The Beatles : Rockband Review

When a small group of Scousers played a gig in a former
air-raid shelter in 1961, I wonder if Brian Epstein knew what he was watching.
In that one moment, for those few songs, did he know he was getting excited
over the most important pop band the world would ever see? I’m guessing not.
Probably just thought he could make a few quid. I am certain though, that no
matter what he thought The Beatles may or may not go on to do, I’m sure that a
video game based on the Fab Four was not on that list.


I must admit, I’m not the biggest Beatles fan in the world.
I don’t even own any records, save a few downloaded tracks on my Archos. That’s
not to say I don’t like them. I’m just not that much of a fanboy. But when this
game was announced, I admit it, I got a little giggly. In music based video
games terms, I guess the Fab Four are pretty much the Holy Grail, so a whole
game dedicated to them and only them is like drinking from the fountain of
eternal youth.


So, whilst songle band title are nothing new, The Beatles
are the one band above all others that should get this treatment. And what a
treatment it is.


Upon loading the game we are presented with the opening
video which leads you nicely into the game where, once the calibration for the
guitar has taken place (that you actually get an achievement for), you find
yourself at the main screen and have a few options open to you. Do you go for
the quick play? How about online? No point looking at what you have (haven’t) unlocked
yet , so career mode it is.


Career mode takes you, as the title suggests, through the
career of The Beatles. Whilst this isn’t a lengthy process, you do find
yourself playing a few songs at a selection of some of the more famous gigs
they had over the years. Starting at the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool,
you progress through television appearances, Shea stadium and even a certain
rooftop. In the middle of our journey we find the “Abbey Road” era, and it is
at this point the real selling point of the game becomes clear.


Whilst Sgt Pepper and the following albums were widely
regarded to be masterpieces, they were never taken out on the road. This
presented the developers a bit of a problem. Twenty or so songs just watching
them play in the studio? That’s going to be more than just a teensy bit dull.
So, those wonderful people at Harmonix, with plenty of guidance from the
remaining Beatles set about creating what have been called ‘dreamscapes’. The
first of these is Yellow Submarine. They foursome are playing away in the
studio when you realise there is a bit of seaweed appearing in the corner.
Water is seeping in also, and my word. Is that a fish? Gradually the studio
melts into an aquatic wonderland, complete with the yellow submarine itself.


Each of the songs featuring dreamscapes are beautifully
realised and keep in line with a great deal of the old Beatles imagery that we
remember from way back when. They truly are something to behold, and much kudos
is given to Harmonix to enable us to also watch these moving paintings without
the trappings of note charts.


Progression through the career unlocks a whole treasure
chest of extras, titbits and delights. Complete a song with three or five stars and you are presented with some
rare or never before seen pictures, along with a little written piece adding
insight to either the photograph, or the song from which is obtained. These
then build up and you can unlock further goodies. Everything about the game is
done with so much love, care and attention, it’s hard to see how any fan can be
disappointed. The developers have even gone as far as including sound footage
of the band before and after every song, whether a studio piece or a concert. Tuning
the instruments, making a brew, or getting tongue tied whilst introducing a
song, they add a great deal of authenticity to the proceedings.


It is not all good, however.


First, a slight note about the instruments. Well, one
instrument to be honest. I’m talking about the replica Hoffner Violin bass
guitar. Upon first inspection, it is beautiful. Truly gorgeous. As close to the
real thing as a plastic replica with buttons and no strings can be. However, there are a couple of niggles. The
first is the strap. Now, when you attach the blasted thing to one of those
little metal bobble jobbies, you find the one on the right. That’s fine. No
problems there. Then you go looking for the other one on the left. Well, it is
on the left, but for some insane reason, it is on the back of the peripheral.
Now, this has the rather unfortunate effect of making the guitar lean forwards
as it hangs around your neck. It just feels wrong. As such, playing the thing
doesn’t feel quite as natural as it should.


The second problem I have is that it’s quiet. Now, sometimes
quiet is good. I seem to remember the guitar that came with Guitar Hero 3 was
so loud with its clicking and clacking that the corpse of Jimi Hendrix was
heard to yell “Will you stop that infernal racket please?” This is too quiet
though. It’s as though someone has replaced the entire inner workings with
cotton wool. Everything feels so light. Now, the lack of noise isn’t the real issue.
The problem lies with the fact that you get your brain confused every once in a
while. You are sure that you haven’t adequately pressed the button, or flicked
the strum bar. There you are, strumming along quite happily and you get to a
bit of a tricky part. Did I press that? Oh I missed it. Did I miss it because
it didn’t register or did I miss because I was wondering if I pressed it? Oh
crap, I’m missing more.


Yes, it’s a small niggle, but it’s my duty to report these
things.


It’s also very easy. Now, as I have said, I have only road
tested the guitar so far, and yes, I’m only playing on medium, but damn. This
thing is just a piece of Jane Ashers’ chocolate cake. In truth though, Beatles
songs aren’t the most taxing in the world. It doesn’t help either that there
are only 45 songs on offer here, and the majority come in at around about the 3
minute mark. Yes, you’re gonna sail through this.


The song choices are odd in places too. So whilst you would
expect Get Back to be there, you wouldn’t expect Dig A Pony over, say, Let It
Be. These will all be available through download, of that there is no doubt.
This little taste of ‘cash in’ does leave a bad taste, but I get why some of
the more popular tracks are omitted. I mean, who would buy Dig A Pony, except
the die-hards Beatles fans?


Cynical money making exploits and silly little niggles
aside, this is an amazing piece of software, and one that will make other ‘one
band only’ title hang their heads in shame, run away, and live in a cave. It is
fan-service to the n’th degree. And whilst the library of music to add is
finite, with the mates round, the instruments plugged in and the beer flowing,
there is no better band, or game, for a bit of a sing along.


8/10