The Beatles: Rock Band Review

By Johnny Minkley Published 6 September, 2009

Can buy me love.

Version tested:

"As made famous by." Guitar Hero veterans will remember that phrase all too well as the euphemism employed early in the series to convey the fact that you were playing not the original version, but a cover. "As made famous by Boston"; "As made famous by Queen"; "As made famous by Ozzy Osbourne".

How times have changed. Billions of dollars and tens of millions of game sales later, master recordings are the standard rather than the aspiration, and recording artists increasingly find themselves legitimately labelled "As made famous by Guitar Hero", or "As made famous by Rock Band".

From banging on record label doors, begging and bidding for content on a tight budget, to rockers falling over themselves even in a sober state to bag a place on what have become playlists that can make a band - that's happened in just four years. But as big as Activision and MTV's music giants have become, they're not The Beatles. Nothing and no-one else is.

So the first important point to make about The Beatles: Rock Band is that it's amazing it even exists. It's music's most valuable catalogue, one which has still never been released digitally - yet next Wednesday gamers can download All You Need Is Love from Xbox Live, with full album downloads of Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper already confirmed to follow.

'The Beatles: Rock Band' Screenshot 1

Thomas the Tank Engine is not worthy, Ringo.

Complete the Story mode, and the endlessly rolling non-developer credits reveal a Gordian knot of unfathomable corporate complexity and competing interests. Somehow, Harmonix has not only handled that, but has then gone on to produce a celebration of such incredible care and artistry it sets a new standard by which all band-specific game experiences will be judged in the future.

Viewed purely as a Beatles experience, it has exceeded the expectations of even this obsessive Beatlemaniac. As I noted in my preview, MTV could easily have shoved out a Beatles track pack with great fanfare and, piggy-backing on the release of the remastered catalogue, it would hardly have tanked. But that, aside from anything else, is not how The Beatles work.

The reason I stress this point is because of the complaints levelled at the tracklisting. Why only 45 songs, when Guitar Hero 5 packs 85 and Rock Band 2 (if you include the free downloads) served up over 100? And what's with the song selection? Where's "Help!", "She Loves You", "Hey Jude", "Strawberry Fields"? It's just a massive con to exploit gamers via DLC, right?

Four points. First, 45 Beatles songs stack up pretty well next to the 28 Metallica tracks in the box for their Guitar Hero gig, the rest contributed by "friends"; second, how many artists are there who have 45 songs strong enough to justify a commercial release?; third - boring commercial reality time - these songs must cost a staggering amount to license and MTV does not have an infinite vault of money; and fourth, how many tracks on average do you genuinely love in the average Guitar Hero/Rock Band release? Be honest. I can only speak personally here, but every single track on The Beatles: Rock Band, whether it be a particular drum fill, a swooning bassline, ingenious harmony or classic riff, contains a memorable, enjoyable gaming moment.

'The Beatles: Rock Band' Screenshot 2

Vocal harmonies in action during Day Tripper.

The game is structured to lead the gamer through the high points of The Beatles' remarkable career, with songs specific to each period: from the early days of The Cavern Club, to the US-conquering appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, followed by the hysteria of gigs at Shea Stadium and the Budokan, the retreat into Abbey Road Studio 2, and that final legendary performance atop the roof of Apple's London HQ.

As a snapshot of a career's output, it's clearly not comprehensive and is more akin to listening through the Red and Blue compilation albums. Yet, as an entertainment experience, it's so much more. For a Beatles geek, the archive material is a joy, and testament to the efforts not just of Harmonix, but predominantly Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer Sir George, whose fastidious efforts in picking through the original masters has facilitated the inclusion of rare studio outtakes.

Once the game shifts into the studio at Abbey Road, before each song begins in earnest we're treated to audio of the band tuning up, jamming, commenting to each other from the actual recording sessions for each song. For the Fab Four junkie, it's crack; for everyone else it's a fabulous touch that helps bring the game to life beyond what is otherwise, essentially, a pretty rigid, repetitive structure by design.

The archive is also plundered in more straightforward fashion via unlockables. Complete various score-based requirements and you unlock photos relevant to the song, each accompanied by Beatles trivia checked over by the surviving Beatles themselves to ensure authenticity. On one photo related to "Good Morning, Good Morning", for example, we learn that the Abbey Road effect library was plundered for animal noises, with Lennon insisting they be ordered so that each would scare the previous one.

The lavish detail extends to the animations. Each venue along the path of the Story mode is recreated beautifully, with the unmistakable scream of Beatlemania present during the live gigs, hysteria etched into the faces of fans. The Beatles themselves, after a stylistic, cartoony makeover, move, play and lip-synch with uncanny realism. Which is no surprise, given we're led to believe Yoko Ono insisted Harmonix change the way Lennon moved his eyes, for instance, while Ringo pointed out his elbows were raised too high when playing.

'The Beatles: Rock Band' Screenshot 3

The band's famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, dressed as undertakers.

Which is not to say that The Beatles: Rock Band is free from clumsy historical inaccuracies. In the animations for both "Back In The USSR" and "Dear Prudence", Ringo is sat cheerfully in Studio 2 on drums, but Ringo does not play on either track on the recordings that were released on the White Album. With tempers frayed during the sessions, Starr stormed out leaving Macca to pick up sticks and record the percussion parts for both himself.

Now, in Harmonix's defence, they're a bit hamstrung by having to show all of The Beatles on screen playing their respective instruments for game purposes. And yes, I'm also being a picky arse. But, in a game that bends over backwards to offer insight into the way the band created its music, it's a fact worth knowing: not least because the urgency of the beat in "USSR" and the thunderous fills in the outro to "Dear Prudence" stand apart from Ringo's unmistakable clattering - with the latter being, in my humble view, the greatest drum part in the Beatles canon.

'The Beatles: Rock Band' Screenshot 4

Gone but not forgotten, Lennon and Harrison are brought back to life in-game via rare studio outtakes.

