MTV gave The Post an early look at Rock Band 3, out tomorrow, and we’re guessing longtime fans of the franchise are going to be excited. The biggest leap forward in this version of the game is the Pro mode, which further blurs the line between gameplay and actual musicianship. On the drums, for example, the game will now indicate if the player should hit the blue drum or the blue cymbal. Songs on the Expert Pro mode are basically note for note transcriptions of the song. Good luck following along to those unless you’re Lars Ulrich.
The game also adds a keyboard controller, and many of the songs included in this version of the game are piano or synth-heavy. (“Imagine” by John Lennon, for example, or “Sister Christian” by some ‘80s band with big hair.) Experienced piano players may find it a lot of fun, but those who’ve never played a keyboard instrument will probably find it a bit too challenging on Pro mode or a little dull on easier settings.
As for the guitar, “Rock Band 3” adds two new instruments that you may want to clutter up your living room with.
The Fender Mustang PRO guitar is available tomorrow ($149) and tries to replicate the actual guitar-playing experience by lining a 17-fret neck with 6 individual buttons on each fret, representing the six strings of a guitar. Players are required to move their hands up and down the neck to hit the specific button that corresponds to the correct fret, as well as the correct string. It’s no longer just red, blue, yellow, green or orange.
On Pro mode, like with the drums, the new guitar allows a player to play note-for-note transcriptions of songs. If the guitarist from Whitesnake on “Here I Go Again” (who also has big hair probably) is hitting an E on the high string on the 12th fret, you have to hit that exact button. That’s cool, and a huge step forward.
That said, anyone seriously interested in learning the guitar — or learning to be a better guitarist — should hold out for the new Fender Squier that should be released in early 2011. It’s an actual six-string Fender electric guitar that works as a controller. Instead of pressing buttons representing strings, like on the Fender Mustang PRO, players will have to hold down and strike strings, like playing a real guitar (which this is). Sensors on the inside of the neck can tell whether a player’s fingers are in the right place.
The Fender Mustang PRO is certainly a leap forward in replicating the guitar-playing experience, but it can’t come close to learning on an actual guitar. Guitar players need the strings on the neck. That how they keep their bearings as their fingers slide up and down the neck. Without strings, it becomes far more difficult to keep oriented.
Our advice: Don’t bother with the Fender Mustang PRO. Save your money for the Squier (which should be $250-$300). At least with that, you’ll be learning real musical skills that can translate to an actual instrument. And won’t your friends be impressed when you pick up a regular guitar and bust out The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven?”
