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First off, the flaws. Okay... the flaw. Yes, seriously, I can name one flaw in this game, and it's the character creation tool. I tried to make me, and I look like I'm about to punch someone. I tried to make Madam Binkie, and she looks less Asian, and more like a miniature Sarah Palin. This is because, like Guitar Hero, you start off with a base head shape. Unfortunately, they got rid of some of the more used head shapes, and opted for the more "typical" ones. This means that everyone in the game has an oval head. The facial features are difficult to edit, and some of the features seemed specified to people who aren't Asian (I'm white, but I have Asian friends). Where are the Asian Eye and Nose sets? Some characters got axed, too (R.I.P. Quentin Lance and Penelope McQueen). But, the Duke of Gravity is back, and better than ever! Now, he has EPIC MUTTONCHOPS!
While the soundtrack starts off slow and very easy (and kind of boring, admittedly, on guitar), it picks up, and is well balanced for all of the instruments. Harmonies come back from Green Day: Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band, and are very well utilized. Of the 83 tracks on disc, only a few don't use keyboards or harmonies. One doesn't use a guitar! But, the big one left out is the Keyboard. When it is used, it ranges from very well to "why is it even here for only ten notes?"
And, that's a shame, too, because the Keyboard is one of the best additions a music game has ever made, next to, you know, the whole band! It feels a little gimmicky the way it's used in the early songs for less than a quarter of the song. At the same time, it introduces you to it slowly, and by the later songs, where all of it is keyboard run, you'll be glad it did start like that.
Especially in Pro-Mode. I played with two different friends, including Binkie, who both play piano. It took both of them a little bit of getting used to playing Pro-Mode. The complaint I've heard is that if you miss a note, you don't hear the note you did hit, and I'm inclined to agree with this. But, once you get set on it, and stay committed to it, you'll be playing something that feels extremely natural. After lots of practice, that is. Frankly, I can't wait until the string Pro-Mode Guitar comes out so I can learn some of these songs on that. Though, I may start easier, like on "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" not "Beast and The Harlot." Or "Roundabout."
Oh, back to the song list. As I was saying, the early songs are a little on the boring side on guitar. But, again, this is to introduce you to the game itself, and make Pro-Mode's curve a bit easier. Playing these songs as a band, though? A lot of fun, especially with harmonies. One of my highlights is over at my friends' place, singing "Bohemian Rhapsody," and his roommate walked over, picked up a mike, and did the bass harmonies instantly. Was it ridiculous? Yes. Was it fun? Hell, yes, and that's all that matters! How many games out can you say are that much fun, that you don't care how stupid you look?
If you're used to the RB2 menus, these will take some getting used to, but, like the rest of the game, is worth it. Every player has their own menus, and the song categorization is a lot simpler. Drop in, Drop Out gameplay is introduced, and it works great. The lack of structure in career mode, i.e. no real tour mode, is a bit jarring, but the fact that you don't earn cash to buy items is a lot better. Instead of money, you unlock items, and can change them when you want to. It feels like an award instead of a chore.
For your money, Harmonix has always known how to due the music genre of games. Rock Band 3 is no exception. Yes, it has a few hiccups, but overall, it is an improvement over an all ready amazing game. Harmonix, my hat's off to you all.
Over All: A-
+ Great Soundtrack
+ Keyboards and Harmonies!
+ Queen!
- Keyboard feels a little underused
+ But that can be fixed with DLC
- Face generation is bad
+ Pro Mode is a much awaited and needed challenge
+ A True Party Game
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