Pedantry aside, playing The Beatles: Rock Band offers fresh insight into the unique styles and personalities of each band member. As such, the tracklisting has been carefully assembled to ensure John, Paul, George and Ringo are all well represented. And as back-of-the-hand familiar as many of the songs will be, the opportunity to play through the Beatles catalogue instrument by instrument offers fresh insight into their methods, like McCartney's peerlessly creative basslines. This applies to vocals, too, with a McCartney melody liable to travel - forgive me - Here, There and Everywhere, while Lennon often favoured a static melody, preferring to experiment with harmonic progression. (For the ultimate comparison of these styles side-by-side, listen to "We Can Work It Out".)

That's a lot of words, you may be thinking, without actually talking about what The Beatles: Rock Band is like to play. That's because, to a large extent, it plays exactly like Rock Band 2, with a few tweaks - an already fantastic and refined formula. And there are no hidden surprises across guitar, bass and drums, with even the replica Beatles instruments featuring the same components as before (in other words, the guitars aren't as responsive as Guitar Hero ones).

One important point to make regarding difficulty. This is not a difficult game in the way previous Rock Band and, particularly, Guitar Hero games have offered a challenge. I played through the entire guitar career mode on Expert without failing a single track. I'm pretty good on guitar, but if you're looking for finger-busting fret-wankery, you won't find it here. And if you stopped to think about it for a moment, you could probably have guessed that. Harmonix, quite rightly, has not artificially raised difficulty - the notes you play are the notes The Beatles played. As it should be.

The same applies to the other instruments. My drumming skills are average to say the least, but none of the tracks, even on Expert, offers a challenge that is particularly insurmountable to a Rock Band veteran. The difference is, what the tracks may lack in cripplingly traumatic difficulty, they make up for mostly by being a simple joy to play - creativity over cock-rockery, if you like. And since everyone involved wants the game to appeal to the broadest crowd possible, every track (bar the final one unlocked in Story mode) is accessible in Quick Play from the off, and a No Fail option is there for the most cack-handed novices.

Vocals see the biggest change. As you're no doubt aware, Beatles: Rock Band supports vocal harmonies for up to three people simultaneously. There's no better game for Harmonix to trial this feature in - and indeed 27 of the 45 tracks on disc support the full three-part warble. Harmonies are far more difficult to sing than a regular melody line, so the studio has included a vocal trainer to teach you - which does a reasonable if not brilliant job of spelling out the basics. Ultimately, practice makes perfect, but it's only truly fun with at least two people singing together.

Expense is a key consideration. To enjoy the full Beatles experience you need three mics, a drum kit, three guitars and three mic stands. That's if you really want to 'be' The Beatles. But this will not come cheap if you and friends don't already have the kit lying around. However, peripherals are cross-compatible between Guitar Hero and Rock Band, with SingStar and Lips mics also supported, which could ease the burden somewhat.

'The Beatles: Rock Band' Screenshot 5

Where it all started, in a cave somewhere up north.

One thing I have not been able to try is any of the online features, which are blocked ahead of the game's launch. Full multiplayer support for bands and soloists is included, and should work just like Rock Band. Likewise, the DLC store doesn't open for business until next Wednesday.

Clearly, despite the overall quality of the content, not all songs are as much fun to play as others, and mileage will vary depending on your love and knowledge of the band's works. "Yellow Submarine" is a tedious plod for everything but the vocals, for instance. Of possibly greater concern, songs from later in the band's career are already stretching the format up to and occasionally beyond its limits, with compromises made where instrumentation does not match the basic set-up.

We've seen this before in previous music games of course, but it presents a genuine creative problem to Harmonix when they have entire albums to deal with. Are we going to end up playing the clarinet part of "When I'm 64" on the guitar? Won't that be a bit rubbish?

'The Beatles: Rock Band' Screenshot 6

Mmm, ice cream.

So while in some ways The Beatles: Rock Band marks the pinnacle of the series' and the genre's achievements, in other ways it also begins to expose its limitations. Nevertheless, viewed in terms of what it set out to achieve, The Beatles: Rock Band is nothing less than a triumph, and one with in-built longevity in the sense that these are songs that have already survived four decades unmatched, now given a new lease of life thanks to remastering and fresh enough to last another lifetime.

Beatles fans will have their own highlights from the game. Mine is the 45th and final track of the game, "The End", also the final track on Abbey Road, the final album recorded by the greatest band in history. It's the unimprovable climax to an astonishing career, with Paul, John and George trading riffs before the final swooning couplet, encapsulating the Beatles' philosophy, melts into lilting strings that leave you unsure whether to laugh or cry. Before all that, though, Ringo goes ape for about 20 seconds, clattering around like a football riot in a dustbin. On Expert, that's my gaming moment of 2009.

The Beatles were fascinated by the number nine. 09/09/09 is no coincidence. So it's only fitting that the game gets...

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Eurogamer TV's Johnny Minkley is a veteran journalist with a lifelong passion for games and the games industry. He uses Twitter more than most people use air.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (124) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Psychotext #1 2 years ago

    Let it be.

  • daddygerplex #2 2 years ago

    Managed to get this yesterday.

    Completely agree its fantastic. Hope it sells enough to make up the huge licencing costs!

  • Skoptsie #3 2 years ago

    Does the training mode wanna hold your hand?

  • evilboo #4 2 years ago

    HELP!!

  • Pirotic #5 2 years ago

    YELLOW SUBMARINE!!

    (is doing this wrong)

  • MORZTAN #6 2 years ago

    Sad but True... Oh wait!

  • ZuluHero #7 2 years ago

    Great read! I loved the ending, very good. You shouldn't have printed a score though - people would have gotten it, i'm sure! :)
    Edited by 1 at 06/09/09 @ 08:05

  • jack_klugman #8 2 years ago

    All you need is love.

  • EmiliasHorse #9 2 years ago

    Very well written review. Your love of the Fab Four is obvious and it rubs off on the reader, to good effect.

  • neems #10 2 years ago

    "Is Ringo the best drummer in the world?"

    "He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles."

    I never realised that was literally true.

  • Nemesis #11 2 years ago

    Cracking read there, Minkley. I'm already sold on this; can't wait.

