bit-tech Shopping: Electronic Arts Rock Band: Special Edition (XB360)

Rating: 10

Time with product: 7 Weeks

Strengths: Drums are very realistic, like playing the real thing.

Weaknesses: Maybe a litte harder than playing real drums.

Summary: I originally planned to buy Guitar Hero III, but purchased Rock Band Special Edition after reading that it was supposed to be better and more realistic. I found it to be a whole lot better. You can go through playing drums in career mode. If you get tired of playing drums, you can change to playing the guitar career mode. And, if you get tired of playing an instrument, you can change to playing the singing career mode. Guitar Hero III only lets you play guitar; the activities are more limiting than Rock Band. Rock Band also has a better song list to choose from than Guitar Hero III.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 7 Days

Strengths: great songs, anyone can play and be challenged regardless of musical skill

Weaknesses: haven't really found one

Summary: I had a brief encounter with Guitar Hero and loved it. My wife got Rock Band thinking it would a good family game. It is an outstanding family game!!! We have a 9 year old son and an 8 year daughter. I play some guitar but the rest of us have had no lessons and it doesn't matter. This game can also be challenging for my neighbors that do play drums/guitar and a blast for a bunch of people to get together! Gutar Hero is fun, but Rock Band blows it away!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 6

Strengths: fun, 4 player co-op local or over Xbox Live, great track list, all ages, more and more songs available to downkload every week

Weaknesses: special edition has a high cost hurdle, not wireless, no strum feedback

Summary: Rock band, it seems that everyone has heard of this game or the developer, Harmonix, previous games Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero 2. While Red Octane and Harmonix went their separate ways, it did not stop Harmonix with MTV Games to take the rhythm game to the next level but incorporating vocals and drums. You are now given the ability to literally create a band with your friends locally or over live and rock out together. The drums and microphone both feel solidly built, but to me the guitar feels a tad bit flimsy but it is larger and thinner which I like but probably add to the more flimsy feeling. One thing I do not like is that the strum bar does not offer feedback so it is completely silent. This can confuse you when you have to hit it repeatedly and quickly because it is silent. Rock Band is more addictive then Guitar Hero ever was and makes that game feel one dimensional in comparison. If you love guitar hero you are going to love this, keep in mind though that learning to play the drums will take some time because even on easy you have to play 5 colors.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Fun multiplayer game, drums are fun but hard

Weaknesses: Guitar is very easy and often boring, if you want it only for a guitar game, go buy Guitar Hero 3 instead.

Summary: In all honesty, I was at first dissappointed with this game. I played guitar first, and this game seems to try to be more realistic with its note charts, and tries to be more casual gamer friendly. This is great at parties, but if you want a challenge, go get Guitar Hero III. I'll take the challenge of Through the Fire and the Flames over these songs any day of the week.As a party game though, this game completely transforms. Get 3 other friends together (pitty the singer though, as it is often easier to get a good singing score by simply hitting the right pitch and sounding aweful and singing for fun or sounding good) The band dynamic and team work make this game an experience not to be missed.Finally, the drums are completely different feeling that guitar. The need to coordinate your arms and one foot together and the overall physical feel of hitting the drums is just great. It is very difficult, however, and most people I know will probably never dream of playing on Hard, let alone the punishing expert.If more time and energy had gone in to the guitar segments, this would score higher. However, it seems they did drums first, and threw guitar in as an afterthought (poor bass players, there are some songs where the only note you need to hit is the green one...)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Week

Strengths: Great tracklist, good fun for everyone

Weaknesses: Steep price

Summary: Rock Band is sort of like three games in one: one just like Guitar Hero, another one that's similar except on drums, and a karaoke game. As I'm not really much of a singer, I've spent most of my time on the guitar and drums. The guitar parts are for the most part much easier than those found in Guitar Hero 3, which is a welcome change. I've never played a drum rhythm game before, so I have no precedent to compare it to, but it's pretty fun. And you use actual drumsticks. The only real shortcoming is its high asking price, but when compared to Guitar Hero's price, it's actually a pretty good deal. And if you already have Guitar Hero, you already have everything you need to have a 4-member band.