"All in all it feels like a missed opportunity."
The thing about this game is that it's a lot like Guitar Hero. It looks like it (only not as good), it plays like it, and it shares many of the same qualities. And it's only mediocre to boot. However, due to the fact that the game is strictly AC/DC, a heavy rock band, it will only really appeal to a certain demographic. With much better guitar-wielding games out there and some of these cons working against it, there seems to be only a limited number of people who would be willing to pick it up. And frankly, with the existing number of other available Rock Band track packs out there it might seem like this one is at a disadvantage. I mentioned previously that it plays just like Guitar Hero with the "star power", the four difficulties, and a couple other similarities. And of course, being a game from a different breed (Rock Band), it is obviously different from Guitar Hero. Nonetheless, one will be able to immediately pick up this game and see just how similar the games are. I think that some of the most obvious things lacking would be any customization. The player cannot change his character or guitar model. He can't change anything except difficulty and a few options.
The graphics are something that I can't ignore, or justify in this game. I don't know if this is the way Rock Band looks, but if it is, I can see why Guitar Hero reigns in the genre. Gameplay shows a reel of sheet where the notes of a variety of colors appear, and you must hit them on time to score points. You get the "star power" and guitar solos and all that too. However, my issue lies in the other visuals, especially the digital rockers "performing" in the background. They look terrible. I actually took my eyes off of the music briefly and saw choppy, almost clay-mation worthy frames pass by. It actually looked like a video was playing rather than a "live", realistic band like in Guitar Hero. On that same note, I would have liked to have seen members of AC/DC like Brian Johnson/Bon Scott and Angus Young playing and singing, since it is a game after their band, not faceless digital rockers.
The only saving grace of this game is the music, though if you're a casual gamer you'd be safer going out and buying an album. Fans of AC/DC will love to rock out to songs like "Thunderstruck", "Back in Black", "Highway to Hell", "Heatseeker", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Shoot to Thrill", and more. The good thing about this pack is that they are all performed by AC/DC and not some sound-alike cover band. The bad thing is that there are only eighteen songs. A casual gamer probably won't see the problem there, but fans will probably walk away feeling a little disappointed. Songs like "Stiff Upper Lip" and "Black Ice" as well as a number more are missing, but perhaps in the spirit of their live performances only some of those songs played live were included. And I think this pack was probably modeled after their Live album. Don't get me wrong; fans will get a continous kick out of playing what has been included. Again, the music only will find a specific demographic.
Ultimately what it boils down to is whether or not you're willing to spend $40 on a track pack that is only subpar. And that's even a question fans should be asking themselves because, in all honesty, it might end up not being worth it. If you're just interested in the music then go for the AC/DC Live album, which features some missing songs, and it's considerably cheaper. And you will get more enjoyment of it as well. The AC/DC Rock Band track pack is great for the fans, but casual gamers who don't have an ear for heavy rock should just pass it by. All in all it feels like a missed opportunity.