  • Eraysor #12 2 years ago

    It's a shame I'm not a Beatles fan.

  • mentalabhoration #13 2 years ago

    Can you unlock yoko?

  • paul_haine #14 2 years ago

    Can you lock up Yoko?

  • Toothball #15 2 years ago

    I'm all set to go. The Band and I have the day off Wednesday, and I sourced some microphones and stands to add to the rest of my kit. They were thinking about getting dressed up in Sgt. Pepper outfits, but I don't think they've managed to find any.

  • Goodfella #16 2 years ago

    I've been lucky enough to play every track, on guitar and drums and it's just pure WIN! The End gave me goosebumps when I played it.

    With the superb DLC and online play this (like RB2) will to keep me going for months.

  • DUFFMAN5 #17 2 years ago

    Sounds great
    Just to expensive for me at least at release, I wonder if I could pay with funny paper ?. Will have to make do with the 40 Beatles cd's I have (yes some are boots)
    Will defo buy when and if it gets reasonable to have the game and all kit.

  • N.A.T.O #18 2 years ago

    This sounds absolutely amazing. Need. More. Money.

  • GreatUncleBaal #19 2 years ago

    Brilliant read, I'm not the biggest fan of guitar games but this looks great - the harmonising stuff sounds like really good fun - except for the people who will have to listen to it in the room :)
    Now go and make a Rolling Stones one, I'll buy both.
    Edited by 2 at 06/09/09 @ 10:15

  • KujiGhost #20 2 years ago

    I really enjoyed this review. Good job Johnny!

    I would seriously consider this game if it weren't for:

    a) the cost
    b) I'm still working through Batman and DQIX
    c) ODST is out in a fortnight
    d) Trials HD is calling

    NEED... MORE... TIME!!

  • DDevil #21 2 years ago

    My wife is so excited waiting for this game... Any idea if the songs need to be unlocked for quick play?

  • Ninja_Tino #22 2 years ago

    I'll still be playing this when I'm Sixty-Four by the sounds of it. Also, The End is the penultimate track.

  • coderkind #23 2 years ago

    I knew this was going to get a 9.

  • coastal #24 2 years ago

    who really makes the money off of this eh? Is it the Beatles? no.. Is it the developers? no.. It's the tax man.

  • Goodfella #25 2 years ago

    @ DDevil

    No, all the songs are available to play right from the start.

  • StooMonster #26 2 years ago

    Even Eleanor Rigby would like to have a go on The Beatles: Rock Band.

    Me too, although as the only rhythm / singing game in my household is Lips, it's going to cost a pretty penny. I was also tempted to buy the remastered 13 disc CD collection that is also out on 09/09/09 -- won't buy the rumoured iTunes version as I prefer CD quality to 256-bit AAC -- but fear The Beatles might cost me a several hundred quid in a day.

    I've seen two of them out in the real-world: Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney.

  • Lotos8ter #27 2 years ago

    Great review. I've ordered this because I'm worth it.
    Need Strawberry Fields though - don't care how they transpose it, just do it.

  • Gl3n #28 2 years ago

    Big old wobbly bags of want. Perfect track list.

  • Zomoniac #29 2 years ago

    "Is Ringo the best drummer in the world?"

    "He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles."

    I never realised that was literally true.

    Ask any competent drummer who the most creative and important player of the last 45 years is and 90% of them will tell you otherwise. In much the same way that Hendrix can't technically hold up against the great rock and prog guitarists yet he basically invented modern rock guitar is regarded as a god amongst guitarists, the same is true of Ringo. His playing doesn't sound like anything now, but listen to all pop drumming pre-Ringo, then listen to She Said She Said or Ticket To Ride to pick two, and you will hear ideas that are now commonplace in pop drumming that just didn't exist before him. It is somewhat tragic that thanks to Lennon's stupid quote all non-drummers now see Ringo as some incompetent fool, when he actually is the best drummer of all time.

  • George-Roper #30 2 years ago

    Christ, yet another clickety-clickety-clack 'You're a rock star! No really, the controller looks JUST like a geeetar!'' piece of plastic shite.

    The devs of these games must be loving the amount of retards who all want to be just like a rockstar.

  • metalangel #31 2 years ago

    You don't *have to* love them. My missus hates them, for example, which firstly precludes me from getting this and secondly from having her even try to play it with me. A shame, as this is the first music game which maybe kinda sort perhaps might interest me.

  • Goodfella #32 2 years ago

    Never liked the Beatles, in fact my top ten Beatles songs would about which get my back up the most.

    That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

    PS, anyone who says they dislike the Beatles is just saying it for effect or a reaction.

  • Rodriguez #33 2 years ago

    Zomoniac said: Ask any competent drummer who the most creative and important player of the last 45 years is and 90% of them will tell you otherwise. In much the same way that Hendrix can't technically hold up against the great rock and prog guitarists yet he basically invented modern rock guitar is regarded as a god amongst guitarists, the same is true of Ringo. His playing doesn't sound like anything now, but listen to all pop drumming pre-Ringo, then listen to She Said She Said or Ticket To Ride to pick two, and you will hear ideas that are now commonplace in pop drumming that just didn't exist before him. It is somewhat tragic that thanks to Lennon's stupid quote all non-drummers now see Ringo as some incompetent fool, when he actually is the best drummer of all time.
    I take it you've never heard of Buddy Rich, or Gene Krupa, or Keith Moon, or Jon Bonham, or Michael Shrieve or even Phil Collins etc etc etc!!!??? Ringo was and always will be totally average at best, only made famous because he was a Beatle. He's probably a lovely bloke, but not a great drummer and certainly not the best of all time and your comparing him to Hendrix is a joke.

  • Saturn_Ascends #34 2 years ago

    Great review, really makes me want to give this a shot despite not being a fan.

    What excites me the most though, is the fact that they're doing a Pearl Jam: Rock Band project to be released next year. Hopefully they'll put the same care and attention to detail into that game too.

