This game truly looks incredible. I will in no way deny them that. The graphics are unbelievable and any true fan of the beatles (movies and all) will adore this trailer.
My problem lies within the premise of the game. Rock Band has been a game aimed at expanding what Guitar Hero started. They added the drums and vocals to spawn new elements to the game play. For that, we are grateful.
However, the fun part of the game lies in all of the different music that is available. We get to play rap, rock, pop, classic rock, indie. Anything we want is available. While, yes, the Beatles repertoire is one of the greatest song catalogues of all time, they are simply one band. The Aerosmith Guitar Hero package (filled with some of the great classic/glam rock guitar riffs of the past 30 years) did not do well, falling far short of its universal counterparts.
The other issue can be found in the simplicity of most Beatles songs. In Rock Band, you keep building up to playing harder and harder songs until the penultimate finger killers. The difficulty and probability of failure adds to the tension and eventual release when completed. The Beatles were not very good at their instruments. Paul could write a decent bass line, and George's guitar parts sounded great but there's no challenge involved. John Lennon just played along most of the time and Ringo shouldn't dignify any insults. They were four guys that could write well and harmonize better. There are no face melting solos to challenge you into the wee hours of the night. No syncopated drum beats to destroy your motor capabilities. No wild vocal riffs, incapable of being reached.
To its merit, Beatles Rock Band will get more people into the franchise and will involve older people into the gaming world. This is always a great service to the gaming community. I'm excited to see how this does in the mainstream and how well the hardcore gamers trash it, and the casual gamers glorify it.
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