Rock Band Difficulty?

[Weebs43]

I never owned the original Guitar Hero because I do not have a PS2, but I'm an avid player of the second game on the Xbox 360. I'm often told that the songs on second Guitar Hero are MUCH harder than the first, and so I'm hoping the same things occurs for Guitar Hero 3 since it will make all of us have to get better at the game and expand it's re-play value. My question is though, do all of you think Rock Band will be significantly harder/easier than Guitar Hero 1/2/3?

[SpeedMetal09]

the drums is ganna make it the hardest for sure without a question...as for guitar it will stay the same it has been...and from what i see the singing looks pretty easy in general not too strict

[Weebs43]

I'm just worried the game is going to be extremely easy and I'll just make it through Expert career right off the bat. Atleast the drumming section of the game will give me a lot to work on, I have absolutely no rhythm in me XD

[SpeedMetal09]

yea i dont know i think if u play on expert now it wont give u too many problems...i play both hard and expert on guitar not fully expert yet so ill be alright...but i think drums is where ill find my home...i play those in real life...and since I heard about RockBand ive been playing more so i can get ready to woop some ass online...so goodjob harmonix youve influenced me to play an instrument just like u wanted

[ThePaska]

I don't expect the guitar in Rock Band to be any harder than the guitar in Guitar Hero II. To be honest I hope it isn't because I find myself liking and enjoying the easier to play songs more. Songs that are put in for the sake of being hard often just bug me and I don't enjoy playing them.

Rock Band will be more focused on the Band element (obviously) and because of that I think we will find songs that are more enjoyable to play as a band, and often they wont be extremely difficult, but just overall fun to play.

[hardyfoster]

that's why there are difficulty levels.

the game still has to keep the mass market in mind, not just people who find expert too easy.

this is a game for "everyone" to play and enjoy. if you play on expert and find it too easy, well, get a real guitar and challenge yourself by playing flight of the bumblebee or something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muqflDqEEp8

[zankfrappa]

i think the drums will be a challenge for non-drummers, im pretty much a non-drummer i know a few simple beats but ive never had a lesson or anything. And i think it would have the biggest replay value of all the instruments as people will feel their really achieving something, and when those idiots go "ooh why dont you just go and play the real drums instead?" they can reply "ok then!".

[hardyfoster]

well, speak of the devil... look what i found

gh2 custom -- bumblebee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xys6ykZ70U

[Jimmik]

I predict that RB will be about as the easier songs from GH1. The game isn't made for just one band member any more, and I bet the riffs will end up being more like rhythm guitar. No big deal, I'll always still have GH2 when I need something tough to play :D

[Zietes]

I'm pretty sure that Harmonix will include both easy and hard songs for the game. Seeing also that they'll release songs weekly brings up the chance more. So I'm sure it'll be good for everyone. Both hardcore players and not so hardcore ones.

[NorrenRadd]

I enjoy the difficulty in GH II. I've started to play on Hard and it is very rewarding when I am able to slide my hands correctly in order to hit the notes =D

I definitely don't want to blaze through the game. The journey through the songs is what I buy the game for =D

[Plekto]

But there is a problem in general with the easier levels in GH2, namely, how you're playing every 2nd or 3rd note on some songs. So it feels "dumbed-down" instead of easier(say more repeated notes and double chords instead of more insane solos).

GH1 was better in this way, in fact - medium felt pretty close to playing the real song. GH2? There are songs that are tough to play on medium as I'm having to NOT hit notes I can hear(more of a problem with a songs I know well).

[Brock_Landers]

I think what also needs to be considered is that this game isn't just about you killing it on one instrument.. even if you can strum with your tongue and hit the drumpads with your nads and get 100% you're still gonna need your whole band doing the same.

Getting your band up on those leaderboards is gonna be a seperate task in itself... of course that could be an extra joy or frustration depending how you look at it

[Jimmik]

"even if you can strum with your tongue and hit the drumpads with your nads"

hehe

[Zietes]

Lmao, I dont even think that's possible xD

[Monsterpoptart]

I hope that the final songs will get a little harder, for the people who got really good at the harder songs on gh. if not then i think that they could make the downloadable songs harder.

[benjamin]

It will most likely have a fairly even set list.

I figure that with each installation they are getting better at the learning curve. Most likely there will be some difficult songs thrown in at the end for those who find everything in GH2 easy.

[Elnino]

I can't even beat GHII on Expert mode. Right now i'm on the last setlist. The one with Free Bird for the encore. Those song's are f***ing crazy man. I can only get 5 stars on 1 song in expert (Mother). Still I'm ready to play anything in Rock Band. I can't think of a name for a band...