  • FortysixterUK #35 2 years ago

    This was an excellent review, with your affection for the band AND the game coming through clearly. I've always been a Beatles fan, but finding myself increasingly irritated by the extreme costs of video games these days, I was going to let this Beatles based game passby until I saw it sub £25.00 or so...but maybe I'll make an exception here and put down my WOW axe in favour of a Beatles Axe instead. With the Beatles re-mastered back catalogue about to be released and a game based on their music to bring it all to different generations, it looks like Beatlemania will hit the UK once again before the band pass into history and become even bigger legends.
    Good review, very inspring.
    Edited by 1 at 06/09/09 @ 13:56

  • miiiguel #36 2 years ago

    Not my thing The Beatles (though I've great respect for some of their work, and particulary Lennon), though glad to hear it's good and it's making the working class heroes happy.

  • Zomoniac #37 2 years ago

    I take it you've never heard of Buddy Rich, or Gene Krupa, or Keith Moon, or Jon Bonham, or Michael Shrieve or even Phil Collins etc etc etc!!!??? Ringo was and always will be totally average at best, only made famous because he was a Beatle. He's probably a lovely bloke, but not a great drummer and certainly not the best of all time and your comparing him to Hendrix is a joke.

    Rich and Krupa were both awesome players, but they were jazz masters and a lot of what made them great is completely inappropriate to pop music. Everyone else you listed came after Ringo, and were no doubt heavily inspired by him.

    Collins himself actually said "Starr is vastly underrated. The drum fills on the song "A Day in the Life" are very complex things. You could take a great drummer today and say, 'I want it like that.' He wouldn't know what to do." Not being able to play 64ths in 19/4 whilst standing on his head a la Peart, Donati, Portnoy et al doesn't lessen his brilliance as a drummer. He played exactly what the songs needed, in a way that few others could.

  • miiiguel #38 2 years ago

    ^ Here's a wild guess: you didn't read the review; you hate the band and its genre, though you had this urge to post to say this. Again.

    Here's another one, you dig rap, and men like "tits".
    Edited by 1 at 06/09/09 @ 14:47

  • Goodfella #39 2 years ago

    Zomoniac, well said sir.

  • Yonda1me #40 2 years ago

    I'm buying me some love this Wednesday!

    PS: One of the best reviews I've read in many recent years.

    "So the first important point to make about The Beatles: Rock Band is that it's amazing it even exists. It's music's most valuable catalogue, one which has still never been released digitally - yet next Wednesday gamers can download All You Need Is Love from Xbox Live, with full album downloads of Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper already confirmed to follow.

    This is really important, in my opinion. It's like we're being witness, and also players, to a moment that will be remembered in time. I used to think that I was dreaming, that this was to big a thing to turn out and be real.

    The sweetness of it, it's that it is!
    Edited by 2 at 06/09/09 @ 15:24

  • Jonny5Alive7 #41 2 years ago

    On some guitars you get they have a place for the Xbox Live mic to plug into them, does anyone know if these can be used to do the harmonies bit as well as guitar at the same time?

  • Rens11 #42 2 years ago

    Excellent review! great to hear a review from someone who actually knowledgeable about the beatles and loves there music!

  • Nephirion #43 2 years ago

    A Rick Astley version would own the Beatles

  • el_pollo_diablo #44 2 years ago

    A Faith No More version would own the Beatles

  • RobotRocker #45 2 years ago

    Number eight *BELCH* Number eight *BELCH* Number eight *BELCH* Number eight *BELCH* Number eight *BELCH*

    Oh wait....

  • Rodriguez #46 2 years ago

    @ Zomoniac
    You know, on reflection I was definitely harsh on Ringo in my first post, he certainly fitted in well with the Beatles sound and to be in the Beatles meant he had massive influence on the world of music as so many people were listening to them at the time, but I feel that he's certainly not what you described as 'the greatest drummer of all time'. Hell, Ringo even said of himself:
    "Whenever I hear another drummer I know I'm no good. I'm no good on the technical things [...] I'm your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills. The fills were funny because I'm really left-handed playing a right-handed kit. I can't roll around the drums because of that."
    He's probably being modest, but at least he appreciates that he has deficiencies in his drumming and is therefore not the 'greatest' by any margin. That doesn't stop him being appreciated by other drummers though, you mentioned Mike Portnoy and he credits Ringo as an influence. I would however, take point about a few of things you mentioned:
    Zomoniac said: Rich and Krupa were both awesome players, but they were jazz masters and a lot of what made them great is completely inappropriate to pop music.
    I don't know how you think they had no influence on pop music, given that they probably inspired the likes of Ringo et al and their penchant for amazing drum solos was copied by many a rock drummer after them. When specifically on the subject of drumming Krupa, for example, did things that seem laughable NOT to exist in modern drumming:
    From Wikipedia: His drum method was published in 1938 and immediately became the standard text. He is also credited with inventing the rim shot on the snare drum. At Krupa's urging, Slingerland developed tom-toms with tuneable top and bottom heads, which immediately became important elements of virtually every drummer's set-up. Krupa also developed and popularised many of the cymbal techniques that became standards. His collaboration with Armand Zildjian of the Avedis Zildjian Company developed the hi-hat stand and standardized the names and uses of the ride cymbal, the crash cymbal, the splash cymbal, the pang cymbal and the swish cymbal.[/quote]
    So it's not as clear cut as it seems to simply dismiss the older guys like Krupa from having influenced the things that became standard in the world of drumming or indeed the development of music whether it be Jazz or Pop, which is why on reflection I appreciated some of the things you said about Ringo ;) Peace and Love man ;)
    Edited by 1 at 06/09/09 @ 16:52

  • monkeywithnoeyes #47 2 years ago

    the 3rd excuse for there only being 45songs on disc makes no sense to me. "boring commercial reality time - these songs must cost a staggering amount to license and MTV does not have an infinite vault of money" - they have already paid for the licence to bring us the whole existing back catalog (or atleast the songs on all the albums) which is why we already know they're to be offered as dlc... so how can licencing be an issue for only including 45 songs when they've already paid to licence the confirmed dlc track listing?

