1up review of Rock band

[Patch_]

Review (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3164456)


While what you can download will seemingly make or break the long-term success of Rock Band, the actual online play, honestly, isn't quite as crucial a component as you'd think (and still not nearly as creative as Amplitude's). Without the ability to play through the World Tour Mode with three friends around the country -- only Quickplay individual songs for scores -- it's not quite as thrilling or worth the hassle of the setup when you're not shoulder-to-shoulder with your bandmates. You can always hop into a duel against a stranger with any instrument you like (guitar vs. guitar, drums vs. drums, etc.), though like the traditional solo experience it feels stunted. It's easy to get a match, and it works well, but online play is more of a very nice bonus than a truly substantial addition. There's significant Rockband.com functionality promised as well to aid band members in finding each other and promoting themselves, but like the downloadable content, it remains to be seen how important to the package it will be.

9.0

I disagree with the not worth the hassle of the setup when you're not shoulder-to-shoulder with your bandmates, while it might not be fun as playing in a room full of people, I think it will still be really fun.

[HiroXHakuske]

The patch is being worked on for BWT online anyway... (right?)

[ZkDotNet]

The patch is being worked on for BWT online anyway... (right?)
Yes, no, maybe.

At this point, I'm ignoring it until I hear something official from HMX.

[Patch_]

The patch is being worked on for BWT online anyway... (right?)

http://gamerfront.net/2007/11/19/exc...and-questions/

Doesn't look like it, can't be 100% but you know.

[Meldlm]

The patch is being worked on for BWT online anyway... (right?)

That's a rumor that may (or may not) come true.

[HeXcoda]

The patch is being worked on for BWT online anyway... (right?)

Hard to say. HMX in a recent interview said both "we see it as an MMO" (meaning patch features) and "we look forward to bringing it to you in a future game" (meaning sequel only).

I'm guessing RB2... until then, folks who can't get three skilled players in the room with them are outta luck save for solo modes and trying to sing+guitar in BWT.

[jaydajedi]

what is this the demicratic presidential debate we got 5 yes and no answers lol
how can the answer be yes and no at the same time.lol

[weirdingway]

1up's review came from an elitist who happens to be a GH vet (I can beat everything on Expert).

I'd like to hear a review from a casual gamer not so into himself to bring up how good he is and how easy Rock Band is to him.

He craps on the guitar w/o giving ANY reasons why, adds in bias that in no way contibute to the the actual quality of the game (some people like Coheed, leave that crap out of your review, it has nothing to do with game quality).

[sporkBrigade]

what is this the demicratic presidential debate we got 5 yes and no answers lol
how can the answer be yes and no at the same time.lol

The answer is that no one knows, it's not official. We won't know for a while longer.

[LongDarkBlues]

Actually feeling like a rock star -- for most people under 40, the next best thing to a superhero or a T-Rex -- is transcendently entertaining.
That's Awesome.

[mltdwn]

Hard to say. HMX in a recent interview said both "we see it as an MMO" (meaning patch features) and "we look forward to bringing it to you in a future game" (meaning sequel only).


Erm no... They said that BWT Online is as difficult to code AS an MMO, and thus the reason it won't be out until the sequel due to the amount of time it would take to implement. Their EXACT words were:

"We wanted to make sure we got Rock Band finished as a complete game and programming BTW Online is almost like programming an MMO. It?s something we?re definitely psyched about for a future game and we?re as pumped to play this as you are, so stay tuned."

BWT Online ain't coming in a patch. No way if they really think it to be that difficult to program all of the pieces.

[Xanthous]

Hard to say. HMX in a recent interview said both "we see it as an MMO" (meaning patch features)

I interpreted that in a different way.

I took from their original statement that coding a BWT experience online is as complicated as coding an MMO. That is the reason it didn't make it into the retail version of Rock Band, there simply wasn't enough time to complete online BTW, and it wasn't worth delaying the game for the feature.

EDIT: mltdwn beat me to my point. Curse you!

[mltdwn]

EDIT: mltdwn beat me to my point. Curse you!

Eh what can I say... I'm psychotic, I can read people minds... Erm wait I don't think that is the right term.

[thegame696911]

That review is maddness.......... they gave Guitar Hero 3 the same score. Explain how something like that is possible.

[Tenacious_B]

1up's review came from an elitist who happens to be a GH vet (I can beat everything on Expert).

I'd like to hear a review from a casual gamer not so into himself to bring up how good he is and how easy Rock Band is to him.

He craps on the guitar w/o giving ANY reasons why, adds in bias that in no way contibute to the the actual quality of the game (some people like Coheed, leave that crap out of your review, it has nothing to do with game quality).

I hated coheed before I heard Welcome Home!!! Now i bought their cd and love it!! it's what i'm looking most forward to playing!!!!

[Sairynn]

Even if online BWT isn't coming soon, one would think it wouldn't be too hard to allow solo BWT.

[sushi111]

Great review.

Their review of GH3 was horrible though. They made it sound like it had no faults.

[seafisch]

bias that in no way contibute to the the actual quality of the game (some people like Coheed, leave that crap out of your review, it has nothing to do with game quality)

IGN did that too in their review. I'd never heard of C&C before this game, but I don't see where all the hate is coming from. I'm looking forward to that song a lot more than about a dozen other songs.

[Sairynn]

What does this mean: "...Harmonix has promised much in the way of future downloadable song libraries for the game. There's not much to say about it yet since little has been revealed for the long run..." ?

HMX has said new songs every week, they've announced a schedule through the next month before release day, plus full albums early next year (as it would appear, unless Gamespy wants to surprise us ;) ). How does that add up to "little"?

Seriously, these reviewers need to up the ante a bit.

[FatWilma]

imo, the reviewer still seems a lil pissy about losing battle of the bands...

[bumbousdude25]

...without the accessible mechanics of the game and Harmonix's structural polish, it wouldn't be the same.


While Guitar Hero III was made with Guitar Hero fans in mind, Rock Band is built simply with music fans in mind -- leaving the experience as open-ended as possible.



I love these quotes (by 1up). :D

[Patch_]

That review is maddness.......... they gave Guitar Hero 3 the same score. Explain how something like that is possible.

Madness ? This is...gah, it's been done to death.

The review was good, sure I wanted it to be higher then GHIII but can't win em' all.
I still think online will be fun stuff, co-oping songs and tug of wars, etc.

[Bakkster]

What does this mean: "...Harmonix has promised much in the way of future downloadable song libraries for the game. There's not much to say about it yet since little has been revealed for the long run..." ?

HMX has said new songs every week, they've announced a schedule through the next month before release day, plus full albums early next year (as it would appear, unless Gamespy wants to surprise us ;) ). How does that add up to "little"?

Seriously, these reviewers need to up the ante a bit.

I think that they won't take DLC into account until they see it actually available. Of course, the current release schedule is still more than all of the GH2+3 DLC combined...