The Beatles Rock Band is love for die-hard fans
Game lacks character creation, but makes up for it with great visuals, tons of songs
Steve Thomas
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Features
The real visual masterpieces of the game are the songs performed at Abbey Road Studios.
Each begins with "the Fab Four" sitting in the studio, but quickly fades into the imaginative, almost hallucinogenic worlds the band created in their hey-day.
The track "Yellow Submarine," for example, takes players underwater to the infamous submarine itself, changing the appearance of the band to match the 1968 cartoon cult classic.
The visuals in the game are simply stunning, and seeing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in action is enough to leave Beatles fans with chills.
Of course, it's enough to leave category two players scratching their heads.
Let's face it: the Beatles were a confusing band. They went from wholesome teenagers to long-haired hippies, sported rainbow-colored military uniforms then wore animal costumes and played sitars and zithers for a while.
The game dives headfirst into the rainbows and flowers that defined the band's later years, which is weird even if you know it's coming.
If you don't, you're likely going to feel alienated.
Confusion is probably the appropriate response the first time one is exposed to some of the Beatles' work, but hearing the band's story makes them venerable and makes the obscurities the stuff of legend.
That's exactly what those in category two need, but there's a big problem with the story in Beatles Rock Band: the developers forgot to tell it.
It's odd to have a complaint about a lack of story in a music game, but there is a "story mode," so the developers are kind of asking for it.
The story of the Beatles is one of the most dynamic and influential stories in rock and roll history. It's canon for diehard Beatles fans. But for those who enjoy the music never having heard the story, prepare to be thrown under the Magical Mystery Tour bus.
Still, it's hard to say the game shouldn't be given a rental of a chance by anyone who enjoys Rock Band.
A handful of tracks are surprisingly challenging, and most translate well to the Rock Band format. New vocal features allow players to sing the Beatles' famous harmonies if they have multiple microphones, adding a new dynamic to game play.
Best of all, most players will find that they know the Beatles even if they don't think they do. Saying you don't know "Twist and Shout" is like saying you don't know "Happy Birthday."
The songs are so firmly planted in pop culture that they're inescapable. There are lots of "Hey I know that song!" moments, even for those who've never heard the Beatles on purpose.
The game is an experience, but not the best introduction to either Rock Band or the Beatles.
The developers made the right move in targeting true Beatles fans (putting "the Beatles" in the title will sell a million copies regardless), but some love for non-fans would surely have been welcomed.
After all, love is all you need.
Each begins with "the Fab Four" sitting in the studio, but quickly fades into the imaginative, almost hallucinogenic worlds the band created in their hey-day.
The track "Yellow Submarine," for example, takes players underwater to the infamous submarine itself, changing the appearance of the band to match the 1968 cartoon cult classic.
The visuals in the game are simply stunning, and seeing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in action is enough to leave Beatles fans with chills.
Of course, it's enough to leave category two players scratching their heads.
Let's face it: the Beatles were a confusing band. They went from wholesome teenagers to long-haired hippies, sported rainbow-colored military uniforms then wore animal costumes and played sitars and zithers for a while.
The game dives headfirst into the rainbows and flowers that defined the band's later years, which is weird even if you know it's coming.
If you don't, you're likely going to feel alienated.
Confusion is probably the appropriate response the first time one is exposed to some of the Beatles' work, but hearing the band's story makes them venerable and makes the obscurities the stuff of legend.
That's exactly what those in category two need, but there's a big problem with the story in Beatles Rock Band: the developers forgot to tell it.
It's odd to have a complaint about a lack of story in a music game, but there is a "story mode," so the developers are kind of asking for it.
The story of the Beatles is one of the most dynamic and influential stories in rock and roll history. It's canon for diehard Beatles fans. But for those who enjoy the music never having heard the story, prepare to be thrown under the Magical Mystery Tour bus.
Still, it's hard to say the game shouldn't be given a rental of a chance by anyone who enjoys Rock Band.
A handful of tracks are surprisingly challenging, and most translate well to the Rock Band format. New vocal features allow players to sing the Beatles' famous harmonies if they have multiple microphones, adding a new dynamic to game play.
Best of all, most players will find that they know the Beatles even if they don't think they do. Saying you don't know "Twist and Shout" is like saying you don't know "Happy Birthday."
The songs are so firmly planted in pop culture that they're inescapable. There are lots of "Hey I know that song!" moments, even for those who've never heard the Beatles on purpose.
The game is an experience, but not the best introduction to either Rock Band or the Beatles.
The developers made the right move in targeting true Beatles fans (putting "the Beatles" in the title will sell a million copies regardless), but some love for non-fans would surely have been welcomed.
After all, love is all you need.
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