Following the nostalgia-inducing melodies of The Beatles: Rock Band, Harmonix is at it again with something more edgy, with Green Day: Rock Band. It’s not out till June 8th but we got a chance to sit down with developer, Harmonix to murder some of the band’s best moments. Read on for our verdict on what we’ve seen so far.
The Beatles: Rock Band was a tour de force in music games. Harmonix clearly went to town creating an experience that successfully managed to appease fans of the scouse retro band. Has Harmonix delivered the same experience this time around?
If you’re a Green Day fan, there’s plenty to keep you humming a happy tune. First things first. If you’re a regular Rock Band player, the gameplay has barely changed from The Beatles: Rock Band, Harmonix told us. And the developer was right. As usual players hit the coloured buttons on the plastic axe or drum kit in time to the colours on screen. Singing appears to work the same way too, though we didn’t have time to test the mic out. Honestly. Harmonix assured us the same experience from previous Rock Band games applies here.
The familiar no fail mode is also carried over, and thankfully for novice players, all 47 songs are instantly accessible. Green Day fans will be able to export each and every one to their existing Rock Band music collection. Like The Beatles: Rock Band, a career mode lets players progress to unlock lots of Green Day backstage photo goodness. There’s 100 photos in total and 40 minutes of unlockable behind the scenes video footage – twice as much as in The Beatles: Rock Band Harmonix told us.
Unlike The Beatles: Rock Band, you won’t see flashy psychedelic stage sets made to look like the band’s music videos. Not from what we saw at least. Career Mode will instead take the band through some of its finest moments – from performing in small clubs to packing out people-packed stadia.
Still wondering why Harmonix went from The Beatles to Green Day? Speaking about the decision, Harmonix told us that Green Day’s music catalogue was “easy to work with”, and that albums such as American Idiot specifically was a great concept album with its own story. Thankfully for fans, the songs work well. Even non fans will admit so.
And we had to ask – any idea on the next group/artist to get the Rock Band treatment? Harmonix, of course wouldn’t tell us, but did say they’re looking for bands and artists with their own story to tell. Any controversial/interesting bands you think should get the nod? Let us know.
Overall, we think Harmonix has done a great job with Green Day: Rock Band. But will regular users flock to it? We’re still unsure. Those willing to put music allegiances to one side will have a great time. Only time (and sales figures) will tell.
Green Day: Rock Band strums into stores on June 8th. Be sure to check back for more news and developments when we hear them.
Out 8 June | £TBC | EA
