Lego Rock Band is a 2009 music video game developed by Harmonix and Traveller's Tales, and published by MTV Games and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game, the fourth major console release in the Rock Band series, was released in November 2009 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS. Lego Rock Band allows one to four players to simulate the playing of rock music by providing the players with peripherals modeled after musical instruments. These include a guitar peripheral for lead guitar and bass gameplay, a drum kit peripheral, and a microphone.
Lego Rock Band's soundtrack has been selected to be "suitable for younger audiences".[1] All songs available in Lego Rock Band are compatible with previous entries in the Rock Band series and until 2014, could be exported to these games for $9.99 along with the use of a unique code included on a paper insert included in the game case.[2][3][4]
Announcement
editWhen Lego Rock Band was officially announced on 21 April 2009, only five songs were confirmed to be included: "Song 2" by Blur, "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas, "The Final Countdown" by Europe, "Girls & Boys" by Good Charlotte, and "So What" by Pink.[1] Wired published leaked information from "a highly-placed source close to Harmonix" on 31 August, which included the names of thirteen songs which would be included in Lego Rock Band.[5] Additional songs were officially announced closer to the game's release date, including "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop and "Let's Dance" by David Bowie.[6] The full setlist was revealed on 12 October.[7]
Main setlist
editThe Nintendo DS version of the game features a 25-song subset of the 45 songs in the console versions as listed below.[2]
| Tier | Title | Artist | Year | Genre | Nintendo DS setlist |
Rewind DLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Rock Star | "A-Punk" | Vampire Weekend | 2008 | Rock | Yes | No |
| 5. Super Star | "Accidentally in Love" | Counting Crows | 2004 | Rock | Yes | No |
| 2. Making Headlines | "Aliens Exist" | Blink-182 | 1999 | Punk | No | Yes |
| 5. Super Star | "Breakout" | Foo Fighters | 2000 | Alternative | No | Yes |
| 2. Making Headlines | "Check Yes Juliet" | We the Kings | 2007 | Emo | Yes | Yes |
| 1. First Steps | "Crash" | The Primitives | 1988 | Pop/Rock | Yes | No |
| 6. Mega Star | "Crocodile Rock" | Elton John | 1973 | Classic Rock | No | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "Dig" | Incubus | 2006 | Alternative | No | No |
| 3. Rising Star | "Dreaming of You" | The Coral | 2002 | Indie Rock | No | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" | The Police | 1981 | Pop/Rock | No | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "Fire" | The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1967 | Classic Rock | No | No[a] |
| 1. First Steps | "Free Fallin'" | Tom Petty | 1989 | Classic Rock | Yes | No |
| 2. Making Headlines | "Ghostbusters" | Ray Parker Jr. | 1984 | Other | Yes | No |
| 5. Super Star | "Girls & Boys" | Good Charlotte | 2002 | Pop/Rock | Yes | No |
| 1. First Steps | "Grace" | Supergrass | 2002 | Alternative | Yes | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "I Want You Back" | Jackson 5 | 1969 | Pop/Rock | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Making Headlines | "In Too Deep" | Sum 41 | 2001 | Punk | Yes | Yes |
| 6. Mega Star | "Kung Fu Fighting" | Carl Douglas | 1974 | Pop/Rock | Yes | No |
| 2. Making Headlines | "Let's Dance" | David Bowie | 1983 | Glam | Yes | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "Life Is a Highway" | Rascal Flatts | 2006 | Country | Yes | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" | Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | 1975 | Rock | No | No |
| 2. Making Headlines | "Monster" | The Automatic | 2006 | Alternative | Yes | No |
| 6. Mega Star | "Naïve" | The Kooks | 2006 | Indie Rock | No | No |
| 7. Out Of This World | "Real Wild Child" | Everlife | 2007 | Pop/Rock | No | No |
| 1. First Steps | "Ride a White Swan" | T. Rex | 1972 | Glam | No | No |
| 3. Rising Star | "Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)" | Lostprophets | 2006 | Rock | No | No |
| 3. Rising Star | "Ruby" | Kaiser Chiefs | 2007 | Indie Rock | Yes | No |
| 3. Rising Star | "Short and Sweet" | Spinal Tap | 2009 | Rock | No | No |
| 5. Super Star | "So What" | Pink | 2008 | Pop/Rock | Yes | No |
| 1. First Steps | "Song 2" | Blur | 1997 | Alternative | Yes | Yes |
