Rock Band review for the 30+ demographic
So lets talk solo first. By yourself, or two people swapping play time, the game is OK. The music selection is awesome. All the songs you love to sing along to or that you've ever honed your tremendous air guitar skill on. The game mechanics are nice and obvious saving you any learning curve. We even put my mother-in-law on it with no downtime. BUT, the difficulty progression is punishing. That wouldn't be so bad if the game didn't tap into that OCD part of your brain that demands perfection. Getting 2/3rds of the way through a song just to mess up royally is more likely to make me swear and shake my fist at the cruel Lords of Rock than to just laugh it off and try over.
Which brings me to multiplayer. Thoroughly awesome. Having a full band really, and I mean REALLY, completes the experience. All of a sudden its less about obsessive compulsive timing control, but more about enjoying the hell out of those songs you love to pretend you could actually play.... and usually laughing at the poor sucker who's stuck in the singing position. Multiplayer is, for lack of a better word, a magical experience.
The last thing endearing me to Rock Band is the avatar customization, especially for multiplayer. Much more satisfying than the limited model/skin selection of its competitor, Guitar Hero. Our last Rock Band party burned at least an hour laughing at our insane avatars alone!