Block Rockin' Beatles

I've always been a fan of The Beatles. Growing up, my parents used to listen to them, and I would boogie along to their happy pop-rock sound. It was only as I got older that I really learned to appreciate them, though. No longer did I bounce along to kid-friendly favorites such as Yellow Submarine or Octopus' Garden, but delighted in the albums released during their studio years. I'm sure there are many out there who think of The Beatles as nothing more than a boy band, cranking out cheesy love songs such as I Wanna Hold Your Hand, but anyone who's ever heard The White Album should know how brilliant and diverse the Fab Four can be.

So having said this, it should come as no surprise that I was as excited as the next man about Beatles Rock Band. Sure, I may have been a bit sad that I wouldn't be able to add their music to my ever-growing library of Rock Band tracks, but since we're talking about the world's greatest group here, I guess a stand-alone disc isn't so bad. This also gave Harmonix a chance to make Beatles Rock Band into more than just a collection of tracks, but rather a virtual tour of their life and times; an opportunity to step into their shoes and experience the moments that turned them into a worldwide phenomenon.

Now, I'm sure you're all familiar with the Rock Band/Guitar Hero style of gameplay, and Beatles Rock Band doesn't stray to far from the formula: Pick your instrument, then strum or bang along as colored notes make their way down the screen. The biggest difference between this and previous titles, is the ability for up to three singers to join in (on certain tracks), allowing Harmonix to finally live up to their name. Aside from this, though, the game is very familiar feeling, and even those with little previous experience should be able to jump in and have a good time.

Of course, there are a few changes between this and earlier Rock Band titles, mainly to make this one more accessible and family friendly. Menus have been streamlined, certain options have been put in much more prominent places (like Lefty Flip), and re-arranging your band has never been easier. There's also a fantastic "Beatles Beats" section that teaches you a little about the rhythms you'll be playing. But there are some other changes too. These other changes may be for the better, but I still find them amusing, as they give some insight into what kind of deal had to be made to get hold of The Beatles' library.

Basically, it's clear that one goal Harmonix had when designing this game, was to make sure The Beatles' music remains wholly unchanged. Remember how you could randomly drum along at the beginning of songs in other Rock Band games? Not in this one, and there are no "Big Rock Endings" either. Not only this, but they have done away with the drum fills that you used to activate Overdrive Mode; instead you simply hit a single glowing note (a better system anyway, as far as I'm concerned - I hate missing little bits of the music!). Then they've gone and disabled all the guitar effects, such as the whammy bar, or any distortion that might have played during your Overdrive sections. Even the sound of the stars going 'ding' has been reduced to almost nothing, leaving the Fab Four's music exactly as you remember it.

Of course, this all depends on how well you can actually play, and this brings me to another interesting point: Messing up during otherwise-beautiful sections, such as the opening to Dear Prudence, feels almost sacrilegious, like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa, or kicking the Pope square in the junk. But conversely, successfully making it through these sections is magical, giving all of us a chance to virtually live out the lives of the world's most influential group. And this is where the thrill really lies, as it does in other rhythm games: When you feel like a rock star, you're doing it right.

One thing that should be noted, however, is the difficulty. Sure, I know that Ringo Starr is no Keith Moon, but I was still a little surprised at how easy I found the drumming. There are certainly some tricky sections, but nothing that Rock Band veterans will have much challenge with. I personally got 5 stars (at least) on ever track, first time. In fact, I'm sure that even the hardest songs wouldn't be above drum tier 3 in regular Rock Band, and the guitar isn't much tougher. But this isn't why we listen to The Beatles, is it? We're not looking for crazy drum fills and finger-breaking guitar solos, but rather excellent tunes and inspired lyrics, and in that sense, Beatles Rock Band doesn't disappoint.

So what this comes down to is, are you a fan of The Beatles? If so, then you should buy this game, no question. Not only will it give you the chance to experience their career as you never have before, it also contains many unlockable treats, such as rare photos and videos of the group in action. However, if for some reason you don't really dig their stuff (because, I don't know, you're crazy), then this game probably won't change your mind. And if you're anywhere in between, just go ahead and buy it. Sure, you may not be too keen on playing through early hits like Twist and Shout, but trust me, it all worth it when you get up to tracks like I Am The Walrus, and Hey Bulldog.

