Lego’s push into the video game world has resulted in the creation of several fun, family-friendly titles that have deftly balanced lighthearted, comical gameplay and the quirky, colorful quality associated with the plastic bricks. Even the most diehard fans would confess that the games leaned a tad kidde in respect to challenge, but that changes with the release of Harmonix/TT Games/Warner Bros. Interactive’s Lego Rock Band, a game that caters not only to the young and young at heart, but to the most hardcore virtual rocker as well.
Despite the child-friendly Lego branding, the music portions of the game will remain the same as in the Rock Band series (such as the extreme skill need to ace the game on higher difficulty levels), but easier skill levels have been implemented to match the grinding power of green rockers (you can’t fail, but you’ll lose valuable Lego blocks needed to construct items).
Naturally, notes are now represented by colored Lego bricks, and successfully completing songs will earn the players Lego studs which they may use to build and customize their Lego-rockers, staff, vehicles, and their “rock den”. In a hands-on demo, I used a customized wizard in pajama pants that played a mean bass; the mixing and matching of Lego bricks give the game a personalized element that sucks players into the game.
Lego Rock Band‘s story mode is especially sweet, as it allows you to unleash the power of rock and roll to open a can of whoop ass. For example, there’s a section within story mode where the band (who are doing whatever rockers do when on a boat), is attacked by a giant octopus. As the sea-beast attacks your ship and crew, you must successful fend it off by successfully completing a song. Sure the gameplay isn’t any different than when playing a normal non-challenge song, but the cute Lego visuals and accompanying cutscenes add an extra dose of fun charm to the experience.
Befitting the Lego brand, Lego Rock Band‘s song list consists of G-rated fare such as Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock”, Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”, Ray Parker, Jr.’s “Ghostbusters”, and many many more. The game is also compatible with previously purchased Rock Band DLC.
An interesting tidbit about Lego Rock Band: It will only be sold as a standalone game, not with instruments. Instead, existing music game controllers will work with Lego Rock Band, as well as songs from the main Rock Band franchise. That’s great if you already own a Rock Band instrument set, but not so great of Lego Rock Band is your first entry into the genre.
A Nintendo DS version of the game will play similarly to Rock Band Unplugged, in which players switch back and forth between instruments, while trying to keep the entire band playing. The game will only utilize the touchpad and stylus, and will not include additional peripherals as used for the Guitar Hero On Tour series.
Lego Rock Band looks to serve up plenty of music-based good times when it hits the DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. Tight controls, additional difficulty levels, and the familiar, assuring Lego brand, equates to Lego Rock Band being a surefire hit this holiday season. Rock on wit’ yo’ bad self.
EDIT: Now with full track listing!
All American Rejects, “Swing, Swing”
The Automatic, “Monster”
Blink-182, “Aliens Exist”
Blur, “Song 2”
Bon Jovi, “You Give Love a Bad Name”
Boys like Girls, “Thunder”
Bryan Adams, “Summer of 69”
Carl Douglas, “Kung Fu Fighting”
The Coral, “Dreaming of You”
Counting Crows, “Accidentally in Love”
David Bowie, “Let’s Dance”
Elton John, “Crocodile Rock”
Europe, “The Final Countdown”
Everlife, “Real Wild Child”
Foo Fighters, “Breakout”
Good Charlotte, “Girls & Boys”
The Hives, “Tick Tick Boom!”
Iggy Pop, “The Passenger”
Incubus, “Dig”
Jackson 5, “I Want You Back”
Jimi Hendrix, “Fire”
Kaiser Chiefs, “Ruby”
Katrina & The Waves, “Walking on Sunshine”
The Kooks, “Naïve”
KoRn, “Word Up!”
KT Tunstall, “Suddenly I See”
Lostprophets, “Rooftops”
P!NK, “So What”
The Police, “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
The Primitives, “Crash”
Queen, “We Are The Champions”
Queen, “We Will Rock You”
Rascal Flatts, “Life is a Highway”
Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
Razorlight, “Stumble and Fall”
Spin Doctors, “Two Princes”
Spinal Tap, “Short & Sweet”
Steve Harly, “Make Me Smile”
Sum 41, “In Too Deep”
Supergrass, “Grace”
Tom Petty, “Free Fallin”
T-Rex, “Ride a White Swan”
Vampire Weekend, “A-Punk”
We the Kings, “Check Yes Juliet”
The Zutons, “Valerie”
The full song list for LEGO Rock Band for Nintendo DS includes:
All American Rejects, “Swing, Swing”
The Automatic, “Monster”
Blur, “Song 2”
Carl Douglas, “Kung Fu Fighting”
Counting Crows, “Accidentally in Love”
David Bowie, “Let’s Dance”
Europe, “The Final Countdown”
Good Charlotte, “Girls & Boys”
Iggy Pop, “The Passenger”
Jackson 5, “I Want You Back”
Kaiser Chiefs, “Ruby”
Katrina & the Waves, “Walking on Sunshine”
KT Tunstall, “Suddenly I See”
P!NK, “So What”
The Primitives, “Crash”
Queen, “We Are The Champions”
Queen, “We Will Rock You”
Rascal Flatts, “Life is a Highway”
Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
Spin Doctors, “Two Princes”
Sum 41, “In Too Deep”
Supergrass, “Grace”
Tom Petty, “Free Fallin’”
Vampire Weekend, “A-Punk”
We the Kings, “Check Yes Juliet”
