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Rock Band Unplugged
We go on the road (literally) with Harmonix's portable Rock Band.
Written by David Scammell, 08 July 2009
While the prospect of a Rock Band game without its spangly plastic instruments may sound as ideal as a teapot made of chocolate, Harmonix's crossover to the handheld has actually been handled with the dignity the series deserves, rather than churned out to play on the genre's wave of success.
Though more reminiscent of Harmonix's earlier (yet no less significant) outings Amplitude and Frequency, Unplugged retains much of what made the series as pleasurable than the more recent Rather than playing just one instrument in the band, Unplugged tasks the player with playing all four, using four simultaneous note tracks to keep the music ticking over between all sections of the band. In order to achieve this without overwhelming the player, Unplugged introduces 'phrases', short sections of the track that - if performed perfectly - keep that particular instrument running automatically for a short period of time. It's then simply a case of hopping between instruments and repeating the process until the end of the track.
PlayZine Issue 32
For our latest Rock Band coverage, click here to download PlayZine Issue 32 for free.It all works rather well, and though the interface can occasionally prove problematic when dealing with the faster notes on higher difficulties, the fully customisable control scheme should help alleviate any issues players have with the default controls.
Of course, the biggest head scratcher is Harmonix's omission of any multiplayer component whatsoever, a somewhat large oversight given the series' focus on social entertainment. Surely the PSP's wireless capabilities lend themselves perfectly for players looking to join a portable band?
But forgetting the game's lack of social support for a moment, Rock Band Unplugged is the best Rock Band experience you could ask for on the handheld. Its presentation remains true to its bigger (and ultimately better) brother, complete with forty master tracks (though unfortunately comprised mainly of tracks featured previously in the series) as well as a fully functional Rock Store. A perfect portable alternative for Rock Band fans on the road
Rock Band coverage available in PlayZine Issue 32 - click here to download it for free!
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