[Rock_Starman]

Replay "value" because you've failed the song 287 times isn't good replay "value". (Jordan)
Playing a song 287 times cause it's fun and an awesome song is good replay value regardless of difficulty. (Iron Man)

Fun >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Difficulty

[Knockout_King]

I'm looking forward to the drums so I can get the same experience as Guitar Hero I, going from Easy to Expert over a period of time.
I remember attempting Bark at the Moon on Expert after a few days and saying to myself "I'll never be able to play that." I want the same sense of accomplishment after I realize that, yes, I can.

[Xzyliac]

Harmonix has a way with difficulty. They know how to make easy both fun and simple and expert really challenging but not frustrating.

Besides Rock Band is more about good music and your band than it is scorching leads and 10 minute solos.

[NorrenRadd]

even if you can strum with your tongue and hit the drumpads with your nads and get 100% you're still gonna need your whole band doing the same.


I can totally strum with my tongue and pass songs in the game ;)

[NorrenRadd]

Replay "value" because you've failed the song 287 times isn't good replay "value". (Jordan)
Playing a song 287 times cause it's fun and an awesome song is good replay value regardless of difficulty. (Iron Man)

Fun >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Difficulty

I get 5 jollies for beating easy songs, 10 jollies for beating medium songs, and 20 jollies when I beat hard songs.

I would get 1,000 jollies for beating Jordan on Expert.

I want a lot of jollies =D, it is more thrilling to beat the harder songs as you progress.


That being said, I lose a metric ****-ton of jollies while trying to beat Jordan. :mad:



For those of you who have completely beaten GH I and II on Expert, does the game seem to easy to you? I personally think the game is very hard on those levels, and I feel that is the majority opinion.

[lithiumkc]

For those of you who have completely beaten GH I and II on Expert, does the game seem to easy to you? I personally think the game is very hard on those levels, and I feel that is the majority opinion.
I think it really depends on the person.. I was in band for years up until playing gh1 so timing and understanding of the game i had a head start on. I beat medium right away when some other people struggle on easy. GH1 on expert was definitely not as hard as GH2. Even though hammer-ons and pull-offs were greatly improved, GH2 was still technically way harder, far more notes and shredding in general.

I'm in the 'play for fun' category.. as in I've tried Jordan several times, got no further than 57% and i'm not willing to play practice a lot just to be able to beat it with a mediocre score. I think i remember them saying that the difficulty between games will no longer increase... And when you think about it, you could probably figure out the difficulty just by imagining what they'll do with the notes, there are only so many combinations with 5 buttons.

[LoneSteele]

Right now, I'm personally stuck on Psychobilly Freakout on hard, and I know that continually having my ass handed to me by that song doesn't constitute as "replay value" because most of the time I just get frustrated and play something else, whereas playing through songs I really enjoy like Killing in the Name of, Last Child, and Possum Kingdom over and over again never gets old with me.

I hope they keep it about the same difficulty as GHII, I'm almost done 5-starring all the medium songs and I think I'll get the same feeling of satisfaction as if I ever beat Psychobilly Freakout. That is what makes this a truly great game.

[lithiumkc]

Right now, I'm personally stuck on Psychobilly Freakout on hard, and I know that continually having my ass handed to me by that song doesn't constitute as "replay value" because most of the time I just get frustrated and play something else, whereas playing through songs I really enjoy like Killing in the Name of, Last Child, and Possum Kingdom over and over again never gets old with me.

I hope they keep it about the same difficulty as GHII, I'm almost done 5-starring all the medium songs and I think I'll get the same feeling of satisfaction as if I ever beat Psychobilly Freakout. That is what makes this a truly great game.

And you will beat it. Trust me, I know every single note in Crossroads by heart now. I failed that song more on medium and hard than any other song in either guitar hero. Hated that song. Then i beat it, and after you do that once it just gets easier every time... and it's probably my favorite song on GH1. Now i bet if i went back to it, it would look simple. You'll get better as you go. Its all just practice.

[sa_nick]

I'm looking forward to the drums so I can get the same experience as Guitar Hero I, going from Easy to Expert over a period of time.
I remember attempting Bark at the Moon on Expert after a few days and saying to myself "I'll never be able to play that." I want the same sense of accomplishment after I realize that, yes, I can.

YES! That is the thing that attracts me to drums the most. Playing GH2 was fun and all, but as soon as i got it I started on Hard and got through it in 2 days with no problems, then a week later I'd finished expert.

When Rock Band comes out however it's gonna be great to learn the new instrument. And also the whole 4 player thing, thats kinda cool too I guess, lol.

