Xbox 360
When Harmonix left the Guitar Hero brand in the capable hands of Neversoft and Red Octane, the rhythm-action fanbase was left wondering where the developer would go from there. Check out our review from earlier in the year for our official verdict here.
No one could quite estimate the impact their next product, Rock Band would have on gaming at large. The introduction of a full band format made the game more appealing to non-gamers who saw friends playing together and wanted in on the fun. It's a game that people who have never picked up a controller in their life want to try and developers simply cannot buy this level of appeal. With weekly downloadable tracks and the most varied setlist in a music game so far, Rock Band truly is a game for the everyman.
You, the readers voted Rock Band number ten in our run-down, but what does the Square-Go team think of it? Let the debate commence!
(Disclaimer.. Our top ten list runs from the start of November 2007 to November 10 2008)
Dave: At number 10, we have Rock Band, not that stuffy t**t Gordon Brown. Well deserved?
Neil: Best multiplayer experience of the year.
Josh: No.
Johnathan: Rock Band: The definitive 'play it at your rich friend's house' experience.
Josh: I saw some people playing it in Zavvi, it seems silly.
Dave: It definitely takes rhythm action to a new level doesn't it?
Graeme: I don't think it really alters that much from Guitar Hero.
Joel: It's a casual title so it depends if you're into the rockstar fantasy, and I don't mean actually getting an interview with the Grand Theft Auto guys...
Dave: Did anyone find it too easy?
Si: I found Rock Band to be the Guitar Hero's inferior cousin.
Craig: It's exactly the same game as the first Guitar Hero, with you know...drums, which, when they're all fake instruments, doesn't really make much difference.
Dave: Is this the old 'why don't you play a real instrument argument?'
Josh: You're not exactly a Guitar Hero guy now Craig...
Johnathan: Rock Band is incredibly fun in the right atmosphere. It's a party game in the most fundamental sense.
Joel: Drums are easier anyway, so they are good for those who want to get involved but I really hate guitar posers.
Neil: It totally reinvents social gaming. It takes the Guitar Hero mould and adds fun.
Dave: I agree to an extent, but as Joel says, guitar posers are so lame.
Joel: Yeah, it's amusing when people who play guitar try and play Rock Band acoustically.
Josh: I really wish I had played it, but it's far too expensive.
Graeme: No absolutely not and I like guitar hero, but it's a three-year old concept stretched to a few new instruments.
Josh: BUT WHAT A PRICE!...It was f*****g ludicrous.
Dave: The price was shocking actually. But I think if it can spur a young kid or adult on to actually learn the guitar then that's a small victory isn't it?
Johnathan: If it spurs the young into learning an instrument yes, but the industry also has a tricky time convincing people games don't also spur the young into running down OAPs.
Dave: True, but you have to be head-mental to take GTA as real life.
Craig: I just don't like rhythm games...
Tony: It's not really about thinking you can play guitar though. It's more about accepting you can't and having a good time in the process.
Kieran: If you want fun and social, you should splash out a little more...or buy a Wii and a few games.
Si: Rock Band suffered from having a worse guitar controller.
Craig: It's still 'my first guitar' from Tomy.
Graeme: True, the Guitar Hero guitar is better.
Dave: I agree with Si there, the Guitar Hero controller is miles better. And the clacking of those bloody Rock Band drums...
Neil: Yeah ...clicky buttons all the way!!!
Si: I have Guitar Hero World Tour with all the controllers, and frankly there's no comparison. The drum kit for Rock band just stinks...
Craig: What did you shell out for that? A mortgage?
Tony: Everyone praised rock band on its release for bringing a new dimension to the GH formula, but really it was just filler until Activision brought out the whole shebang.
Johnathan: I'm not quite sure why 'fake plastic instruments' are so ridiculous when I've spent ridiculous amounts of time pretending I'm an acrobatic plumber.
Dave: I think it's a genre that can't last for another sequel, some bigger change is going to have to come...incidentally, Activision announced DJ Hero last week. Did anyone else hear that?
Tony: Really, apart from 'Synth Hero' or 'Ceilidh Band Hero', what else can they bring hardware-wise that isn't in the box already?
Dave: Let's move on to number nine in our top ten list shall we?
Craig: Sure, I've drummed all I can out of that one...
Dave: Pun noted Craig. Kudos...
Check back soon to find out what made number nine in our top ten of the best games from 2008 and to read more insightful ranting from the team...