And we're back! Did you miss me? We should be back on schedule now. For shizzle.
12:06 PM, Sunday: OK, so I was one of those people who bought Rock Band 2 (a game that's been out for over a month) in its Special Edition um, edition, at midnight last night. I'm the first person in town to get me one (there was someone ahead of me, but I checked out first. Arbitrary distinctions FTW!).
I can't think of any reviews that capture the experience of playing a game, and Rock Band has lots of load screens, and we're starved for content, and I didn't want to wait till I was done to review it, so I was all "hey I'ma do a liveblog." My inner monologue speaks in hilariously dated Ebonics.
First things first: the equipment. Well, the box. It's packaged way better than the Queen Mary-sized (the boat, not the bar) box the first came in-- everything's in one big box instead of three, and you need to cut maybe four pieces of tape, not a [metaphor for large amount of tape].
The microphone is almost identical to RB1's. It's not wireless, though I think the cord is longer. There's still no buttons. It still says "Rock Band" on it in that weird-asst font. The doodad near the base is smaller, but I can't even remember what that's called. I haven't used it yet, so it may or may not work better than the original.
The guitar is pretty much the same as Plasticaster V1, except where the cord was, is the button to wirelessly connect (note: press this button immediately when loading. I pressed the XBox Guide Button for 20 minutes before I got this and the drums connected). I haven't used this one either, but just holding it and pushing the buttons feels a little better than the old one.
I have used the drums, for about two hours (I was up till 3:45). They're way better. They're easier to use: I was getting high four-star ratings on some songs that weren't harder than those I got threestars in 1 (tell me you understood that. I'm trying to say I did better with these than the old ones). I didn't wear out on longer songs (which is why I never got past "Green Grass and Endless Guitar Solo" on medium). They're quieter, too, as I didn't wake up anyone else playing at 3:00.
I played maybe six songs, but I spent a lot of time in the (awesome) drum trainer mode. There's not much to it, but it has a Zen-like purity that reminds me of Tetris, with all these red and yellow blocks falling towards you.
One more thing, since I've spent half an hour writing and zero seconds playing today: does anyone know how I import my guy from Rock Band Numero One-o? He had a cool hat and more money than my current guy.
12:37: Wikipedia says importing is a no-no. (Sighs deeply). I guess this no guy will have to do.
12:43: Apparently, the disc is unreadable, despite looking better than literally every disc I've ever Netflix'd.
Fender Warmups (Guitar, expert): "Float On" is surprisingly tricky (far from hard, though). Something about the chords. "Today" is one of the few songs I can almost play on a real guitar. It's an early standout of the (two) songs I've played so far, and pretty fun for such an easy song (though I still think they should have went with "Bullet With Butterfly Wings". I haven't heard of "New Kid in School" before, and it's not love at first listen, but it's a good selection on guitar, mixing chord-bashing and fast single-note runs. It's easy with a challenging solo, which gives you something to replay it for. Plus, the shaved-head, shirtless lead singer of my band with a girl's voice? Never gets old.
I four-starred two of these songs, which rarely happens on expert. Am I getting better or is the game getting easier?
Bass Apprentice (Bass, Expert): Die-hard readers know how much better bass is than guitar. Let's put that to the test. "Round and Round" isn't the worst hair-metal song ever, but it's still a hair metal song. Plus, it's one of those songs where you play the green note 8 times, then the red note 8 time, then the yellow, ad nauseam. "Hungry Like the Wolf" isn't really any less cheesy than "Round and Round," but it's the fun kind of cheese, and you play more than one note. "Pump it Up" and "We Got the Beat" are actually fun in a non-cheesy way, though a lot harder than the first two.
Why was this set all 80's pop-rock? Only God knows.
Lunch Break
2:07 PM: And we're back! Um, again.
