Rock Band delivers an immersing experience that completely lives up to the hype!
The Introduction: I've been playing Rythym Games since DDR. Started on the controller, then worked my way to the pad. Years later I discovered and fell in love with the cult hit "Guitar Hero". That day set in motion the events that would lead to today, the release of "Rock Band". I picked the game up this morning bright and early, plugged it in, and haven't looked back.
The Gear: All of the equipment is very high quality. I've heard complaints about the guitar, but honestly I think it's just that it's "different" and people don't like different. People have their comfort zone and don't like leaving it. Well, in my opinion, Rock Band was designed for the people who aren't afraid of leaving the tedium of the comfort zone, risking it all for a good time. So try out the guitar, let it grow on you a little. You'll get used to it, trust me. And be thankful that it's not as awkward and uncomfortable as the X-plorer. The drums are sturdy and yet also light enough and small enough to be easy to put away or stash in a corner. They've taken quite the beating today and they perform wonderfully. The mic is... well, it's a mic. Although I'm not sure exactly how a microphone's inner workings work, but it IS very interesting how it can pick up everything about your singing. Overall it's a good package... takes about 15-20 minutes to set up and get going. The only complaint I have is that the directional pad on the drums feels a little rough around the edges, sometimes you really have to lean on it to get any response.
The Gameplay: Lets face it, there's no other way of putting this differently: It's Guitar Hero with a fancy new coat of paint and lots and lots of elbow grease. One thing that does shine is the attention to detail... Harmonix has put together a very quality game that "feels" complete. It's also very obvious that the developers have a passion for what they do, because they have captured the very essence of being in a band... the joy that comes from making music... and they have done it in a very professional, polished, and entertaining way. You find yourself just smiling, like a kid in a toystore, giddy with butterflies in your stomach just from playing. The key differences between Guitar Hero and Rockband are as follows: DEEP character customization (this is what will keep you coming back for more, trust me), a sense of unity with the other bandmembers, of course the other instruments (guitar hero + drum hero + karaoke revolution = win), and of course the band world tour. No longer is the game a simple setlist that you must "work through". No, Rock Band is an experience. You have your character and your band and you have a personal attachment to them. You care about their progress as they go from garage hero's to rock gods. And you are there with them every step of the way. You make the band decisions... and you play for money, you play for the fans, and you play for the adrenaline rush that can only come from rocking out with your best friends all playing the songs you love. This is, in the words of Wayne Campbell, "Party time! Excellent! Woowoowoowoowoo!"
The Score: 10/10. Awesome. A good time. What gaming is about.
The improvements: This is where I put things that I think could make the game better, but do NOT detract from the overall quality and workmanship of the game.
1. Hammer-ons. This is the only thing that I think GH3 did better than RB... GH3 did a really good job of making hammer-ons easy to see. Although RB's are easier to pick out than GH1 and GH2's, if you are trying to sight read a song it can be a pain to pick them out. This is something that could hypothetically be fixed in a patch. Do I think it will? Probably not, but wishful thinking eh?
2. Single-player/online Band World Tour (BWT) mode. First of all, Harmonix completely nixxed Single player BWT... I guess because you're not really in a "band" and it would open up too many doors for abuse. Secondly, online BWT was something that was worked on and announced, then un-announced, and then they said it would be patched in... so lets hope that still happens (although recent reports lean towards a "no" and that they are going to use it in the eventual Rock Band 2)
That's all folks. Good luck with your band and ROCK ON!