A cottage industry has been built around the rhythm-based musical video games, which allow you to rock out to popular songs as you "play" the part with plastic controllers. This is more faking it than actual making music, but as party games go these are the kind that let everyone in on the action. Just check your ego, and any real talent at the door - the latter won't help you here, and in fact experienced musicians may find "faking" it is harder than it looks.
Two video game publishers are vying for domination of this market, with Activision's headline Guitar Hero series going head-to-head with Electronic Arts' Rock Band series. At first glance, it may be difficult for the casual observer, or even the game aficionado, to tell these games apart, so think of this as a crash course in what each game has to offer.
Where these games really shine is in the home theater environment. Oh sure, you could play any of these games on a 27-inch TV with built-in speakers but would you really want to? With rocking soundtracks that are fittingly straight out of a music video, and detailed visual cues that show you how to "play" each note, the gameplay is best when you have both the BIG PICTURE and the BIG SOUND to immerse you and your friends in the action. The crowds might be virtual, but the music is real (even if you're only playing with a plastic Les Paul).
Here is a look at what this season's music games offer:
The latest edition of the game that basically started it all - at least in the United States - doesn't limit you to just guitars. With this one you're with the band, and this time you can jam in entire sets, and have your band's line-up change as much as the Rolling Stones or Smashing Pumpkins, both of which have contributed tunes to Activision's Guitar Hero 5.
This time the musical gameplay not only includes some of the biggest music makers - from Johnny Cash to Santana to Bob Dylan - but it now allows for multiple vocalists, guitarists, bassists and even drummers in a single song. And if you decide you don't like button mashing on the guitar you can switch mid-song and beat it out on the drums. Let's see Keith Richards try that one.
Guitar Hero 5 is available at Amazon.com for the following systems:
The Beatles Rock Band
One notable major act missing from Guitar Hero needs no explanation, and that's The Beatles. Of course that's because Electronic Arts lets you not only "meet the Beatles" but also to play as the Fab Four in this game that includes 45 of their biggest hits from early Mop Tops era "I Want to Hold Your Hand," to later day era paisley and bell bottom's "I Am the Walrus."
The game, which is compatible with past Rock Band, as well as Guitar Hero and other third party controllers, also gets the deluxe treatment with the Limited Edition that features Beatles styled gear including Paul's Höfner Bass controller, Beatles branded Rock Band drums and even a microphone and mic stand. This game also allows for three-part vocal harmonies with support for up to three mics. This makes for the next best thing to playing Shea Stadium or appearing on Ed Sullivan.
The Beatles Rock Band is available at Amazon.com for the following systems:
DJ Hero (Activision)
"It's time to slow things down..." OK, that's one line you won't hear in DJ Hero, the next take on the music and rhythm games that let you get your groove on. Instead of faking it with a guitar or drum pad, you'll get to be a true spin-doctor where you can scratch out beats on a DJ-style turntable. Take your turn at custom mixes of over 100 songs, including collaborations from Jay-Z and Eminem.
The game is played with a turntable controller that lets you scratch and mix music to the song beats, and this one will have you feeling like a true club mix master in no time. And if you're ready for more, there are even modes where friends can plug in an extra turntable, guitar controller, or mic to compete, support, or let you rip it up with a little frestyle play while you layout the beats.
DJ Hero is available at Amazon.com for the following systems:
Based on the core gameplay of the Rock Band series, this one lets you "build" your band in quite a unique way. And while many rock stars might complain that the world becomes very "plastic" to them, that isn't going to be a problem in this one, as the band is made of plastic! Instead of video game caricatures of musicians, this one goes to the surreal and uses Lego-esque people for the onscreen avatars.
More of a family friendly game, this one thus is a bit less hardcore, and even includes a "super easy" mode where players need only hit any button or pad to play along, as well as an "auto bass kick" feature. But with a full track list that includes songs from Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Queen this one isn't just kid's stuff. Our only complaint is that since bands can go to pieces Lego style on the harder levels, why we don't get to rock out to "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson or Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall." Let's hope those songs will be available for download.
Lego Rock Band is available at Amazon.com for the following systems:
Getting past the fact that the title is confusing - and it isn't limited to just the music of MTV Music Video Award winner Taylor Swift - this expansion game for the Guitar Hero series features the same drop-in/drop-out and in-song instrument change options as Guitar Hero 5, and also includes a no fail mode - so you don't have to worry about your fans turning on you if you have a bad night.
This one also features some digital versions of the bands, so if you want to rock out with such icons as No Doubt, you can play along with their onscreen personas. Most impressively the game features 65 songs from so-called "mainstream acts" including Ms. Swift, Cheap Trick, Devo, The Go-Gos and Janet Jackson. Players can import 69 of Guitar Hero 5 songs while playing Band Hero, or play 61 of the 65 Band Hero songs with GH5, so you can have even greater set lists. And fittingly, this one even includes The Spice Girls "Wannabe," a song that was practically written for these games!
Band Hero is available at Amazon.com for the following systems:
The Final Word
So if you're a rock star, a wanna-be or just someone in search of a fun party game that takes Karaoke and air guitar to the next level, you're sure to have a rocking good time with any of these games.