Make a Setlist: "E-Pro" and "Drain You" (Vocals, Hard): It's not exactly hard to sing like Beck, but then "E-Pro" throws in the na-na-na... chorus, which I have to mess up my throat to do right. I've heard that "Drain You" was Kurt Cobain's favorite Nirvana song, and I can see why. Gameplaywise, it's way easier than "In Bloom" was in the last game. I could barely finish "In Bloom" on Hard (and can't on Expert), but I got five stars on "Drain You." It might be a bit too easy, actually. I typed some of this post during the solo (without pausing), and came back in too late, but still, 5 stars.
Hey, does "Vox" rhyme with "Ox" or "Oaks"?
Boston, Wicked Awesome Local Setlist (Vocals, Hard): Norman Greenbaum is from Boston? Anyway, first song, "Spirit in the Sky," is something of a 70's rock cliche (pretend the accent mark is there), but it's a nice, mellow, easy-to-sing song, and there's nothing wrong with that, especially this early in the game. Plus, lots of tambourine. I could have swore Dinosaur Jr. wasn't Bostonese, either. I suspect most people have never heard "Feel the Pain" (I hadn't) before playing it, which makes it harder than it actually is (especially for singers). Plus it's a great song. "Where'd You Go?" is the first song I've failed so far. Second time through, I sang "ah-ah" to the pitch and got four stars. Not a good sign.
Battle of the Vans (Vocals, Hard): I hate "Nine In the Afternoon." I hate its pretentious lyrics. I hate its winking, plasticky fakeness. I hate those claps at the end. I hate it on a train. I hate it on a plane. I hate that I knew the words before playing it in the game. I hate that it's a big hit and "Fell the Pain" is an obscurity. I hate that it somehow takes itsself too seriously and not seriously enough. Compare it to "Eye of the Tiger." Even Survivor doesn't take the song seriously; remember that coffee commercial? Both songs are moderately hard, gameplaywise, though "Eye of the Tiger" is just above my range giving me a sore throat. Plus I feel the need to shout when singing it. Also, the new mic is really sensitive. I kid you not, it's picking up the sound of my typing. You migt have already guessed that I like "Today." It's one of those songs where the verse or chorus are completely different, and it takes you through a lot of different styles (whispery falsetto in the early verses, loud choruses, long sustained notes nearer the end).
On to New York! E-Pro again. Weirdly, I fail this time. How come my band is different every show?
"Hello There" by Cheap Trick (Vocals, Hard): The annoying song that plays when you start up the game. It's surprisingly fun to shout your way through, and mercifully short, so it's not all bad.
3:34: [Switches to Drums] [There were noise complaints]
Nine in the Afternoon (Drums, Medium): Nothing special to report. Almost got 5 stars.
Make-a-Setlist: "I Was Wrong" and "So What'cha Want" (Drums, Hard): Warning! "So What'Cha Want' is the same beat through the whole song. Lame. "I Was Wrong" is all right, though kind of easy.
Simple Mystery Setlist (New York, Ramp Arts; Drums, Medium): "Pretend We're Dead" is strange. It's one of few songs to use a drum riff, and it's the first Big Rock Ending I've had so far. Not sure if I like it. "That's What You Get" isn't as bad as, say, "Nine in the Afternoon" but its still lame. It's not, as it claims to be, "power pop". It's just pop. "One Step Closer" is equally stupid, but I'm going easy on it since I got five stars. It reminds me of "Fat Lip" way, way back in the first Guitar Hero, another dumb song that was a lot of fun to play. Plus, another gender-reversed singer.
NYC-- I Heart Local Artists (Drums, Medium):
"So What'Cha Want" again. Makes sense. On Medium, it lacks the offbeat bass drum that made it such a pain on Hard. Otherwise, they're identical.
"PDA" is one of the songs I played yesterday, and (surprise!) it's exactly the same as then: a little too easy. I could have gone to the bathroom and come back ducring the drum-free part (ont that that's a bad thing). Also I thought Interpol was (were? are? be?) British. Guess not.
