Rock Band

9:50am Monday 23rd June 2008

Game Name: Rock Band

Genre: Music

Publisher: EA

Rating: 12+ (PEGI)

Platform: Xbox 360

Ever since the Americans got Rock Band almost a year ago, it's been a painfully long wait for eager European gamers that couldn't wait to play with their instruments in the privacy of their own home. The good thing about the wait though is that there are already more downloadable songs on the marketplace than you can shake a drumstick at.

Rock Band is essentially a game in which player are required to push buttons or a combination of buttons at the right time. What makes Rock Band different from most of the rest of these types of games is the fact that there are new controllers that replicate (only aesthetically) the instruments that they are meant to represent. There is a guitar, a microphone and even a drum-kit.

Both the drums and the Guitar have five coloured buttons that must be pressed when prompted by on screen instructions. The guitar has the buttons on its neck whilst the drums consist of four pads with a peddle.

Many people say that they find Rock Band's guitar to be easier to get to grips with than the Guitar Hero guitars, but personally I find the buttons too close together and consequently press two at once. Fortunately the Guitar Hero controllers work with Rock Band, which is great news for people that haven't got the readies for a new guitar.

Players can use the microphone on its own, or if they can multitask, they could even sing whilst playing the drums or guitar.

You may want to take a seat, for what I am about to tell you is shocking. The Rock Band game and instrument pack will set you back by £130 minimum. But believe me when I say that there are many hours of gameplay available and that the price is probably worth every penny because of the high quality controllers.

Not only is there already talk of Rock Band II being released next year, but Activision have stepped up to the band' challenge by announcing that Guitar Hero IV will also have multiple instrument capabilities.