    Fact is, they ofcourse want to make as much money from this as possible and will of held back several well known songs in order to do so. You'd be foolish to believe that they're not already sitting on most of the dlc, complete with landscapes, simply waiting to release them at a steady stream over the next few months. That dlc is already made and completed..the only reason why theres not more songs on the disc is so they can make more money..its as simple as that, so why pretend different? its not going to make any difference
    Edited by 1 at 06/09/09 @ 16:55

  • RobotRocker #48 2 years ago

    @ monkeywithnoeyes

    I dont think its as cynical as that. I remember seeing an interview with one of the Neversoft crew around the time of GH Metallica. One of the reasons they gave for not having a good bit more of the catalouge on the disc or having an all Metallica disc (Even though they could do it if they wanted to) was they were running the risk of players getting bored or sick of it quite quickly if they had too much. Even when they had a bit of alternative metal genres and variety in the guest acts, they had to keep a cut off point of around 45 songs to keep people interested. Considering there isnt even any guest acts in Beatles. 45 seems the right amount to keep people interested and not get awfully sick of them by the end of it and the DLC is there for people who want a bit more.

    Its pacing that they worry about more than greed.

  • monkeywithnoeyes #49 2 years ago

    but then they didnt already confirm the rest of Metallica's songs as dlc

  • RobotRocker #50 2 years ago

    If Activision had the same plan for Metallica, it wouldnt have been a bad idea. They just never capatalise on the good ones and only the awful ones.

    It sounds cynical announcing the rest before the game is out. But 45 songs isnt a bad number considering even Rock Band 2 got swamped in its own 84 song list at times. Keeps it tight and focused considering a big draw to the game is its own narrative.

    /Back in my day we only had plastic guitars about 40 songs on the disc and only 10 of those were master tracks with no DLC AND WE LIKED IT *grumble*

  • andywilkie35 #51 2 years ago

    GOTY confirmed

  • kongzi #52 2 years ago

    Funny how most of my people are involved with music and/or gaming, but none of them play music-games.. Still, this probably is pretty awesome for Beatles-fans. I'd rather have a real guitar, tho.

  • miiiguel #53 2 years ago

    I read every now and then the argument "I prefer a real guitar". I don't get it... Seriously, one activity is a video game, and the other is playing a guitar. What one has to do with the other?

    I don't think either of the activities are similar, I fail to understand why someone would think "hey, I'm in the mood to play Guitar Hero with my friends across the ocean... but wait a minute, I'm going to start a Rock Band instead. We're going to perform at Wembley next Friday, right after I leave work at 6pm". Or "I'm going to play with garage band buddies. Better still, I'm going to press some buttons and improve my dextry in front of a TV while listening to the Beatles".
    WTF?!
    Edited by 1 at 06/09/09 @ 18:53

  • Hendo #54 2 years ago

    Great review, Johnny.
    But would you really take the "Dear Prudence" drum part over the amazing drums on "Tomorrow Never Knows"? I honestly think that's the best drumbeat of all time, very ahead of its time.

  • sailesh #55 2 years ago

    cannae wait!!

  • DavidA #56 2 years ago

    Great review Johnny. I care less about the game than I do about being able to hear the separate stems (but I care about both a lot).

  • kongzi #57 2 years ago

    I'm not making that argument, just stating my own opinion. I'd rather make music than play along with it. It's just funny to note how I and a lot of my friends are gamers, musicians, 3d artists, animators, interaction designers and we don't care about this wave of musicgames, at all.

    I'm just really waiting for something game-like to come along and really do something fresh and creative with interactive music, it's been a long time coming. And I would've hoped major players like Harmonix to at least make a little push in that direction. But alas, they seem content to milk the DLC some more.
    If someone would invent an accessible game that lets people really make their own music using peripherals or motion controls, they'd hit the jackpot on that.

  • fjharps #58 2 years ago

    Is the DLC going to be available on PSN also and same time? as only xbox live is mentioned on the review

  • varsas #59 2 years ago

    @kongzi: I'm guessing you don't like karaoke? This is in a way the same thing.

  • Zomoniac #60 2 years ago

    @Rodriguez,

    I see where you're coming from (and yes, I didn't really do Krupa justice with my previous comments), but I subscribe to the idea that you can only be as good a drummer as you are a musician. Starr is far from a technical god, but his musicianship as a drummer is second to none. He knows exactly what to play, and in some ways his lack of technical ability works in his favour. He doesn't try to play more than the song needs because he can't. He is the polar opposite to Moon (who I consider the most overrated drummer of all time), someone with great rock showmanship but his musical awareness as a drummer is completely non-existent, he seems to lack any idea of when not to play. If I had to name my 3 favourite pop drummers ever they would be Ringo, Fleetwood and Copeland, and the former two any drummer who's been playing more than 2 years could comfortably replicate any of their parts. But they wouldn't ever think to, because they're so deceptively simple that most drummers would just want to fill over those parts, where it was completely uncalled for. And that's why they're so brilliant, because nothing makes a drummer better than knowing what not to play.

  • miiiguel #61 2 years ago

    @ fjharps: All you need is Live

  • Max_Powers #62 2 years ago

    Probably a great game if you like the Beatles but Í'd be very suprised if this game sold well outside of the UK. Does the core Xbox 360 and PS3 demographic really give a toss about the Beatles? I think the Metallica special was a sound commercial decision but I'm highly sceptical of this becoming a success.

  • miiiguel #63 2 years ago

    @Max_Powers : I thought that too, though most of my Live US buddies are ultra-excited about this, and if you take a look at amazon.com chart they are really well positioned.
    I guess they are pretty big in the US as well.

  • speedofthepuma #64 2 years ago

    Possibly the best review I've read on Eurogamer. Well done.

  • InsoFox #65 2 years ago

    Are some guys up there seriously debating whether the Beatles were that big outside of the UK?

    ... Jesus.

    (More popular than Jesus, that is)

  • mechamonkey #66 2 years ago

    I can't wait for this to arrive but cant help thinking, "What would Rock Band: Queen be like ..." :)

  • makeamazing #67 2 years ago

    Probably a great game if you like the Beatles but Í'd be very suprised if this game sold well outside of the UK. Does the core Xbox 360 and PS3 demographic really give a toss about the Beatles?