| 5. Super Star | "Stumble and Fall" | Razorlight | 2004 | Rock | No | No |
| 6. Mega Star | "Suddenly I See" | KT Tunstall | 2004 | Rock | Yes | No |
| 5. Super Star | "Summer of '69" | Bryan Adams | 1984 | Rock | No | No |
| 4. Rock Star | "Swing, Swing" | The All-American Rejects | 2003 | Emo | Yes | Yes |
| 4. Rock Star | "The Final Countdown" | Europe | 1986 | Metal | Yes | Yes |
| 1. First Steps | "The Passenger" | Iggy Pop | 1977 | Rock | Yes | No |
| 3. Rising Star | "Thunder" | Boys Like Girls | 2006 | Emo | No | No |
| 6. Mega Star | "Tick Tick Boom" | The Hives | 2007 | Punk | No | No |
| 6. Mega Star | "Two Princes" | Spin Doctors | 1991 | Alternative | Yes | Yes |
| 4. Rock Star | "Valerie" | The Zutons | 2006 | Pop/Rock | No | No |
| 4. Rock Star | "Walking on Sunshine" | Katrina & the Waves | 1985 | Pop/Rock | Yes | No |
| 5. Super Star | "We Are the Champions" | Queen | 1977 | Classic Rock | Yes | Yes |
| 6. Mega Star | "We Will Rock You" | Queen | 1977 | Classic Rock | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Making Headlines | "Word Up!" | Korn | 2004 | Nu-Metal | No | No |
| 4. Rock Star | "You Give Love a Bad Name" | Bon Jovi | 1986 | Rock | No | Yes |
- ^ Alternative Version available as DLC.
Downloadable songs
editLego Rock Band also supports existing downloadable content from the Rock Band series, as well as songs exported from other Rock Band titles that has been "identified to be suitable for all ages", except in the Wii version; however, songs released after Rock Band 3 are not compatible with Lego Rock Band.[8][9] The Lego Rock Band Music Store only includes Rock Band songs which have been cleared for use in the game. Also, any exported content from the original Rock Band and its Track Packs deemed "Family Friendly" can be used in the game. Users do not need to be signed in to use content that was downloaded on another account, as long as it is on the same console system, thus allowing a child's account to access the filtered set of music from a parent's account library.[10]
Reception
editEurogamer reviewer Keza MacDonald called Lego Rock Band's setlist "an unusual selection ... but undeniably varied", but was disappointed by the small number of songs.[11] Game Informer's Bryan Vore referred to the setlist as being "weak", with "several throwaway tracks you’ll forget the instant they’re over."[12] Jack DeVries, a reviewer for IGN, felt that the game has a varied setlist, but not enough songs compared to Rock Band 2 and Band Hero.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b "Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The Lego Group, Harmonix and MTV Games Announce Lego Rock Band" (Press release). Harmonix. 21 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment & MTV Games Announce LEGO Rock Band Full Track List" (Press release). Harmonix. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ Sarkar, Samit (12 October 2009). "LEGO Rock Band 100% exportable, track list exposed". Destructoid. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
- ^ "How do I export Lego Rock Band into Rock Band 4?". harmonixmusic.parature.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Kohler, Chris (31 August 2009). "Rock Band News: Lego Songs Exportable, Deets on Queen, White Stripes". Wired. Condé Nast Digital. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (7 October 2009). "David Bowie to "Dance" as "LEGO Rock Band" Avatar". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ Reilly, Jim (12 October 2009). "Full LEGO Rock Band Track List Revealed". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "Vooks - Story: Lego Rock Band Wii misses out on DLC, track exporting". Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ "LEGO Rock Band Review - Wii Review at IGN". Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ Mastrapa, Gus (5 November 2009). "How Lego Rock Band Can Turn Kids On to Parents' Music". Wired. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ MacDonald, Keza (25 November 2009). "LEGO Rock Band - Review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2011. Additional pages archived on 23 March 2010: Page 2.
- ^ Vore, Bryan (30 October 2009). "LEGO Rock Band: Family-Friendly Tone Works Even When Other Aspects Don't". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ DeVries, Jack (3 November 2009). "LEGO Rock Band Review". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011. Additional pages archived on 6 November 2009: Page 2.