"One Way or Another" would have been a good choice to include whether it was fun to play or not. It's one of the few songs alternative, pop, and classic rock fans can all agree on (sorry, metalheads). And it has a female singer. It acttually is fun to play, but on Medium it was too easy to hear the notes I wasn't playing (i.e. the ones you only play on Hard and Expert).
"Psycho Killer"? Oh, I wish I'd done singing instead. I jest: this is a good one to just bash through, without thinking too much (like a real drummer!). Said bashing resulted in my first dropped (thrown, really) drumstick.
Montrealward Ho!
Simple Mystery Setlist (Drums, Medium): I have nothing new to say about "Hungry Like the Wolf," only that I think it's going to be stuck in my head all week, and I suspect I'm not the only one. "Man in the Box," or as I like to call it, everyone's third-favorite Alice In Chains song, sounds... different? It's the vocals. It's a master, but maybe it's remixed? Maybe because I always sing over it, I don't know.
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (Drums, Hard): Failed
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (Drums, Medium): That's more like it. On Medium, this is like the easiest song ever. Nothing else to say have I.
Cool for Cats by Squeeze (Drums, Medium): A drum solo! All my prayers have been answered!
Bus or Bust Competition (Drums, Medium): "Drain You"! I played it last night, and both times it was fun and challenging without being difficult. "Hello There" remains just short enough to not be annoying. We'll see if it stays that way on the hundredth playthrough.
Crap. "Living on a Prayer" made it into this game. At least on drums I don't have to play that stupid guitar "riff' (it's not music, it's a special effect! It's like the Michael Bay of guitar riffs) or sing the awkward, clich(e with accent)-riddled lyrics.
I won a bus!
Montreal-- Canada's Local Artists, Eh? (Drums, Medium): Don't let me down, Canada.
"American Woman". Ah, yes, I remember that old Lenny Kravitz classic. We used to listen-- what's this now? The Guess Who? Where the [expletive] is Winnipeg? Whatever.
I knew it would be Alanis. What else is there in Canada? And they needed to include a few songs people have heard of. Despite my rock snobbery, "You Oughta Know" is actually a pretty good song, in hindsight, and whatever underpaid session drummer recorded it gave me something good to play along to.
I called Rush, too. Love them or hate them, Rush is kind of the perfect band for this game, and "The Trees" is Rush at their best: silly but meaningful lyrics, other qualities, and a drum solo! Wooooooo! Drum Solo!
"We Got the Beat" (Drums, Hard): Failed. Never accept the film student challenge, readers.
"Lump", by PotUSA (that's an acronym, folks; Drums, Hard): Failed
"Lump" (Drums, Easy): I hit Easy on accident, trying to hit Medium. Not surprisingly, Easy is easy-- I got 5 stars without trying.
"Give It Away" (Drums, Medium): This isn't really a "drum" song, and it's still totes funs (as the kids say). Except I felt weird playing it with my shirt on.
Sweaty's BBQ Mystery Setlist (Drums, Medium): "The Middle" (the one by Jimmy Eat World-- I think there's a lot of songs with that name) is too hard. I only got four stars! "Pinball Wizard," on the other hand, must be too easy, because I finished the whole thing. Double standards are fun!
Go Your Own Way (Drums, Medium): Paramor, or however you guys mispell your name? This is Power Pop. Not whatever it is you people do.
Dinner Break
Make A Setlist: "De-Luxe" and "Shooting Star" (Drums, Medium): Not much to say about "De-Luxe." I think it's the first 6/8 time song in the game, but I might be full of crap. I'm grateful for the fadeout ending, so I could type and play at the same time.
With "Shooting Star," we get the obligatory song about rock stardom. It's the third Big Rock Ending, after "Pretend We're Dead" and "The Trees", so far (does that number seem low to you guys?). It's also way too long, at more than 6 minutes--I almost missed King of the Hill.
It's 7:40 PM, and I'm done playing and equally done blogging.
No comments:
Post a Comment