E3 2010 Impressions: Rock Band 3

E3 2010 Impressions: Rock Band 3

When I first heard that Rock Band 3 would include more impressive instruments and a Pro mode for those who are looking for something a little more realistic than hitting jewel notes on screen, I was a little apprehensive towards it.  I can barely muster enough to finish a song on Hard difficulty on any music rhythm game already; I surely wouldn’t be able to handle real strings.

Then, Harmonix showed us the live demo, and something changed.

Rock Band 3 has several new tweaks and additions that vastly improve the game from the previous iterations: up to 7 players at once, a snazzy overshell that allows drop-in/out at any time (instead of just at the beginning of songs), and an incredible UI update to the music library that allows for searching and rating of songs and recommendation engine.  The ability to make set lists and share them with friends over Live, PSN, Facebook, and Twitter is a terrific addition, as is the ability to create them online on RockBand.com.  The new “Road Challenges” are 2-3 hour mini tours that address the major issue of not being able to finish a full tour during a house party.  FINALLY.

As the demo rolled on stage — though Harmonix had several demo stations of the game, time didn’t permit and I had to scoot to my next appointment — members of the development team showcased these new tweaks.  These are evolutionary changes that make the experience enjoyable and accessible to more people.  Watching the fluid drop in & drop out for party play seems like one of the best additions to the genre, yet is so simple it’s a wonder that it hadn’t been implemented yet.

The biggest change, though, is the new emphasis on reality.  And coincidentally this is the one that both scares and excites me.  I need to preface this by saying that I don’t play any instruments (I’m a weekend deejay, so maybe a turntable counts).  I’ve held a guitar, I’ve strummed a ukulele (badly), and I was the “xylophone kid” in 3rd grade music class.  So, you can see why the addition of a billion buttons (and strings!) petrifies me.

Harmonix chose Rock Band 3 to address the ongoing questions about the relationship of playing a plastic guitar to a real one.  The new instruments — the simulated Fender Mustang, the 6-string Fender Stratocaster Squier, and a keyboard, along with a midi controller — are clearly aimed at those who have experience playing instruments.  The new “Pro” mode pushes these new instruments, with emphasis on playing as you would in an actual rock band.  The instruments are well-designed, and the Squier especially pushes the limits with touch-sensitive strings.  The only really awkward thing I noticed was the shifting of the note highway left and right depending on the notes needed.  It appeared a little forced and confusing.

The most impressive feature of the new Pro mode is the new training mode.  Yes, training for real guitars, drums, and keyboards!  The game packs in special “trainers” that teach the player how to realistically play the guitar in a Rock Band-like setting.  We may actually be able to learn to play an instrument through a video game.

At least, that’s how they sold us.  I’m anxious to spend more time with each mode, especially the educational aspect, as it feels like there are 3 or 4 games packed onto the disk this time around.  I just hope that this doesn’t turn into an overly expensive gimmick.

Rock Band 3 drops this fall.

[Images and video courtesy Harmonix/MTV games]