So overall, I would definitely recommend Beatles Rock Band. But if you own no rhythm games at all , should this be the first one you buy? Unfortunately, I'm going to have to say no. This game works as a great supplement to regular Rock Band, but can never expect to have quite the diversity as a game that contains so many different groups. Besides, The Beatles have a limited library, so there's only so much more they're going to be able to add as DLC, where as the regular Rock Band catalogue is growing larger and more excellent by the week. I can't see Beatles Rock Band taking over as my default rhythm game, but it's one that I'll always go back to, especially as new albums are released for it.

And now I must go. I've been all the Help I can, and besides, it's been A Hard Days Night and I'm So Tired. So If You've Got Trouble, and that trouble is a lack of good rhythm games, go and pick up Beatles Rock Band. It Won't be Long before you Get Back from Gamestop with a shiny new copy in hand, at which point the Two of Us can play together. People Ask Me Why I love these games so much, and say, well it's Because I can enjoy them Here, There and Everywhere, for Eight Days a Week. Sure, money Can't Buy Me Love, but it can buy the next best thing, and I'll surely be enjoying this purchase for a Long, Long, Long time.

The End.

Jam along to new DLC

This week in Rock Band (yeah, I know I'm still a week behind), stop making sense, and start making some noise, with a nice 5-pack by Talking Heads. We also get some individual tracks by The Jam, Oasis, Rage Against the Machine, and Avenged Sevenfold. The Talking Heads pack is 680 MSP/$8.50, but everything can be acquired individually for the usual price of 160 MSP/$2.
Here's what's on offer:

Talking Heads Pack 1
And She Was
Crosseyed & Painless
Girlfriend is Better
Once in a Lifetime
Take Me to The River

Avenged Sevenfold - Bat Country
The Jam - A Town Called Malice
The Jam - Going Underground
Oasis - Supersonic (Live)
Rage Against the Machine - Guerrilla Radio
Note: Click on any song for expert band videos.

I was actually a little surprised when they announced this week's songs. I would have thought that tomorrow's release of Beatles Rock Band would be their sole focus right now, but apparently they still have time to give us decent DLC! So what did I buy then? Well, I had to pick up a few of the Talking Heads tracks. I avoided Crosseyed & Painless and Take Me to The River, as they sounded way too easy, but I bought the rest. Yeah, I know that And She Was is also rather simple, but how could I resist? I also bought the two Jam songs, as they are the first
released in the game, and I'd like to show my appreciation. So how were they?

Well, lets start with the Jam songs, which both fit into drum tier 3. Going Underground isn't bad, with a fairly standard punkish beat, only made tricky by it's speed. This is also what makes the fills tough, but overall, it's not going to provide much challenge for veterans. A Town Called Malice also has a fairly standard beat, but is somehow rather satisfying to play. I can't explain exactly why, but I get the same feeling I often do when playing Thin Lizzy's The Boys are Back in Town. It's not all easy, though, as there are some quick double-kicks throughout, and the occasional drumroll. Even though I got gold stars on my first try (woot!), I'm still looking forward to playing this one again.

Okay, so now lets look at the Talking Heads tracks. The first one is And She Was, which is down in drum tier 1. I knew I shouldn't have bought anything this easy, as I got a 100% full combo on my first go. Familiar, simple beat, with only a couple of fills in the middle. Nothing special. Girlfriend is Better (drum tier 3) was a little more interesting, with a pattern that goes back and forth between yellow pad, red pad, and kick drum; rarely two at the same time. While the beat subtly changes throughout, I still felt a little bored by the end, as there are never any major shifts. Oh well. Finally, we have Once in a Lifetime (drum tier 3), which was definitely the trickiest song I bought this week. It's hard to describe the hand pattern, but it reminds me of the Stone Temple Pilots' Vasoline, or Kiss' Detroit Rock City, with a back-and-forth kind of rhythm. Fortunately, the kick drum is easy, so you can concentrate on your other limbs instead. Overall, rather fun, and one I plan on getting better at.

So of the five tracks I bough this week, I would recommend A Town Called Malice and Once in a Lifetime. The others I could take or leave. While none of these songs are overly-tough, they're still fun to play, and worth having in your collection. Now I'm going to cross my fingers in hopes of seeing Artists Only at some point in the future.

