Rock Band, Beatles ‘come together’ in dazzling new game
Relive the Beatles’ career in “The Beatles: Rock Band,” a video-game celebration of the most popular band in rock history.
The gameplay is fairly typical for “Rock Band,” in which gamers can play drums, bass, guitar or sing as they re-create some of the Beatles’ greatest hits. Added for “The Beatles” is the introduction of harmony on the vocal line. Gamers can plug in up to four microphones, allowing multiple performers to get in on the harmonies.
Players begin in 1963, with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison performing at the Cavern Club. From there, the band moves to “The Ed Sullivan Show,” to Shea Stadium, and beyond.
In story mode, the gamer re-enacts the career of the Beatles through 45 songs. Chapter Challenges require the gamer to repeat the songs at a higher level to unlock additional photos. And more songs are on the way: Three Beatles albums — “Abbey Road,” “Rubber Soul” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” — will be downloadable in coming months.
“The Beatles: Rock Band” doesn’t allow the gamer to import or export characters to or from other “Rock Band” games, but perhaps that’s appropriate. As much as “The Beatles: Rock Band” appears to be a mini-documentary in game form, it’d be pretty jarring for other characters to jump in and out of the game.
Adding to that documentary feel is the in-studio audio chatter in the “Abbey Road” portion of the game, which captures never-before released audio conversations among the Beatles.
There are multiple ways to buy “The Beatles: Rock Band.” The retail price of the game is $59.99. Want to go for total immersion? The premium bundle offers the game plus controllers modeled on McCartney’s Hofner bass and Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, along with a microphone and a mike stand, for $249.99. And sold separately are controllers based on Lennon’s Rickenbacker and George Harrison’s Gretsch Duo Jet guitar, priced at $99.99 each. Additionally, the game will work with previous “Rock Band” controllers and most “Guitar Hero” and third-party controllers.
The game succeeds at both of its probable goals: Expand the “Rock Band” demographic to include baby boomers, and expose younger gamers to Beatles music. With a “no-fail” option on the easy levels, those who haven’t played “Rock Band” will find “Beatles” a comfortable first start. And the quality of the musical presentation on “Beatles” will undoubtedly lure some new fans for the band from the music-gaming set.
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
By Matthew Price
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