    @Max_Powers you obviously dont know your arm from your elbow when it comes to music then ;)

    The Beatles were massive in America and today will still command alot of excitement and people who like the music..in fact they are saying this is ahead of Guitar Hero by quite alot of orders. This product will do around a million within a week no problem.

    Do you know the reason for this? Because believe it or not alot of gamers are not teenagers they are in their 30's and have been playing games for a long time... and you know what music they were listening to when they were kids in the 70's... yes you guessed it the Beatles.

  • RobotRocker #68 2 years ago

    @ mechamonkey

    There is a Queen 10 pack arriving for Rock Band 2 via DLC in October and We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions will be in Lego Rock Band which will be exportable in the future.

    I'd expect anything and everything (Except Zepplin) to arrive on Rock Band after this.

  • Vroom #69 2 years ago

    I must admit I am slightly more interested now. Good review johnny.

  • OllyJ #70 2 years ago

    I have to some degree agree or support Max Powers, I'm sure it'll sell well but The Beatles to me at least don't seem to be as hand in hand with the videogamers of today.

    I admit i'm not a fan at all, never have never will, beyond the fans of the band on here i'm not really convinced it's the best idea since sliced bread as this past week of marketing would have you believe.

    I'm not against the game, I just don't see the mass appeal amongst gamers.

  • miiiguel #71 2 years ago

    And who are the "videogamers of today" ?

    This is not retorical, I honestly don't know.

  • OllyJ #72 2 years ago

    I guess the largest cross section would be 15 to 30 year old males, the people that push FIFA and Need for Speed to the top of the charts relentlessly regardless of quality. And bursting out of that slice of the demographic this game is certainly no Brain Training or Wii Fit.

    When I say "Videogamers" of today I don't mean Miiguel, I mean Joe Public.

    It'll be awesome for some but is it a bit niche for a mega successful console game? Will the simplicity of the songs appeal to the hardcore RB fans?

    I'd certainly be interested to find out the sales of this and previous versions of Rock Band.

  • makeamazing #73 2 years ago

    I have to some degree agree or support Max Powers, I'm sure it'll sell well but The Beatles to me at least don't seem to be as hand in hand with the videogamers of today.

    What are the video gamers of today? Are people still considering them to be teenagers who sit in their room playing for hours on hours? Or are they all causal gamers? To be honest I had to laugh at this comment :D gamers today are such a varied and mixed bunch.

    I am sure even though I suspect alot of older people will buy this game (30s) I suspect there will be a good number of younger people who like the Beatles music and would find this game interesting. I've never been convinced of the general idea of RockBand/Guitar Hero... but this is one group that even though I dont own the albums or listen to their music anymore, it brings back alog of happy memories when I was a kid and I would seriously consider getting it...

    I was in HMV the weekend and there were lots of people trying out the product.. I am pretty sure this will sell as well as Guitar hero.
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/09 @ 00:02

  • OllyJ #74 2 years ago

    Sorry for the vague statement, seems to have sent out the wrong message. Apologies.


    Gamers are a varied and mixed bunch, I'm not going to argue that, but go and have a look at the Play.com preorder list, keep scrolling past the racing games and shooters until you find The Beatles game, I guess that's what my point is.


    Not that I care, I'm posting in a forum for a game I won't buy about a band that I don't like at all, I think I need to go to bed! :D
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/09 @ 00:16

  • metalangel #75 2 years ago

    @RobotRocker: I'd love to believe you but frankly people will run through anything quickly... I have 3750 songs in my iTunes, why do I keep adding more? Because I've heard them all and want more. Yes, there are some in there I really like and could listen to again and again, but I still want something new too. And I know there's new stuff.

    Cynically holding back several albums worth of stuff they've obviously already licenced is nothing more than a money making exercise. It's not like this is an on-going project where they need to keep adding new Beatles stuff that hadn't been written when the game came out...

  • Yonda1me #76 2 years ago

    The Beatles famous on the US of A?

    Looks at this!

    Also, all three versions are on Amazon's top 20 best sellers:
    Wii in 6
    Xbox 360 in 11
    PlayStation 3 in 20

    "I hope the band has passed the audition..."

  • frankfurter209 #77 2 years ago

    Greatest band ever? Ehhhhh

  • marty_k #78 2 years ago

    @Zomoniac, Rodriguez : good points, enjoyed your discussion.

  • OllyJ #79 2 years ago

    Yonda1me

    It doesn't take much to get to number one these days so to be honest for a game as massively hyped as RB Beatles I'd expect it to be topping the pre-orders a week before it's release. Being out of the top 10 on 2 of the biggest sites only backs up the thought that this doesn't have that mass market appeal. I'm all for the game existing though if it paves the way to Rock Band Iron Maiden :D

    I'd be surprised if the ROI was better than GH:Metallica given the cost of licensing and the amount of copies sold.

  • makeamazing #80 2 years ago

    I agree with the licensing part, they will have to sell a bucket load to pay off that... Beatles were never cheap... royalties here they come :)

    I wouldnt take pre-orders on some websites as a yard stick. The cost of RB is not cheap, and i think many will not pre-order unless there is a good discount. Many would purchase from a store on the day of release.

  • OllyJ #81 2 years ago

    pre-orders count for a lot. Especially to retailers. wow just seen the price too....gulp.

  • Hog-lumps #82 2 years ago

    I think 'All You Need is Love' is an x-box download 'exclusive' only (proceeds go to charity) while the Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper albums will be available for both consoles.

    Edited by 1 at 07/09/09 @ 09:24

  • TonyB #83 2 years ago

    One question which I don't think the review adequately answered is this: the review says the instruments are no different in performance and feel to the existing Rock Band ones, but does this mean the originals or the Rock Band 2 ones? Remember, the RB2 instruments never officially made it to the UK (or Europe at all?), so if these are based on those models that still gives a reason to pick this kit over the existing ones. I'm undecided whether I want to get the instrument edition as it is frighteningly expensive, and if they're going to be just like the kit I already have there's no way I'm getting it.

