'Beatles: Rock Band' incites Beatlemania

I get Star Power with a little help from my friends.

By Chase Koeneke

Published Sept. 11, 2009

"Rock Band" was a revolutionary game. It took what was great about "Guitar Hero" and expanded it to drums and vocals, creating arguably the best party game of 2007. The Beatles were a revolutionary band. They took what was great about Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly's music and expanded upon it to usher in a new era of rock 'n' roll.

So when a game named "The Beatles: Rock Band" comes out, you'd expect it to be pretty revolutionary. But it's not. Instead, the newest concoction from developer Harmonix is a refinement to the series, a refinement that makes this the pinnacle of the rhythm genre.

There are two different viewpoints when looking at a game like "Beatles: Rock Band": that of a rhythm genre fan and that of a Beatles fan. (If you don't fall into either of these categories, I can tell you this is not the game for you.) From either perspective, the result is the same, but let's break it down anyway.

For the rhythm game junkie, this game brings some new material to the table. Vocal harmonies are the big new mechanic, allowing two backup singers to accompany the lead vocalist. This is pulled off surprisingly well.

Harmony singers have no negative effect on the band's score, giving them free range to make jackasses out of themselves when the lead singer is trying to artfully croon a slower song like "Something." It's also great for when your drummer goes all Ringo on you and decides he can be a singer too.

True Beatles fans will find a treasure trove of Fab Four nostalgia. Besides the 45 playable songs stretching from the Beatles' roots in the Cavern Club all the way to their rooftop farewell, there is a metric ton of photos, videos, trivia and other extras that will bring a smile to any fan's face. Not to mention the progressive story mode complete with amazing recreations of classic venues like the Ed Sullivan Theater and Shea Stadium that makes the whole package feel insanely authentic.

Now 45 songs isn't a whole lot (for reference, "Rock Band" had 58 and "Rock Band 2" had 84,) but considering that "All You Need Is Love" is already available for download and full albums Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Rubber Soul will be available by year's end, that somewhat meager number is guaranteed to grow.

Unfortunately, this leads to one of the game's only faults. None of the "The Beatles: Rock Band" songs will be allowed to transfer to "Rock Band 2" and vice-versa. It's understandable: The Beatles have always operated pretty independently from other bands, and if anyone deserves their own, compartmentalized game, it's them. Still, it's kind of a downer that my ultimate Weezer/Beatles/Modest Mouse set list will have to stay a dream.

Although it'd be easy to say, "If you like the Beatles, you'll like this game," I think it can appeal to a much wider audience than just Beatlemaniacs. The level of care put into this game is astounding. From the "I Want To Hold Your Hand" tambourine menu sounds, to Over Drive/Star Power being renamed Beatlemania, it's obvious how much fun Harmonix had designing the game. It certainly raises the bar when it comes to single-band rhythm games. Sorry Metallica, Aerosmith and Van Halen.