[Elnino]

Right now, I'm personally stuck on Psychobilly Freakout on hard, and I know that continually having my ass handed to me by that song doesn't constitute as "replay value" because most of the time I just get frustrated and play something else, whereas playing through songs I really enjoy like Killing in the Name of, Last Child, and Possum Kingdom over and over again never gets old with me.

I hope they keep it about the same difficulty as GHII, I'm almost done 5-starring all the medium songs and I think I'll get the same feeling of satisfaction as if I ever beat Psychobilly Freakout. That is what makes this a truly great game.

It took me 2 whole days to get 5 stars on Institutionalized in Medium. I beat all Medium on five stars for a damn viking guitar....

[Phiromos]

lol nice...that is a hard ass song to complete tho

[Rock_Starman]

That being said, I lose a metric ****-ton of jollies while trying to beat Jordan. :mad:



Exactly my point.

[sa_nick]

Right now, I'm personally stuck on Psychobilly Freakout on hard, and I know that continually having my ass handed to me by that song doesn't constitute as "replay value"

That song is crazy on hard. It was the last one I 5 starred, took way too long.

And the thing with getting stuck on songs and having replay value is that you just continue playing other songs as general practice, or move up to the next difficulty, or whatever. Then come back and give it a few more shots. Then once you've passed it go back a couple of tiers and trying to FC the songs.

[Xzyliac]

That song is crazy on hard. It was the last one I 5 starred, took way too long.

And the thing with getting stuck on songs and having replay value is that you just continue playing other songs as general practice, or move up to the next difficulty, or whatever. Then come back and give it a few more shots. Then once you've passed it go back a couple of tiers and trying to FC the songs.

I know Misirlou and Laid to Rest on expert were so hard until I had to develop a strategy.

[Phiromos]

haha nice..what strategy?

[sa_nick]

In a few occasions my "button mash+double strum+pray" strategy has got me through some hard parts. I'd recommend it.

[dethklok]

I still can't beat Misirlou with 5 stars, please tell me the strategy so i can beat it... I only need to beat that one, Psychobilly Freakout, Hangar 18, and Free Bird so i can get the last guitar... PLEASE TELL ME THE STRATEGY:D

Nice Strategy nick :D

Well, on topic, I believe that replay value will have to be balanced with difficulty. Just like GH2, it was balanced for both the new and the veteran players. At the end of it all, most became veterans and wanted something new, with now being GH3. Same will go for Rock Band, if they plan to continue the franchise for another go, then they will need to balance this game, and then the next they need to balance it again, but with difficulty being the matter that time. You guys get what i'm trying to say?

[Phiromos]

nice..i'll have to try that some time

[monlienNH3]

I never owned the original Guitar Hero because I do not have a PS2, but I'm an avid player of the second game on the Xbox 360. I'm often told that the songs on second Guitar Hero are MUCH harder than the first, and so I'm hoping the same things occurs for Guitar Hero 3 since it will make all of us have to get better at the game and expand it's re-play value. My question is though, do all of you think Rock Band will be significantly harder/easier than Guitar Hero 1/2/3?

If anything GHIII will be easier than GHII because of the new development team - and I read something (on IGN I believe) confirming this, saying that they were hitting over 93-95% on expert during the first play through.

Rock Band will more than likely be the same difficulty as GHII. As someone else said, you just have to imagine the notes in the song to figure out the difficulty. GHII did a great job at representing the song on Hard and Expert - the difference being harder chord changes and harder solos (pretty much note for note) when jumping to expert. I still have ~10 songs left on expert to 5 star (some of which I haven't even 4 starred). I haven't beat "Jordan" or freaking "Six" on expert (which I'm thinking Jordan will happen first). And I love that fact.

I think Harmonix already has the guitar programming down to a science after two attempts - Rock the 80's should hopefully prove that true unless they rushed through it to get on to Rock Band. If anything Rock Band could be slightly harder. They've been playing this game longer than us, so they'd probably like to make expert feel somewhat difficult when they program it. That's just how I imagine it. I just hope the drums are just as challenging as they should be on expert - every single hi-hat, crash, drum roll, bass and snare hit accounted for.

Difficulty levels are there for a reason, so people can enjoy the game the way they want to enjoy it. Some people like to just breeze through songs and have fun, others like to be challenged to the point where they want to trash their Xplorer over their Marshall faceplated 360. I like to do both and that's what makes these games so great.

[Blue88]

Since the five extra buttons should make it a little easier, I'd like the game to be harder than GHII just enough that it's only slightly harder than GHII. There's proabably going to be some crazy hard DLC, too.