Pleasant Surprises in LRB

[Fatal_T]

I've been a big fan of the LEGO games ever since LEGO Star Wars II, and since then I've bought them all for my Wii and my PSP (since I couldn't take the Wii to Iraq with me). For me, the games were all about enjoying Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Batman with a healthy dose of humor thrown in. Some of my favorite LEGO moments include the "Luke I am your father" cutscene, and Indiana Jones discovering a captured Luke Skywalker in an Ice Cave...

That said, while I was deployed last year and heard about a LEGO Rock Band, I was pretty skeptical. I didn't think the two genres could mix. But based on the setlist I saw for the game, I had my wife pick up for me so I could play it when I got home - I figured if worst came to worst, it would be a track pack for me. I was so wrong!

LEGO Rock Band is a blast to play, and if it wasn't for the family friendly restriction, I might play it more than RB2! I love the venues (I'm playing in Pirates Cove now, but Brickton Manor is my favorite thus far). The huge variety of minifigs to unlock and use for bandmates and entourage is awesome - I've particularly enjoyed the monster set, but the pirate set looks to be fun too.

And I'm not sure how many others had this problem, but I damn near failed the Rock Challenge in Brickton Manor because I was too busy watching the video and laughing out loud to concentrate on playing.

Definitely putting this game up there with LEGO Star Wars. Tremendous work!

[Xenigma]

I must admit, I wasn't expecting much from this game; I simply bought it because I'm a sucker for Lego stuff, and I figured I'd get some cool songs out of the deal (Final Countdown!). Like TB:RB, though, it does a magnificent job of implementing some cool features that, if included in RB3, would make the core game all the better. My favorites:

- The rock den. It's a tangible way to see your growth as a band, something you just don't get much of outside of new clothing/instruments, and has potential for cool little details like having practices on your own customized stage.
- Easy and comprehensive character customization. I get to play dress-up with everyone, and get to spend from a central budget. I loved this in RBU, and I love it here.
- Making albums. Immortalizing your favorite set-lists is awesome. It's a really cool idea that could easily be expanded upon.
- Rock Challenges. Cartoony as it is, playing in these is an absolute guilty pleasure and I'd love to see them return. I just hope that they'd allow overdrive in the future so that you can avoid being roadblocked by a particularly difficult section.
- Autokick. More than anything, my sucking with the bass pedal has kept me from wanting to pursue drums. I always have difficulty coordinating my foot and end up with a sore leg (this feels amazingly pathetic). Now I get to take that frustration away and simply enjoy banging on the pads. Awesome.

[IanC14]

- Autokick. More than anything, my sucking with the bass pedal has kept me from wanting to pursue drums. I always have difficulty coordinating my foot and end up with a sore leg (this feels amazingly pathetic). Now I get to take that frustration away and simply enjoy banging on the pads. Awesome.

Ditto for me. It's always the bass pedal that gets me when drumming.

[cherokeesam]

I'll also add that I appreciate the applause at the end of guitar & drum solos (a feature absent from RB1 & 2)....makes it feel that much more satisfying when you nail a particularly tricky solo and the crowd appreciates your virtual virtuosity.

[Anayalata]

One thing I really liked was the guitar riff that plays when you 100% a song.

The setlist was actually pretty awesome too. Didn't give it the credit it deserved.