School of Rock- Rock Band 3 Review

Even the savviest analyst couldn’t have predicted the impact Harmonix would have on gaming. While some might have forecasted 2005’s Guitar Hero launching an industry of plastic guitars and rhythm games in the West, few would have anticipated the specific features which would soon become obligatory for the genre. After parting ways with hardware manufacturer and publisher RedOctane in 2007, Harmonix would integrate microphone and drums set to complement the furious fret-boarding in Rock Band. Future iterations would create an oddly divergent trajectory for the genre, which changes both welcoming newbie and well as increasing the challenge for veterans. Thus, Rock Band became one of the few franchises which managed to appeal to both casual and core players.

Rock Band 3 illustrates that dual ambition near idyllically. Players who pick up the MadCatz Keyboard peripheral ($79.99 separately, or $129.99 when bundled with the game) have two major play options. In Keys mode, gamers tickly a quintet of white ivories, using the familiar note highway. Since following the falling notes doesn’t require the lateral hand movement nor the strumming of the guitar, the keyboard offers a intuitive initiation for Rock Band newcomers. On the other end of the spectrum, The variable levels within the Pro mode require oblige gamers to use each of the twenty-five keys, in an effort to simulate real piano playing. With the ability to teach players chords or arpeggios (a ‘broken’ chord where notes are played in sequence instead of simultaneously) across a range of challenge levels, Rock Band 3 can be a robust teaching tool for patient apprentices. Within a few days I was able to play John Lennon’s Imagine through route memorization- an impressive feat considering my only genuine musical performance experience was through the Miracle Piano Teaching System for the NES.

The sole drawback for budding keyboardists is the partial support for the peripheral. Although 63 of the 84 songs on the Rock Band 3 roster support the peripheral, there’s been no attempt to add key tracks to any of a player’ previous downloaded material. While adding keyboard support for guitar-oriented tracks would have seemed strained, not being able to rock out to the driving synth riffs of The Cars or Duran Duran is disappointing.

Although my time with the $150 Pro Mustang Guitar was limited, I was able to get a solid taste of what the peripheral offered. With an array of 102 buttons- which correspond to the 17 frets and six strings of an actual instrument, the device offered a complex, but faithful simulation of playing a six string. Regrettably, comprehending the game’s cascading stream of commands- filled with fret positions, and chords, was daunting. Those intrigued at the prospect of learning the intricacies of playing a real instrument may want to wait for the release of the Squier Stratocaster, an actual guitar which with the purchase of a MIDI adaptor, promises to blur the distinction between rhythm game and music tutoring tool.

For series veterans, Harmonix has made a few changes to the formula. Borrowing a mechanic from Beatles: Rock Band, the game challenges up to three singers to provide a harmonized vocal performance.  Progress is no longer is tied to a rigid single player campaign- now players unlock clothes, accessories, venues, and vehicles for their band by completing a myriad of in-game challenges throughout the game’s multiple modes. From nailing near-impossible note streaks, deploying overdrive multiple times, or simply performing five Dave Grohl songs, players are almost always getting rewarded for their actions.

Rock Band 3‘s most rewarding improvements are available to gamers willing to invest in the title’s new pro-level peripherals. For those prosperous players, Rock Band 3 has the ability transcend the trappings of the rhythm game, becoming an entry-level instrument instructor for those who have the necessary patience. For those without the funds or fortitude, the title still delivers an impressive array of songs- just don’t expect much deviation from the last game.