The Beatles Rock Band

Overview

This is the moment that all Rock Band fans have been waiting for: the Beatles make their debut. Whether you’re a Beatles fan, or just excited to see new songs for the game, take a look at this release. The Beatles Rock Band will hit stores on September 9, 2009 and will be available for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii. Including new instruments, a catchy song list, and a set of famous locations to play at, Beatle mania has taken over one of the most popular music games on the market. But will it be worth the money? Take a more in depth look below.

Song List

There are several songs revealed so far for the Beatles Rock Band. Currently the set list includes:

• I Want to Hold Your Hand
• Day Tripper
• Taxman
• I Feel Fine
• I Saw Her Standing There
• Get Back
• Octopus’s Garden
• Here Comes the Sun
• I Am the Walrus
• Back in the U.S.S.R.

A total of 45 songs will be included when the game is released, and fans can check to see if their favorite Beatles’ songs made the cut. The current list blends in popular favorites that embrace both young and old Beatles’ fans, and could encourage them to play the game. The songs are arguably the most important part of any Rock Band game, though graphics come in at a close second. This game seems to have taken both into consideration.

Game Play

The Beatles has left its mark on Rock Band for better or worse. Fans will be excited to see that the screen has its very own Beatles’ theme to it. Check out the Image section below for a sneak peak. The characters will also represent the Beatles. It’s a refreshing break from the typical Rock Band characters that make up the band in every game. While there is a lot of variety in the game’s kooky characters, a band themed from the Beatles is a nice touch.

Trippy, colorful graphics will catch your eye first in this new Rock Band addition. These dreamscapes submerge you in the other worldly-ness of the Beatles and make the game intriguing to play and watch. Rock Band has long been in need of new graphics that really bring players into the game.

Images

Instruments

Along with the updated graphics, the Beatles Rock Band also includes an entire new set of instruments modeled after their very own instruments used on stage. Three guitars mimic John Lennon’s Rickenbacker 325, George Harrison’s Gretsch Duo Jet guitar, Paul McCartney’s Hofner bass, and a drum set based around the drum set of none other than Ringo Starr himself.

The vocals have also added a little twist. Choose to sing solo or work together to create harmonies. The game can support three microphones at once, so grab a microphone stand to play and sing along. Let people take different parts and see how well you can imitate the Beatles. This game really makes you work together with the rest of your band. The Rock Band set will ship with the themed controllers, or only the game for those who already have the Rock Band instruments and aren’t ready to add the Beatles’ controllers to their collection just yet.

Venues

Where will your trip through the land of the Beatles take you? Walk in the steps of history along Abbey Road, rock the world on the Ed Sullivan Show, and unleash your inner star at Shea Stadium. Here are the known Venues available in the Beatles Rock Band:

• The Ed Sullivan Theater
• Budokan
• Abbey Road
• Cavern Club
• Shea Stadium
• Rooftop

So far these are the latest released venue names, but there are sure to be more to come. Your journey will mimic the Beatles’ rise to fame. This version of Rock Band has more of a story element to it. Combine the history of this little group from Liverpool, England with your very own music stardom and make their story your own.

Worth the Money?

In one word: yes. If you’re not a Beatles fan and don’t enjoy their music at all, then you’ll want to leave this one at home, but most others will enjoy this game. Whether or not you like the Beatles themselves, their songs will have you singing along. Not only is the theme of the game nice, the newest additions to the Rock Band game play are what really make it shine. The story includes famous locations and character models of the band. The entire look has been redone to mimic a more psychedelic feel to it, and even the instruments have a new look, thanks to the Beatles. The game itself looks worth it just for a change in scenery and equipment.

The new harmonies available for up to three people singing at once could put a new spin on the game as well. Depending on how hard players find it to sing together and possibly play an instrument at the same time, this could introduce a new phase in the Rock Band era. The challenge is good for those who like to go all out, and it also adds more interest for those who hate instruments and only like to sing.

In short, it will all depend on how well Rock Band pulls off the new features it’s offering. Like most games, this can be a hit or a miss, but Rock Band has shown us in the past that it can be counted on for a user-friendly, entertaining game. It’s a safe bet that ordering your copy of the Beatles Rock Band won’t be a waste of money.