Rock Band

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If you not a musician then you've never been on the self-esteem-bashing emotional rollercoaster ride of being in a rock band. Rarely does the sea of defeat part, revealing a glistening high of momentary rock stardom. But when it happens, boy is it ever sweet.

That's the first feeling I got from playing Rock Band; like I was about three weeks into practicing with a garage cover band, where the music just starting to come together into something other than spastic noise...something real.

There's No 'I' in 'Rock Band'

The brilliance of Rock Band, in concept, triumphs Guitar Hero's solo manifesto. Yeah, it's awesome to shred along to a face-melting riff, but any musician will tell you playing live with other musicians is a whole other story. The feeling you get when you come together as a band and find that tight groove...it's just unexplainable.

Whatever you do, don't call it <em>Band Hero</em>.

Whatever you do, don't call it Band Hero.

In a Los Angeles studio, we jammed...and we jammed hard. With drumsticks in hand, you're Neil Peart. With an axe strapped on, you feel like Jimi, or even Flea when you're thumping on bass. And, well, what's Bon Jovi without some dude named Jon?

While you're each hard at work on nailing each note, kick beat, or tambourine count, you're hearing the music come together as a whole. If your drummer sucks, it'll all sound weak, the drums falling out of the rhythm section altogether. Fret not, though, as a perfect run on another instrument can bring your foundation back. It's a team effort, and there's no 'I' in 'Rock Band'.

Beyond Hero

The similarities to Guitar Hero are there: speeding fretboards, tilt sensors, and even the five-fret guitar/bass design that GH fans will think comfortable (note that GH guitars will work with Rock Band). After all, Harmonix did develop the first game. But Rock Band takes it to an entirely different level. Even the game's Fender Stratocaster gets a huge feature boost with five new fret buttons for soloing and a five position effects switch (BOSS effects are confirmed) that looks just like the pickup shifter on a real Strat. But the real deal is online.

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