Rock Band: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''Start a band. Rock the world.''}}

 

''Rock Band 2'' was released a year later (2008), with significant upgrades to the often-criticized instruments - including the $300 Ion Drum Kit, which can also be used as a regular MIDI drumkit. Not to mention drum tutorials, a World Tour playable alone (or without needing to sing while you do), the ability to port over songs from Rock Band 1 for a small fee (on the 360 and [[PlayStation 3]]), and more. Both games are supported by a large pool of downloadable songs (the same large pool, in fact--official DLC is compatible with both), including some by artists and genres further flung from what most consider "rock," like Country, Funk, and electronic dance, as well as a number of independent and international artists. Whereas the first game had less than 60 songs, this one had 84, with all songs available on every instrument.

 

Two years after the release of ''[[Rock Band]] 2'', the third game, ''[[Rock Band]] 3'', is now available as of October 2010, with a great deal of new features. The game introduces an all-new keyboard controller, with its own notecharts for the 60+ songs that have a real-life keyboard (or substitute) part. Also new is the [http://www.rockband.com/zine/rb3-features-pro-guitar "Pro" guitar mode] with two new controllers: the Mustang controller aims to simulate a six-string with a fret board of over a hundred buttons that costs about $130, and another one that was recently discontinued that ''is'' a six-string that can be used both in and out of the game ([http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Squier%26%23174%3B+-+Rock+Band+3+Game+Guitar+-+Black/1601028.p;jsessionid=CB38FE7B975952C4D39F81377270AFA9.bbolsp-app02-25?id=1218272665437&skuId=1601028&st=Rock_Band_3_Fender_Midi_Guitar_Items_20101215&cp=1&lp=1 costs $280]). The Pro Drum mode forces players to hit cymbals appropriately, and the [http://www.rockband.com/zine/rb3-features-pro-keys Pro Keyboard mode] uses all 25 keys on the new peripheral. A MIDI-to-game adapter is available that allows certain real life e-drums and keyboards to hook into the game. The pro guitar is also made to an open standard, so third-party instruments such as the You Rock Midi Guitar work with the game as well. Harmony support like in the Beatles and Green Day games is also present, as well as a much-improved drop-in\drop-out system, similar to the Party Mode in ''Guitar Hero 5'' which allows players to drop in and drop out any time, even in the middle of a song. The game allows up to 7 players to play at once, provided one has [[Gotta Catch Em All|all seven controllers]] (two guitars, a set of drums, a keyboard, and three microphones). This time there are 83 songs, which all have guitar, pro guitar, bass, pro bass, (pro) drums, keys, pro keys, and up to 3 vocals charts except in cases where the appropriate instrument doesn't exist in the original song.

Between all of the games (all of which besides the Beatles can be exported to the latest game) and the $2 a la carte downloads (and slightly discounted packs), there are '''[[wikipedia:Complete list of downloadable songs for the Rock Band series|over 3500]]''' songs available to be played in Rock Band 3. Since most songs can be played on at least 4 instruments, there are [[Memetic Mutation|over 9000]] "levels" in this game (each of which can be played in any of four different difficulties), and while a few of them are repetitive (drums and bass mostly) and\or have long rests (keyboard and vocals mostly), the vast majority are a lot of fun to play and listen to. While the cost of DLC makes buying all of them prohibitive in practice, there are certainly a lot of options available when it comes to purchasing songs, with new ones hitting the store every Tuesday.

 

* [[Big Rock Ending]]: Charted as a [[Button Mashing]] part. The first game got a little carried away with these, placing them on every song that could even remotely qualify, and musically ''adding'' them into many of the covers that didn't (and even a few master tracks!). Also, the AC/DC pack has some ridiculously long "BRE"s, but those ones are justified.

* [[Bladder of Steel]]: This what has to be the biggest modern example this side of MMOs. We're talking over ''six hours'' without failing or pausing. The songs go in ascending order of difficulty as well, so you're probably already tired out by the time you get to [[That One Boss|Visions, Panic Attack, Painkiller, etc.]], making failure even more likely.

 

{{tropelist}}

* [[And Your Reward Is Clothes]]: And instruments, and vehicles. In the earlier RB games, you earned cash per song with which you could buy stuff; in RB3, you earn clothes and instruments from passing "goals" listed in the shops and detailed in the "My Goals" menu. Annoyingly, a few of the clothes in RB2 are only unlockable in 3 through much more difficult (and\or controller-requiring) means.

* [[A Good Name for a Rock Band]]: Just take a look at the leader boards on-line, you'll find scads of them. Or if you want silly names, there's always the random ones the game generates.