Rock Band 4 Reviews
With superb gameplay enhancements like freestyle soloing, and support not only for existing instruments but thousands of legacy DLC tracks, this is the new benchmark for rhythm action gaming.
The accommodations made to ensure the inputs are perfect for your setup, the ability to customize everything right down to the vocal parts, and crisp presentation make for a game that people will want to keep in their living rooms and enjoy for weeks, rather than play once then pop into storage.
Rock Band 4 may have lost a few features (some temporarily, some permanently) in its transition to Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but the core gameplay is dramatically improved by allowing us to be more expressive, while preserving the older mechanics for those resistant to change. It's player choice at its finest, and a welcome return to fake plastic rocking
Like many, I've been a fan of Rock Band for years, and Rock Band 4 fills all of those gaming inclinations. The several minuscule issues coupled with the primary, yet still small concern of ambiguous song difficulties mean it's imperfect, but not by much.
[I]f you're deciding whether or not to buy Rock Band for the very first time, I wish I could convey just how much I wish the instruments had been this high-quality and the song library this deep when I first started playing Rock Band eight years ago.
Rock Band 4 picks up where Rock Band 3 left off but with new features, new instruments, new music, and an available music library that will give you plenty playing time. Plus, if you have your old wireless peripherals from previous Rock Band games, you'll be able to use with them Rock Band 4. Harmonix loves us.
Rock Band 4 brings back feelings you didn't even know you were missing, and improves upon the formula just enough to make everything feel fresh and new, while being as comfortable as a pair of worn-in leather pants.
While the graphics may not have provided the evolution that fans were hoping for, the rest of Rock Band 4 delivers so abundantly that you simply won't give a damn. Between a great playlist that can easily be built upon, solid gameplay support for old and new peripherals alike, and the kind of multiplayer that's exceptionally jam-worthy, it's a party that you'll easily welcome back with open arms. Indeed, it's time to unleash your inner Slash and get back to jamming.
Rock Band 4 makes smart choices in bringing the series back, even if its setlist is somewhat disappointing.
A slick and engaging way to enjoy interactive music, albeit with fewer bells and whistles than Rock Band 3
If you need to buy all of Rock Band 4 to get a band going, it's a lot to pick up, but it's a worthy investment if you're in the market for a great party game. If you're fortunate enough to already have compatible gear or pre-purchased music ready to download, there's no reason not to rock again.
At the end of the day Rock Band 4 feels more like an evolution than a drastic departure. If you've always wanted to put your mark on a song, then the new self-expression enhancements are reason enough to give Rock Band 4 a shot. Couple that with a branching career mode, support for your old instruments and DLC and Rock Band 4 stands out as the best game in the series, even if it's missing some core features.
A welcome return for multiplayer music games, even if there's relatively little new to add to the experience – and a few things that have been taken out.
While it lacks some of the features of prior versions - most notably online mode - Rock Band 4 is a solid release that establishes the franchise as a platform that will be continually supported and updated in the future. It's a great model that brings the classic Rock Band gameplay to current-generation consoles, while being compatible with legacy instruments and songs.
While the lack of online multiplayer and Practice Mode is disappointing given Rock Band 3's suite of features, reliving the experience of having friends playing alongside you (perhaps at a party you've arranged, ahem) in local co-operative play more than makes up for the difference. It may have five years since the last Rock Band, but the feeling is utterly nostalgic.
Like any band's reunion tour, it's easy to get caught up in nostalgia. But Rock Band 4 proves to be far more than that. It's a return to form, putting the focus back on four-player fun without any overly-complicated mechanics.
If Harmonix continues to build upon what its laid down, Rock Band 4 could end up being a monumental interactive music experience.
The parts of the game we fell in love with feel like they've gotten a fresh coat of paint, but the feature set, and currently incomplete pieces, feels like a Kickstarter title that didn't quite hit all of its funding goals. The parts that matter, however, are rock solid, and the new solo improvements are a hit. Harmonix has pulled off some amazing games. While this launch is a rough opening act, the platform is good, the game works well enough, and as soon as my library is back in order I'll be getting the band back together.
Rock Band 4 offers the same party-focused, addictive experience as its predecessors, but potential song limitations and price point will hold it back for some.
Rock Band 4 is a successful return for a familiar headline act.