In other news, Harmonix recently confirmed that a patch is on it's way to Rock Band, allowing the use of wireless mics. Hang on a minute! Didn't we get this promise back in December, after the release of Microsoft's Lips? Yes, but they never said exactly when the patch would be coming. While they still haven't announced a definite date, they have said that the mics will work fine in Beatles Rock Band from day one, with Rock Band 2 support to follow.

We also got our first look at Rock Band Mobile, the upcoming cell phone version of the popular rhythm game. Note that I said cell phone, not iPhone, as Verizon users will actually be the lucky ones to receive this title before anyone else. The gameplay will no doubt be similar to what we're used to, and it will feature 25 tracks (in high quality mp3 format), some of which were offered as DLC on the home console versions. You can click here for the full list. Unfortunately, no other cell phones have been confirmed yet, but I sure hope an Android version is in the works! Verizon users can look forward to Rock Band Mobile when it hits on September 16th.

Don't forget to brush

Let me introduce you to Chibiterasu, possibly the cutest video game character since we first laid eyes on Nintendo's electric mouse in 1996. She's the star of Okamiden, the DS follow-up to the PS2/Wii RPG, Okami. We first saw screenshots of the game a few days ago, in Japan's Famitsu Magazine, and now Capcom have released the very first footage, as part of their TGS 2009 lineup.

Okami, for those who don't know, was released in 2006, for PS2. It cast you as Amaterasu, part wolf and part sun-god, as you brought light and life back to a dying world. This was accomplished by use of the "celestial brush", which allowed you to paint directly onto the screen. These paintings would then become real objects: A circle in the sky would become the sun; a circle on water would become a Lilly pad; a loop in the air would cause the wind to blow, and so on. Unfortunately, since the game is so long, I never finished it (seriously, it's long), but could accept that it's heavily-Zelda-inspired gameplay was possibly the best of it's kind since, well, Zelda.

However, I'm much more likely to finish a long handheld game than a home console one, which is why Okamiden might be just what I'm looking for. But can the DS handle the wonderful cel-shaded visual style of the original? Maybe not quite, but the video is still impressive, despite it's choppiness (I hope this is ironed out before release). One aspect that should work perfectly, though, is the celestial brush. Touch screen painting, here we come!

Not much more is known about the game right now, but I'll be sure to post details as and when they're released. For now, just feast your eyes on the teaser video. It's not embeddable, but you can check it out by clicking here.

I was blind, but now I see

It happened again. My beloved Xbox 360 had been functioning fine for while, but then it must have suddenly remembered how old it is, as it's recently been having issues. Now, as you should know, I'm no stranger to Xbox errors, but this was a whole new problem. No red rings; no overheating; just the simple inability to read discs. It first happened a few weeks ago, and was remedied with the application of a DVD lens cleaner. However, the other day it happened again, and this time, the lens cleaning disc was no help.

This left me in an awkward position. On the one hand, it still played downloadable games, and I was in the middle of working through Shadow Complex. On the other hand, I was kind of desperate to get my rock on, but knew that opening my system could result in problems worse than disc read errors. I also knew that in a week it wouldn't matter, as this was the start of the holiday games season, and I could think of 4 very good reasons why I might want my console to be working: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. See the problem?

I was about to fire up my computer and write a post about the difficult position I was in, but then I stopped. I just couldn't accept that my 360 was broken. I mean, we'd been through so much together; could this really be it? No, I thought; I'm not going down without a fight. I've opened it before, and I can open it again!

So that's what I did. I grabbed my torx head screwdrivers and popped the system apart (much easier the second time around). I opened up the DVD drive, and even though the lens didn't look dirty, I took out my cue tips and rubbing alcohol, and gave it a careful clean. Reassembling everything, I plugged it in, pressed the power button, and held my breath.

To make a long story short, it worked. I almost didn't believe that my 4 year old system was running once again, but there it was, right in front of my eyes. My squeals of delight were soon replaced by the heavy breathing of a man enjoying his Rock Band drumming; enjoying it with a very smug look on his face, that is. Of course, I'm not sure how long this smug look will last for. My 360 may be working fine right now, but tomorrow is a whole new day.....

Far from complex

It was only supposed to be a relaxing hike through the countryside. She said she'd explored that cave before, as a child; how could either of you know what lay in store? But now she's gone - captured; taken away; brought deep within the walls of their base. You never wanted to get involved, but now it's too late, and you've got some serious choices to make: Choose to live; Choose to fight; Choose some really corny lines of dialogue; Choose to enter the Shadow Complex.

