Two Steps Forward, One Step Back...
There's no point going over how fun it is to play as a band etc. because that's been said to death, but I will say, as a band, it will be the best rythem game so far, but it's a very sad solo experience. Why? Well...
The new 'goals' system is an excellent idea, but I think the execution is poor. To "progress" in the game you have to achieve these little milestones, some are easy, some you just won't achieve. And it wouldn't annoy me about the impossible tasks, but it's that the game doesn't let you continue it's story unless you've achieved enough of these things, and most of the time, it feels more like a chore having to do these extra goals just to move forward. And it gets worse as you go on, because you'll have already done all of the; 'Get 5 stars on 25 songs' etc., and towards the end of the game story, if you're playing by yourself, you're left with; 'Get 5 stars on every song on Expert' and it's more a slap in the face then a challenge...
In most aspects this game is a huge leap forward; the character design, the visuals etc. but it's missing some of the things that--even though small--actually made the first Rock Band awesome. Like in the first one, the singer would leap off the stage, interact, it was so well made in that aspect, but RB3 really let me down this time. They don't interact like that, and most of the movements aren't fluid. Like your singer will be holding the mic outwards, or guitarist...doing gee-tar things, and then it'll just cut to them in a position that just couldn't have happened in that .5 of a second. It's the being a band aspect of it that's the main point of the game...a lil' obvious, I know, but let's keep going. It just takes away from that ambience, which doesn't kill anyone, but it does just look awkward sometimes...
Still, for all the con's, there's all the pro's. The setlist is by far my favourite out of any other 'Band' or 'Hero' game I've played. It feels more diverse, but more structured at the same time. Like everything(almost everything) has that innate rock, but they've spread out to other genres, but kept that kind of rock mentality. Picking songs--like 'Rehab'--not rock at all, but it's got that rock structure in it's bass. So you'll always have something with that underlying beat, but maybe with a different tone, which is nice. I think they chose very well...
...still waiting for a QueenAdreena song to be in there, like, but it's just never going to happen =/ For real, look for 'FM Doll' or 'Pretty Like Drugs' on Youtube and tell me they shouldn't be in a rythem game. Do it...
...you're not doing it, are you? *Sigh*...
The overall visuals are rather nice. It doesn't really differ too much from any other rythem game, but there's more difference in the sets, more detail. So even though the crowd are the same, there's cars driving past behind. I know stuff like that is a bit of a; 'So what?' topic, but it's little details like that that do give you this sense of detail. Again, it's one of those ambience things. The character creation is excellent, there's loads of choices, some a bit...*ponders*...strange...but! That's why they have other in-game shops to buy your **** from. The guys you can create usually look okay, but for some reason the woman always seem a little...post-op...mahoosive jawlines and a chin that could penetrate Kim Jong-Il's sense of self-worth. But the clothes are much more creative then I've seen in the past...
I've only played it as a full band for a few hours at my friend's, but it is great fun with other people. Sadly, I didn't get to use the new keyboard accessory, which is a shame 'cos I'm trained in piano, but even missing that and playing it the same way as I've done thousands of time's before, it is still great.You can have a few drinks, smokes, whatever you want. It gives you a night out...in, which is brilliant =D ...
I remember during an interview they mentioned seeing your characters even when you're not playing as them, and even though it's not quite what I was hoping, it is still a nice little plus. Although, when doing it yourself, it's a real twist on the danglers having to switch loads of characters around between the same controller to get your bandmmates in the role you want them too...
Overall, great game, deffinatley shown the rythem action game isn't dead, but it's removed some of the things that made the original great. Could be because they didn't think anyone cared, or that they overlooked it in favour of something else. Either way, brilliant game, but I've got a feeling the rythem games could lose some of the finer details that made them great. Two huge steps forward for the genre, one step back for the series itself. Still, favourite one to date, so don't hate too much. Needles out...