  • Hog-lumps #84 2 years ago

    I believe they are equivalent to the RB2 instruments with slight tweeks.

  • Rodafowa #85 2 years ago

    The drums are definitely a "re-mastered" RB2 kit. That's the main reason I'm getting the game, to be honest. Not sure about the rest of the kit.

  • morriss #86 2 years ago

    Johnny like a rhythm action game SHOCKER" ;)

    Seriously though, it sounds great.

  • Skorms-Boss #87 2 years ago

    So £180 for the drums, Paul’s bass and a mike (oh and the game) then an additional £85 for Johns Rickenbacker or Georges Gretch. So for (quick add up) £350 you can play 45 songs, I know you can use other guitar hero/rock band guitars and drums, but it still seems a tad silly to me. In the words of George Harrison “That’s one for you, sixteen for me, cause I’m a taxman”

  • Sir_TimAlot #88 2 years ago

    All you need is love is a timed exclusive, it will be available on PS3 eventually.

  • Redeye #89 2 years ago

    All you need...is a fuckton of money. ;)

    But cynicism aside (for once), this really is going to sell like billy-o. And the DLC, to boot. Heck, even musos I know who have no interest in games are actually considering forking out for the entire kit and kaboodle, just so they can have a crack at it. In sheer brand appeal alone, it's gold-plated gold.

    And to those who doubt it's appeal outside of the UK: without wanting to sound snarky in any way, believe it that this is going to shift units all over the place, not just here. US Beatles fanbase = bloody enormous. Japanese fanbase = colossal. European fanbase...well, you get the idea. So, cross-section that with the number of gamers Venn diagram-stylee, and you get the potential for one of the biggest-selling titles ever.

    And if it fulfills even a fraction of that potential (which I've no doubt it will), all involved will be swimming in banknotes forever more. Well, even more than they are already.

  • SirDespard #90 2 years ago

    They are not just aiming for gamers, but Beatles fans in general. Did anyone read the massive piece on this in Observer Music Monthly yesterday? Good piece.

  • Max_Powers #91 2 years ago

    Well, let's wait and see. I was just going on sentiments here in my office. 35 males, 20-35 (core demographic of Xbox 360 at least), all massive Guitar Hero fans and Metallica was a big hit too, but no-one is excited by or planning to buy The Beatles: Rock Band.

    Then again if the Beatles fan base is big enough (it is) and if they know about this game, we've got a winner. That being said, I just had a quick check (Netherlands) and the game doesn't register on ANY preorder of most expected list by retailers. It's all Modern Warfare 2 over here (and Guitar Hero 5 oddly).

    Edited by 1 at 07/09/09 @ 13:08

  • OllyJ #92 2 years ago

    SirDespard, people with no games console but a love for Beatles are not going to fork out £400 for it. It's not Brain Training.

    I still am on the side of it's not as gold plated as it looks on paper.

  • TheGoose126 #93 2 years ago

    The Who, The Doors & The Beatles if there were 3 bands I had to listen to for the rest of my days these would be it.

  • kangarootoo #94 2 years ago

    "SirDespard, people with no games console but a love for Beatles are not going to fork out £400 for it"

    Some of them will. Most of them won't. But isn't that the same for any fanbase?

  • kangarootoo #95 2 years ago

    And on the subject of pre-orders being a guide.

    Simply put, they aren't a good guide for all kinds of games. Hardcore gamers pre-order, mainstream gamers don't. How many copies of Brain Training do you think were sold on pre-order? It makes sense that the pre-order charts are full of MW2, because that is the sort of game that pre-ordering customers buy.

    The very concept of pre-ordering a plentiful product is quite a gamey thing, insofar as it forms part of the experience rather than serving any real function (why would anyone order in advance something that is unlikely to run out?)

  • Zomoniac #96 2 years ago

    The very concept of pre-ordering a plentiful product is quite a gamey thing, insofar as it forms part of the experience rather than serving any real function (why would anyone order in advance something that is unlikely to run out?)

    Because if you preorder with Game you get double reward points and 99% of the time are playing the game a day before the shops will let you have it?

  • kangarootoo #97 2 years ago

    "you get double reward points and 99% of the time are playing the game a day before the shops will let you have it"

    But again, that is the sort of thing that matters to hardcore gamers (considerably) more than the mainstream. A mainstream gamers will raise an eyebrow at the reward points aspect (possibly accompanied by a "I don't buy enough games for that to matter" comment).

    And as for playing the game a day before everyone else... do I really need to point out how a casual audience really doesn't care about stuff like that? A mainstream audience probably won't even know when the exact release date is, let alone care about playing the game on the very first day.


    All of this boils down to what I was saying at the start. Which is that pre-order numbers are not a reliable guide to final total sales for many types of game. I know it seems like they matter to hardcore gamers, but that is because there is a difference in values (the same difference in values that results in stuff like reward points and asap play seeming globally important).

  • davisorle #98 2 years ago

    Too bad the date 06/06/06 is gone. Remember a movie came out related back then ( not to beatles lol ) was a great promo itself but anyhow. Im sorry and with all respect, im not interested into beatles the slightest. Remember whenI was a kid my dad would try to put them on or mention them and I'd make fun of him, making him feel like the "old man" to make him quit it to not annoy me with his oldies.. Poor man lol. Then again don't mined me. Im a weird specially when it comes to music, Born and raised Greek and I hate greek music in general. :/

  • RobotRocker #99 2 years ago

    @ metalangel

    Y'know you are the very person Apple Corp despises? Giles Martin was ranting on Sky News on Saturday about how the iPod is killing music since its about the device itself and not the music on it. Looking at that, the reasons for having 45 tracks seems to be a bit clearer since they want you to play them again and again and make them memorable (Kinda like how Killer Queen and Infected were for me in the first Guitar Hero).

    I mean, we are spoiled. Rock Band 2 shipped with 84 songs on disc and 104 songs once with the code on the back of the manual activated. If you had RB1 exported. You already had 167 songs available before you even started the game. Its amazing that we have that, but at the same time. How many people are going to play everything in that list? And when you start adding DLC in, it gets really messy.

