by Jeff McKinney
The Beatles: Rock Band, the latest Rock Band music game, has received so much hype before arriving in stores that you might think the original Beatles had magically reunited. So why is this game generating so much attention? Because it’s The Beatles!
The original Rock Band game has been around for a while now and The Beatles edition is the latest single-band version available. The game features 46 original Beatles songs (no covers) and allows you to play through each song with one of the four Rock Band instruments (Guitar, Drums, Bass, Vocals).
Each song features unique background images that match the time period in the Beatles history in which the song was released. Early hits, such as “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, showcase the band on a stage while later tracks, such as “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, showcase trippy fractal images, Blue Meanies and Yellow Submarines. The game also introduces vocal harmonies, which, for the first time, allows players to sing together in three part harmony.
The Beatles: Rock Band is in stores today for the PS3, Xbox360 and Wii. The game is sold alone for $59.99 and works with the instruments from previous Rock Band and Guitar Hero games. There is also an exclusive line of instrument controllers inspired by the Beatles’ instruments sold together for $249.99.
So is the game worth the hype? For Beatles fans, absolutely! In additional to the 46 songs on the game disc, look for additional songs to become available for download later.