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| The Entertainment Review |
| Developer: Harmonix Publisher: Electronic Arts |
looking at because it is more an expansion pack than an actual game. Also, the price tag that accompanies the package must be taken
into account before a final decision to purchase the game is made. Although it is nice to see that Harmonix and MTV Games is offering
something different than what has been offered in the past, even if it is a lot less exciting than everything that has come before it.
“Rock Band Track Pack: Country” comes bundled with a total of 21 songs that spread over a wide time span and subgenres within
country music. Players will see classics like Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” and Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler.” On the other
side of the spectrum players will see more recent titles from the Dixie Chicks, Lucinda Williams and Rascal Flatts.
Though many buying the game will be fans of country music, some will purchase the game to add more titles to their Rock Band
experience whether they are country fans or not. Whether players are fans of country music or not, there will be a few musicians that
many will wonder why they weren’t included. Players won’t be seeing Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks and a laundry list of
others that would make the list of best country acts. Either way, fans of country music and fans of Rock Band will be disappointed with
the complete music list.
The positive side of this package is the fact that it is only $30 and it is able to be players as a standalone title as well as an expansion
pack, meaning players will be able to play it with or without “Rock Band” or “Rock Band 2,” at least those playing on the Xbox 360 or
PS3. Those playing on the Wii or PS2 will have to settle for the game on its own. The standalone is also a little limited in the fact that it
can’t be played online. Instead, players get Solo play with Quick Play which offers all of the songs already unlocked and Tour Mode
where play a short list of songs in order to unlock the next short list until all four lists are unlocked. There is also a Multiplayer Mode in
the standalone version that offers Band Quick Play and Band Tour, as well as Tug of War and Score Duel, which only offer local play on
a single console.
A huge plus, as mentioned before, is the fact that the Xbox 360 and PS3 players are given a code with their game that enables them to
download all 21 tracks to their hard drive so they can add them to their “Rock Band” or “Rock Band 2” song library. Players must
beware though, for those that choose to purchase the game pre-owned or used, there is a risk that the original owner already took
advantage of the code to down the songs to their system. Buyers beware!
There is one major issue that some players who enjoy country music will have an issue with when working their way through the songs,
the characters on the stage. There are certain songs, especially when it comes to country music that people expect to see the band
dressed a certain way. However, through the tracks offers in this new track pack, players may be seeing some odd bands playing
certain songs. One example of this is Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.” While the song sounds the same as many will remember,
they may be surprised to see a singer with spiked hair and torn up jeans on stage. It seems like Willie Nelson was asked to provide a
song for the game and was repaid by having his song sung by someone that is dressed up for Halloween. Though it is a little
disappointing to see this, it is easy to look past.
It is obvious that anyone that enjoys country music is going to be happy with what is offered with this track pack, even if there are some
songs and artists that seem to be missing. However, a lot of songs are always being released as downloadable content and some of
the legends of country are sure to make their way to the game eventually. There is also always the chance of another country track pack
being released. Though it isn’t quite a full package for fans of country music, it is at least something to offer those that have been
almost entirely ignored since the beginning of the franchise.
For those players that are looking at collecting the Achievements that the game offers, there are a dozen achievements in the game that
will give players another 250 points for their Gamerscore. The only problem with these Achievements is the fact that five of them will
require players to convince their friends to join them because they require a band to complete them.
As said before, for those players that aren’t fans of country music, “Rock Band Track Pack: Country” isn’t going to be anything
spectacular. For those that are fans of the music genre, the game is lacking from the standpoint that these are a small number of
country songs compared to the large list of non-country songs available in the series. Players will get a little bit of enjoyment out of the
game, but overall most players, even those that are fans of country music, will be disappointed with the package that is offered.
into account before a final decision to purchase the game is made. Although it is nice to see that Harmonix and MTV Games is offering
something different than what has been offered in the past, even if it is a lot less exciting than everything that has come before it.
“Rock Band Track Pack: Country” comes bundled with a total of 21 songs that spread over a wide time span and subgenres within
country music. Players will see classics like Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” and Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler.” On the other
side of the spectrum players will see more recent titles from the Dixie Chicks, Lucinda Williams and Rascal Flatts.
Though many buying the game will be fans of country music, some will purchase the game to add more titles to their Rock Band
experience whether they are country fans or not. Whether players are fans of country music or not, there will be a few musicians that
many will wonder why they weren’t included. Players won’t be seeing Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks and a laundry list of
others that would make the list of best country acts. Either way, fans of country music and fans of Rock Band will be disappointed with
the complete music list.
The positive side of this package is the fact that it is only $30 and it is able to be players as a standalone title as well as an expansion
pack, meaning players will be able to play it with or without “Rock Band” or “Rock Band 2,” at least those playing on the Xbox 360 or
PS3. Those playing on the Wii or PS2 will have to settle for the game on its own. The standalone is also a little limited in the fact that it
can’t be played online. Instead, players get Solo play with Quick Play which offers all of the songs already unlocked and Tour Mode
where play a short list of songs in order to unlock the next short list until all four lists are unlocked. There is also a Multiplayer Mode in
the standalone version that offers Band Quick Play and Band Tour, as well as Tug of War and Score Duel, which only offer local play on
a single console.
A huge plus, as mentioned before, is the fact that the Xbox 360 and PS3 players are given a code with their game that enables them to
download all 21 tracks to their hard drive so they can add them to their “Rock Band” or “Rock Band 2” song library. Players must
beware though, for those that choose to purchase the game pre-owned or used, there is a risk that the original owner already took
advantage of the code to down the songs to their system. Buyers beware!
There is one major issue that some players who enjoy country music will have an issue with when working their way through the songs,
the characters on the stage. There are certain songs, especially when it comes to country music that people expect to see the band
dressed a certain way. However, through the tracks offers in this new track pack, players may be seeing some odd bands playing
certain songs. One example of this is Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.” While the song sounds the same as many will remember,
they may be surprised to see a singer with spiked hair and torn up jeans on stage. It seems like Willie Nelson was asked to provide a
song for the game and was repaid by having his song sung by someone that is dressed up for Halloween. Though it is a little
disappointing to see this, it is easy to look past.
It is obvious that anyone that enjoys country music is going to be happy with what is offered with this track pack, even if there are some
songs and artists that seem to be missing. However, a lot of songs are always being released as downloadable content and some of
the legends of country are sure to make their way to the game eventually. There is also always the chance of another country track pack
being released. Though it isn’t quite a full package for fans of country music, it is at least something to offer those that have been
almost entirely ignored since the beginning of the franchise.
For those players that are looking at collecting the Achievements that the game offers, there are a dozen achievements in the game that
will give players another 250 points for their Gamerscore. The only problem with these Achievements is the fact that five of them will
require players to convince their friends to join them because they require a band to complete them.
As said before, for those players that aren’t fans of country music, “Rock Band Track Pack: Country” isn’t going to be anything
spectacular. For those that are fans of the music genre, the game is lacking from the standpoint that these are a small number of
country songs compared to the large list of non-country songs available in the series. Players will get a little bit of enjoyment out of the
game, but overall most players, even those that are fans of country music, will be disappointed with the package that is offered.
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