    It might have been better with a few more tracks but if they were going past the 55-60+ mark, it would really be pushing it.
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/09 @ 14:53

  • Redeye #100 2 years ago

    OllyJ : "People with no games console but a love for Beatles are not going to fork out £400 for it."

    That's an absolute I'd challenge, especially considering there are countless hardcore Beatles fans with no console but plenty of cash to burn.

  • OllyJ #101 2 years ago

    Yeah but not enough of them to really matter, in a way that Wii Fit or Brain training pulled people in.

    Different views isn't it, I just don't see the appeal it could possibly have to lure non gamers to spending a wodge.

  • varsas #102 2 years ago

    @OllyJ: Who says that they need to buy the whole band kit? Picking up a guitar and the game is not too bad and if they really enjoyed it and have like minded people around then more money would be spent.

  • oneiros #103 2 years ago

    It's music's most valuable catalogue, one which has still never been released digitally...
    ...apart from on all those shiny CDs. ;)

  • OllyJ #104 2 years ago

    Varsas, what are they going to play it on though? they'll need the console, point stands ;D

  • Sonic_D #105 2 years ago

    I hope Harmonix lavish this much attention on a band specific game that is based around a band I love one day. Sonic Youth or Pavement would be wonderful.

  • Scrumhalf #106 2 years ago

    shopto does not seem to be shipping this with their normal excellent service :(

  • Goodfella #107 2 years ago

    Just had my copy delivered from Shopto, a day early yet again, 3 cheers for Shopto. Can't find anyone online to join in a game though. *cries*

  • niteninja #108 2 years ago

    Wait for guitar hero 5 or dj hero both will have a better catalogue of music and be cheaper as well.
    I like the beatles music but this game is way overpriced.

  • FWB #109 2 years ago

    I once met someone who said they didn't like the Beatles. They were talking utter shit and they knew it.

  • OllyJ #110 2 years ago

    Why would that be? It is possible thate people ,including myself, don't really enjoy that kind of music, sure there'd be a preffered song but i'd never buy anything Beatles related.

  • FWB #111 2 years ago

    You're either lying as well or have zero taste.

    Thanks for the negative karma though. :)

  • OllyJ #112 2 years ago

    Yeah that makes sense, because everyone likes the same thing!! I don't hate them I just think thier music for me is a bit simple and a bit twee. and they all have Emo hair.

  • FWB #113 2 years ago

    Arhh, you're one of those that bases his/her taste on haircuts. Nice one.

    No taste. Get out of my thread.

  • OllyJ #114 2 years ago

    I don't understand why you have taken particular offence to my comments?

    I find it a bit harsh to be honest. you have no idea what I listen to, and I don't hate The Beatles, they just aren't for me.

    what's not to understand? and why does it have to be a slur on my taste?
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 15:47

  • IronCladChicken #115 2 years ago

    @OllyJ
    Who do you like?

  • OllyJ #116 2 years ago

    Not that it really matters as I haven't challenged anyone's tastes or the fact they like The Beatles only the fact that not everyone does and I'm curious to see how this game sells in the videogame market. I enjoy Rock Band, I understand the appeal of The Beatles game to a certain portion of the gaming market but see it as a hard sell elsewhere, I guess time will tell.

    But anyway, I Guess my Beatles would be Maiden, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath etc, I generally listen to Metal music, buy at least 4-5 albums a month plenty of gigs and my main passion is definately music. Currently enjoying Anathema (old and new).

    I don't want to get in to a "This band is shit" Metal is shit blah blah blah, it's not at all what I have said, if you would read my posts you'd understand that entirely. If you can find where I have said liking The Beatles is dumb then I apologize.

  • StrayBezza #117 2 years ago

    @OllyJ

    Totally agree mate. One can appreciate a genre of music or a band/artist within that movement but you don't have to own their records or wear the T-Shirt. I for one am a HUGE music fan, owning over 1200+ CDs and Vinyl but don't really dig the Beatles per se!! I can see what they stood for and how they created and influenced a generation(s) but I wouldnt put their records on in my own time!!

    Also FWB - what the fuck? People are allowed to dislike what is popular with the majority!! Its how great new music is formed.

    What if Paul, John, Ringo etc accepted the music of their time and had the same taste as the masses. It would of denied you of your 'beloved' Beatles for a start - get a grip son.


    Now - wheres that Monster Magnet CD?
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/09 @ 18:56

  • OllyJ #118 2 years ago

    Totally, being a "Sound Engineer" myself I appreciate what they did for my profession but their music I can't get along with, if it was Rock Band Queen however that'd be awesome!!

    I'd love to think FWB was being funny and I don't get the humor but somehow I think he actually believes everyone must like them, which is a bit of a weird train of thought, there's not one band in existence that appeals to everyone.

    Off topic....Monster Magnet are playing literally 5 miles down the road from me with Karma to Burn....but that's for the metal appreciation thread!

  • FWB #119 2 years ago

    Ahh metal... impossible for you to enjoy music. Noise, sure, music.. nope

    Not being funny. I have no sense of humour so that's impossible. It's a fact that everyone likes the Beatles. F.A.C.T.

  • OllyJ #120 2 years ago

    So basically you are incapable of having a discussion, think all metal is a noise and get your kicks basically being an internet tough guy.

    Nice one, you've been a proper dick for no reason.

  • FWB #121 2 years ago

    Pretty much. You're pretty observant.

    I'm pretty cool, aren't I?
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/09 @ 08:22

  • OllyJ #122 2 years ago

    Fair enough, you win,congrats.

  • FWB #123 2 years ago

    \o/ \o/ I win, I win!

    Another notch to put on my bunk bed.

  • baunsgaard #124 2 years ago

    Can I just point out that whether or not you like the beatles, or if ringo is the best drummer, or johns voice is kinda horse? Its not so much that the individual song are great although some of the are, its just that The Beatles have been a household name for the past 40 years... pretty much anyone you know will be able to sing along to at least a song or two?

    --I forgot my point...
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/09 @ 22:35