The first thing I noticed when starting starting Shadow Complex, the new title by Epic Games and Chair Entertainment, is the production values. This title looks nothing like any XBLA game that's come before, and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a full-priced retail product. This is because Epic are best known for their Unreal 3 game engine; the framework behind many titles, such as Gears of War, Mass Effect, and Bioshock. While Shadow Complex may not quite look as good as those titles, it's still highly impressive for a $15 game.

After getting over the visuals, the next thing that became apparent was the style of game: It's Medroidvania through and through. What I mean by that is, it's a side-scrolling platformer/shooter that starts you off in a small section of a giant level and tasks you with exploring and uncovering the entire map. As you collect new weapons and abilities, otherwise-inaccessible sections can be reached, and hidden secrets are all over the place.

You play as Jason, an average man who becomes unwilling-involved in the underground terrorist plot after your girlfriend is captured. Thankfully, you're not too shabby with a gun, and there are plenty of explosive weapons laying around (terrorists should really learn to clean up their bases!), so it's not long before you're laying waste to entire squadrons of bad guys. This is where Shadow Complex differentiates itself from titles of old, as it puts that third dimension into use. What I mean is, even though you can only move across the levels from left to right, everything is in full 3D, much like recent XBLA game, 'Splosion Man. However, unlike 'Splosion Man, bad guys will come at you from all directions, and you must fire "into the background" in order to hit them. While this is accomplished with a simple point of the right analog stick, it's still a neat mechanic that I haven't seen before.

Aside from the shooting, the main thing you spend your time doing is exploring. The thing is, it's a much more guided kind of exploration than titles off old. First of all, you've got your flashlight, which will make destructible objects glow. Since the color of the glow tells you what you need to get past the object (grenades, guns, missiles etc...), you're never stuck wondering how to proceed. The next tool you have is your map, which will inform you whenever there's a hidden object nearby, taking away a little of the frustration these games can lead to. The map also shows the path you need to take to get to the next story element, so you never have to worry about getting lost. These things combined lead to a much easier adventure than Metroidvania fans may be used to.

This isn't the only element that's easy, though. In reality, the whole game is a bit of a cake-walk, with bad guys that don't notice you until you've put a bullet in their head, and bosses that can all be overwhelmed with nothing more than a constant stream of explosives. The fact that they give you so many of these explosives doesn't help either. I mean, there are hidden weapon packs all over the place, all of which increase the amount you can hold, so it's not long before you're carrying enough pyrotechnics to shoot a Michael Bay film. I suppose you don't have to collect all these upgrades, but as I said before, they're not exactly difficult to find.

But despite it's simplicity, Shadow Complex really is a lot of fun. The platforming and combat mechanics are solid, and it's never too long before you have a new weapon or gadget at your disposal. Granted, most of the enemies can be taken down with just the use of a gun, but at least you have options. It also has some unique elements in, such as the Xbox Live integration. Even though there's no muliplayer mode, the game keeps tracks of many of the things you do (such as headshots, and melee attacks), and compares your scores to those of your friends. This adds a little bit of competitiveness to the game, as you always want to do just a little better, in order to overtake the next person on your friend list.

So overall, I would definitely recommend Shadow Complex. Sure, we may have seen this exact formula in many games over the years, but this one does a few things different, and only costs $15! It may not be too long or difficult, but I enjoyed it enough that I want to go back and find all the hidden items, unlocking a few more achievements in the process. Epic and Chair have really gone above and beyond with this title, and if it's any indication of where the XBLA is headed, I think we're all going to be very happy.

If only I liked Bakugan....

Free T-shirts are alright; free hats are pretty cool; but free pillowcases are awesome! That's right - pre-order Bakugan Battle Brawlers from Game Crazy and you'll be the proud recipient of this fantastic piece of bedroom-bling. One side features lead character Dan, and the other sports a nice picture of Dan's guardian Bakugan Dragonoid. Well, I think that's who they are anyway; I actually know nothing about the game, or the show it was based on.

What I do know is that I want other companies to follow suit and give us pillowcases of their own. I mean, who wouldn't want to rest their head on the inviting lap of Master Chief, or take a trip to dreamland in the arms of a Big Daddy? And the great thing about pillowcases, unlike t-shirts, is that they're one-size-fits-all, so even the small among us won't have to miss out. Yes, I really think that Activision may have discovered the ultimate pre-order bonus, and I hope it's not the only one we see.

