Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock Review




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Developer: Harmonix Publisher: MTV Games
Release Date: May 19, 2009 Available On: PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360

These track packs are becoming quite frequent. Instead of releasing completely new games Electronic Arts, MTV Games and Harmonix have opted for what amount to expansion packs as far as the content goes, but can be played without owning either Rock Band or Rock Band 2. They offer the bare basics of the Rock Band experience: Single Player Quickplay and Multi-player without an option to play online.

Normally I have been a fan of these track packs. They do what they are intended – to provide some 20 extra songs for a relatively cheap price ($30). The downside, of course, comes if you want to experience all that Rock Band has to offer. No one says that you have to buy the retail version. You could buy these same songs as downloads and not have to worry about switching discs. Nonetheless the retail track packs are definitely less satisfying than the full games.

The main problem I had with the Classic Rock Track Pack is the actual setlist. Many of the songs are too simple. There also is not enough variety. More than half of the songs come from Boston, Police, Rush, Steve Miller Band, The Who and the Dead Kennedys. Where are the Rolling Stones? The Doors? And why the heck is Lenny Kravitz considered “Classic Rock”? Below is the complete setlist:

Boston – “Peace of Mind”
Boston – “Rock and Roll Band”
Dead Kennedys – “California Uber Alles”
Dead Kennedys – “Holiday in Cambodia”
Free – “All Right Now”
George Thorogood – “Bad to the Bone”
James Gang – “Funk #49”
Jethro Tull – “Hymn 43”
Lenny Kravitz – “Let Love Rule”
Pat Benatar – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
Police – “Can’t Stand Losing You”
Police – “Truth Hits Everybody”
Rush – “Closer to the Heart”
Rush – “Red Barchetta”
Siouxie and the Banshees – “Kiss Them For Me”
Steve Miller Band – “Take the Money and Run”
Steve Miller Band – “The Joker”
Stone Roses – “Love Spreads”
The Who – “Baba O’Riley”
The Who – “Behind Blue Eyes”

On the plus side you don’t even need to own Rock Band or Rock Band 2 in order to play the Classic Rock Track Pack (of course you wouldn’t own the drum set or guitar if you did not, though). The lack of gameplay options and the somewhat disappointing setlist mean that I would recommend against purchasing this – at least until it comes down a bit in price. Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of the Police, Rush, Steve Miller and so on. They just don’t cut it for a $30 track pack.

Graphics: 8
Sound: 10
Gameplay: 7
Creativity: 5
Replay Value/Game Length: 5
Final: 7
Written by Kyle Write a User Review

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