Rocksmith doesn't make learning guitar any easier, but it makes it a whole lot more fun.
Rocksmith's technology is what sets it apart from its music game peers. Using a special ¼ inch-music-jack-USB cable, players can connect any guitar (with a ¼ inch jack) to their console. After a quick soundcheck to make sure your guitar is tuned and connected properly, you can dive into playing Rocksmith. The technology works very well and the overall recognition of the sounds functions without much issue. Though HDTV's do have to make some changes to the setup to limit the occasional lag, it doesn't get in the way and the playing moves very smoothly overall. Some other minor issues were volume, where finding a sweet spot that allows the sound to be recognized while not making intense buzzing can be a bit tough. One specific group of techniques, harmonics, have serious problems being recognized. The fundamentals are recognized well enough, however. It's great to see the technology's individual note and chord recognition so spot on. There are definitely some kinks that could be ironed out through a patch, but Rocksmith's ambitious pioneering of a true music simulation is unquestionable. Technologically, no other music title even comes close.
When a song starts, the archetypal streams of notes dash down the guitar highway. Play the right notes by strumming the right string while holding down the correct fret on the guitar. The interface highlights the strings in various colors and numbers off the right frets, providing an easy-to-learn playing style. A major feature of Rocksmith is dynamic difficulty, where depending on how well (or badly) you play the notes, the actual distribution of notes changes. For example, play flawlessly throughout the song and the notes will be more frequent or intricate. Miss some notes and the song tones down the amount of notes offered. This may seem confusing at first, but it keeps Rocksmith's teaching method of progressive improvement at the forefront. It feels associated for beginners and intermediate players, but the guitarists with the utmost skill will find the difficulty to be toned down considerably. All in all, if you already know how to play the guitar (and play it well), Rocksmith isn't the experience for you.
The options in Rocksmith are plentiful and surprisingly diverse. New guitarists can immediately dive into the technique practice sessions, where simple techniques like moving down the guitar neck are introduced, each with an instructional video and a challenge to complete (with medals being awarded for good playing). More advanced techniques like slides, bends, and chords are introduced as the challenges are completed. Once players are familiar with the mechanics, the single-player "Journey" mode opens new events and setlists to play. If you want some more lighthearted practice, you can even play some minigames to improve your skills like slaying zombies with chords or rapidly strumming to keep a feathered friend on the run. These minigames will keep your skills sharp and offer some goofy fun in between the song-to-song practice. The collection of modes and challenges scattered throughout Rocksmith are linked together with a point progression system. Players are awarded points throughout the different modes, which are compiled into a single score to represent your overall skill in Rocksmith. Scores then are set to offer new rankings each time enough points are earned. You will find a lot of ways to refine your skills in Rocksmith, whether it's improving your challenge score or just blasting away at pixelated ducks with well-placed riffs.
Rocksmith's setlist is not filled with over-the-top metal anthems or bizarre prog-rock symphonies. Instead of intricate arrangements of musical madness, the software offers songs that are familiar enough to be catchy, but simple enough to catch on to the guitar mechanics. For example, beginners can rock out to The Black Keys and The Rolling Stones, while musicians with a bit more skill can play through Soundgarden, Kings of Leon, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Songs can be played in many different forms; some will offer arrangements with single notes, others with chords, and others with combinations of both. The high amount of less-popular indie bands may turn off fans of the intense rock songs like those seen in Rock Band, but Rocksmith's setlist has a focus that has plenty of catchiness in between the riffs. The songs feel built for trying out the mechanics of learning guitar. Even techniques like bends and palm mutes are represented very well throughout the songs. It would've been good to see a few more songs overall, but Ubisoft promises downloadable content in the near future. Rocksmith has a great collection of songs that integrate the skills gathered from practice into their construction. You're bound to find a favorite song and actually being able to play along with it makes the entire experience even sweeter.
Rocksmith tones down the theatrics and cinematic rambunctiousness of its music game rivals in favor of a homey, almost intimate atmosphere. The narrator throughout the teaching sequences sounds more like an actual instructor, making the practice sessions feel much less intensive and nerve-wracking. Graphics during songs are nice and run smoothly throughout the performance, though the cinematic rock ambiance that has permeated games like Rock Band is noticeably absent in Rocksmith. The crowds look particularly copy-pasted and distract from feeling like a real rock star. The amount of master recordings in the soundtrack is solid and, in an encouraging step, the software sound won't emit the obnoxious grinds and squeaks from a missed note. Rocksmith, as you may expect, isn't about the rock star aesthetic. It's really about the teaching and learning experience, and in that regard, it doesn't miss a note.
But the big question is this: will Rocksmith teach you to play guitar? The answer isn't without its nitpicky technicalities like some sound quality issues and finger placement leniency, but in a nutshell, yes, it will. Ubisoft has created one of the most fun forms of teaching software ever designed, one that kicks plastic instruments to the curb, in favor of real guitars and actual string-strumming skill. The amount of modes and skill refinement challenges all feels intuitive and essential to the whole package. Even the wacky minigames feel like they're crucial to Rocksmith's design. The technology alone is worthy of praise, as its recognition of notes and tones is remarkably well-implemented, aside from some minor audio setup issues. The setlist drops the speed metal for easier songs to learn guitar to, without sacrificing familiarity. Though it more than likely will not be challenging enough for seasoned axemen, the overall setup feels incredibly well-suited for anyone who wants to learn guitar, but has been discouraged in the tedium of forced practice. To be absolutely clear, however, Rocksmith won't make you a better guitarist OVERNIGHT. Like any instrument, what you put into Rocksmith is what you'll get out of it. Practice makes perfect, but Rocksmith makes each practice session appealing and worth attending. From its groundbreaking technology to its refined progression scale, Rocksmith has officially broken down the barrier between music and video games. Plastic guitars are officially out.