In fact, why stop at pillowcases? Since there are some pretty expensive games coming out this holiday season, why not offer sheets or duvet-covers to those who plop down their money early? It would certainly encourage more people to pre-order, and would lead to some pretty snazzy bedrooms in the future. So come on game publishers - make this dream a reality!

Dropping things can be good

We're almost 4 years into this console generation, and we've finally gotten to the point where all three consoles are fairly affordable. This is the result of a couple of recent price drops - one by Sony, and one by Microsoft. It's now possible to walk into a store with $300 in hand, and leave with any gaming system you desire. So what exactly does this mean, and which is the best value for money? Lets discuss for a few minutes.

Okay, so the biggest price drop of late comes from Sony, whose PS3 Slim has replaced the old, bulky model, and only costs $300. Of course, this is the same price as the Playstation 2 at launch, but I guess that doesn't really matter, does it? What does matter is that it has finally gotten down to the same price as an Xbox 360, so may now be able to provide a little competition, sales-wise. As well as free online service and an increasing selection of quality titles, the PS3 comes with two other things it's competitor doesn't: Built-in wi-fi, and Blu-ray support. These could be deciding factors for the price-conscious consumer, and we may see Microsoft sweetening their bundles at some point in the future.

So what about Microsoft? They also reduced the cost of their console in the last couple of weeks, but is it as good a deal as the PS3? Well, for those who don't know, it's now possible to get an Xbox 360 Elite (that's the black one with the 160 GB hard drive) for only $300 - a price reduction of $100. Of course, we've always had the option of getting a $300 system, but up 'til now it would have been the 20 GB Pro model; a SKU that will soon be fazed out altogether. Unfortunately, Microsoft were a little cheeky with their new bundle - they removed the component cables from the box and replaced them with standard, low-def composite cables. This means that any one who wishes to play 360 in anything higher than 480i will have to shell out another $40 for the privilege. Bastards! Then again, the PS3 never came with high-def cables, so I guess this shouldn't make a difference when deciding which system to buy.

And as for Nintendo, well......The Wii costs the same as ever, with no indication of a price drop any time soon. So what if it only costs $50 less than it's significantly-more-powerful, high-def competitors? So what if it's best games are essentially re-makes of titles we were playing 15 years ago? So what if it's online service is a total joke, and it's Virtual Console titles are overpriced? These things don't matter, as it's clear that the average consumer is none too bright, and will happily pay whatever they have to for Nintendo's Wii-Sports-player. Sorry, I know this isn't supposed to be another rant about Nintendo, but I couldn't help but point out the slight ridiculousness of their $250 price.

So between the PS3 and the Xbox 360, which is the best value for money? Well, as much as I hate to say it, I think the PS3 could now be considered the more attractive bundle. After all, it has many of the same games as the 360, but also plays Blu-ray movies, and has built-in wi-fi. Remember that Microsoft are still charging $100 for their wi-fi adaptor, so this really is a nice thing to have included. Of course, neither system comes with high-def cables anymore, so anyone who wishes to enjoy their new games as they're meant to be will have to shell out a little extra. Apart from this, though, the PS3 certainly seems to include more bang for your buck, and may soon overtake the 360's sales, as a result.

But having said all this, I'd still recommend the 360 over the PS3, if asked. It's a shame that so many of it's best features don't become apparent until you spend some time with them (such as Xbox Live, and the Achievement system), but I would hate to be without, at this point. Then there's all the extra functionality they keep adding to the 360, such as the awesome Party system, Community Games channel, and Netflix integration; all of which have helped turn the video game console into an entire entertainment centre. Sure, on the box, the PS3 may seem like better value for money, but I believe that the Xbox 360 has a lot more to offer for most gamers, and is still the number one choice for electronic entertainment. Of course, if you don't have access to high-speed internet (you poor bastards), then much of this functionality will be lost on you, in which case, a PS3 should suit you just fine.

It will be interesting to see what effect these price cuts have on this holiday season's console sales. Will the PS3 over take the 360? Will either system come close to toppling Nintendo? Or will the lack of blockbuster titles lead to a decrease of sales all round? It's hard to predict, but I'm looking forward to finding out.