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Logo by Max Layne Photography
| Microsoft Xbox 360 |
When it comes to writing a review on a band-specific Rock Band game, there is much that can be said about it. In the case of “Green
Day: Rock Band,” telling those interested in the game that it is a Rock Band game with Green Day music, that is the best description.
For those that are fans of Rock Band and Green Day will love this game. However, those who aren’t fans of one or the other, or both,
this is a game worth passing up.
For those that have played the series in the past understand how a plastic peripheral music game. For those that haven’t played any of
the Rock Band series, the game is played by playing music on fake plastic instruments. Sometimes players will start to sing if they
have had enough to drink that night.
What is worth noting about the game is that “Green Day: Rock Band” is more similar to “The Beatles: Rock Band” than it is to “Rock
Band 2.” This is a game about the alternative punk trio's career, a loosely chronological journey through their best known songs. The
game is set in three venues over roughly 15 years, and lets players play as Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool. The
presentation of the game is very similar to the “The Beatles” Rock Band,” as is the career mode. Players earn photos and videos of the
band as rewards for doing well on the songs they play.
For those who have grown up with and really like Green Day, they will have fond memories of listening to Basket Case over and over
with their friends. Those who have enjoyed Green Day's entire career, and even their newer rock opera albums, it is safe to say they will
be a big fan of the game. Many players will probably be a little bit disappointed that there are only 47 tracks, actually 44 because some
of the tracks are combined. It's great to have entire albums, but a lot of the band's music from the middle of their career gets skipped
over. Nearly all of Green Day's albums went platinum and it would have been nice if a larger representation from all of them would have
been in the game.
There is no way anyone can really say that Green Day is better, or more influential than The Beatles, but in the context of playable tracks
for the Rock Band series, they are better suited for game play. These songs are just a lot more fun and fast paced to play than the
songs that are available in The Beatles rendition of the game. It is pretty cool to get a visual documentary of the band’s progression
through the years, which makes players notice things like how the band isn’t using all of the skills that the members of the band have to
offer in their albums. All of the songs in the game are a lot of fun to play, not matter what instrument the player decides to use while
progressing through the tracks. The longer tracks in the game, such as Homecoming, or Jesus of Suburbia, switch styles so often that
they feel more like a medley of songs, rather than one long song by itself. Also, some of the songs that bleed into each other are
presented as double tracks to keep the music flowing nicely throughout the game.
Vocal Harmonies, a feature that was introduced in “The Beatles: Rock Band,” is an area in “Green Day: Rock Band” that outshines that
of its predecessor. American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown both offer more than just chiming in on the chorus, they seem easier
because of vocals are about something completely different. This makes it less about trying to sing at a slightly higher pitch, and more
about having a lot of fun playing the game.
There are of course a number of flaws that can be found in the game. First, for those that are fans of the original lyrics of the music, the
game is filled with radio edited versions of the tracks, rather than the original versions. This ends up making some of the songs sound
a little bit odd. Also, the amount of venues and character models seems to be very light. With only three stages, players tend to see a
lot of the same characters over and over again.
For The Beatles game, Harmonix created dreamscapes to fill a gap in the band's career, and it was awesome. It would have been nice
if the developer had figured out some way to mix it up with Green Day. Music video shoots or more venues for the heavily narrative
songs off their two recent albums, like the opening cinematic of the game, would have been a great addition, and it seems like a
missed opportunity.
All of the songs on the disc are exportable, for a $10 fee, and that's where most players will find themselves playing them the most.
They're supposedly compatible with the upcoming Rock Band 3 as well, which will also include vocal harmonies.
For those who like Green Day and Rock Band, this is a game worth getting. Players that are getting bored of the Rock Band series or
aren’t fans of the group shouldn’t expect to be won over by this game. It's not as polished or as lovingly handcrafted at “The Beatles:
Rock Band,” but the songs are much more fun to play.
Day: Rock Band,” telling those interested in the game that it is a Rock Band game with Green Day music, that is the best description.
For those that are fans of Rock Band and Green Day will love this game. However, those who aren’t fans of one or the other, or both,
this is a game worth passing up.
For those that have played the series in the past understand how a plastic peripheral music game. For those that haven’t played any of
the Rock Band series, the game is played by playing music on fake plastic instruments. Sometimes players will start to sing if they
have had enough to drink that night.
What is worth noting about the game is that “Green Day: Rock Band” is more similar to “The Beatles: Rock Band” than it is to “Rock
Band 2.” This is a game about the alternative punk trio's career, a loosely chronological journey through their best known songs. The
game is set in three venues over roughly 15 years, and lets players play as Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool. The
presentation of the game is very similar to the “The Beatles” Rock Band,” as is the career mode. Players earn photos and videos of the
band as rewards for doing well on the songs they play.
For those who have grown up with and really like Green Day, they will have fond memories of listening to Basket Case over and over
with their friends. Those who have enjoyed Green Day's entire career, and even their newer rock opera albums, it is safe to say they will
be a big fan of the game. Many players will probably be a little bit disappointed that there are only 47 tracks, actually 44 because some
of the tracks are combined. It's great to have entire albums, but a lot of the band's music from the middle of their career gets skipped
over. Nearly all of Green Day's albums went platinum and it would have been nice if a larger representation from all of them would have
been in the game.
There is no way anyone can really say that Green Day is better, or more influential than The Beatles, but in the context of playable tracks
for the Rock Band series, they are better suited for game play. These songs are just a lot more fun and fast paced to play than the
songs that are available in The Beatles rendition of the game. It is pretty cool to get a visual documentary of the band’s progression
through the years, which makes players notice things like how the band isn’t using all of the skills that the members of the band have to
offer in their albums. All of the songs in the game are a lot of fun to play, not matter what instrument the player decides to use while
progressing through the tracks. The longer tracks in the game, such as Homecoming, or Jesus of Suburbia, switch styles so often that
they feel more like a medley of songs, rather than one long song by itself. Also, some of the songs that bleed into each other are
presented as double tracks to keep the music flowing nicely throughout the game.
Vocal Harmonies, a feature that was introduced in “The Beatles: Rock Band,” is an area in “Green Day: Rock Band” that outshines that
of its predecessor. American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown both offer more than just chiming in on the chorus, they seem easier
because of vocals are about something completely different. This makes it less about trying to sing at a slightly higher pitch, and more
about having a lot of fun playing the game.
There are of course a number of flaws that can be found in the game. First, for those that are fans of the original lyrics of the music, the
game is filled with radio edited versions of the tracks, rather than the original versions. This ends up making some of the songs sound
a little bit odd. Also, the amount of venues and character models seems to be very light. With only three stages, players tend to see a
lot of the same characters over and over again.
For The Beatles game, Harmonix created dreamscapes to fill a gap in the band's career, and it was awesome. It would have been nice
if the developer had figured out some way to mix it up with Green Day. Music video shoots or more venues for the heavily narrative
songs off their two recent albums, like the opening cinematic of the game, would have been a great addition, and it seems like a
missed opportunity.
All of the songs on the disc are exportable, for a $10 fee, and that's where most players will find themselves playing them the most.
They're supposedly compatible with the upcoming Rock Band 3 as well, which will also include vocal harmonies.
For those who like Green Day and Rock Band, this is a game worth getting. Players that are getting bored of the Rock Band series or
aren’t fans of the group shouldn’t expect to be won over by this game. It's not as polished or as lovingly handcrafted at “The Beatles:
Rock Band,” but the songs are much more fun to play.
| Genre: Music Developer: Harmonix Publisher: Electronic Arts |
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