot about it since I have ELs) so I can only play during the day. This means I play the guitar tours mostly… but… and this shocks me. When people are out I’m actually finding the Vocal Tours the most fun! Took me a while to get into it. I don’t sing unless I really have to, which is usually never, I mimed my way through assemblies at primary school. It shows that whilst I obviously can’t sing my guess of the pitch is pretty spot on (which is all RB cares about). I am slightly worried about the ones I keep 100%ing though. I mean ‘Maps‘ (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) is easy so that’s expected, but ‘Celebrity Skin‘ (Hole), ‘In Bloom‘ (Nirvana), ‘Black Hole Sun‘ (Soundgarden) and ‘Enter Sandman‘ (Metallica)..! Is there a grunge kid trying to get out here? Am I reliving my flannel-shirted teens?? ‘Sabotage‘ (Beastie Boys) is a nightmare for me though as it doesn’t seem to think I’m saying the words right and there’s no actual singing in it. You’d think it would be easier… but no. Maybe I need to put on my NY accent for that song.

It’s such a natural progression from GHII as well. I know they’re releasing Guitar Hero: World Tour, but really… as soon as they add in Co-Op Career on-line I’m content with Rock Band and just getting DLC for it every now and then. Talking of the downloadable tracks – wow! There are millions! OK, slight exaggeration, but there’s a bit of everything in there. I’m not downloading any (except GLaDOS’ ‘Still Alive‘) until I get to the point in it where I’m totally at my level and have to try to pass songs. I’m working my way through Easy-Medium-Hard-Expert on all the instruments to get the most out of the game. Such a shame I’ll never get any of the Band Tour achievements though. No-one ever comes here, and I’m not lugging the instruments into town. On-line co-op career would be perfect.

Another thing that I absolutely love is the character customization. Soooo much better now I can have my characters looking like me! My guitarist one is scary, she really does look like (a thinner version of) me. I love the way the band interacts too. With guitarists singing along on parts of the song. Looks so much nicer than GHIII. The guitar parts are a lot easier though. In a way it’s good, but also I don’t feel like I’ve achieved quite so much being halfway through the Guitar Tour on Expert.

I really need to update my ScoreHero now, but there’s singing to be done!