Hands-on with The Beatles: Rock Band story mode
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One thing is obvious after playing the closely-guarded story mode of The Beatles: Rock Band: this is no quick cash-in. The rewards system included in the game features some extraordinary (and oftentimes exclusive) extras that no Beatles fan will want to miss. Rare archival photos, audio and video chronicle the meteoric rise of the Beatles, providing an almost-encyclopedic document of the band's career.
Unlike the previous Rock Band games, the entire setlist will be available from the get-go in The Beatles: Rock Band. Considering the mainstream appeal of the Beatles, Harmonix realized it was foolish to lock away the core content of the game from the masses. Instead, the story mode provides something sorely missing from the first two Rock Band games: context. The tour mode of the previous titles attempted to emulate the experience of being a band on the rise, but did so through a simple numeric representation of how many fans players have accumulated. The Beatles offers cutscenes, both rendered in the game's engine and through animation, that begin inside one of the band's earliest venues: The Cavern Club.
Players will have to play through a number of pre-selected songs in order to progress onto the next part of the story, visiting venues such as the set of the Ed Sullivan Show, Budokan, Shea Stadium, and the rooftop of Apple Records. Those who manage to get 5-star ratings on all the songs will unlock a number of extras, such as photos that chronicle the history of the Beatles. These images include intimate details fact-checked by Paul McCartney himself.
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The rewards system encourages mastery, but is still accessible to casual players. The 5-star ratings can be achieved on any difficulty: Expert or Beginner. Hardcore gamers looking for an even deeper challenge will appreciate the game's Achievements/Trophies, which will be as eclectic as the ones found in Rock Band 2. The Beatles improves the experience by taking a page from Valve, by offering an overview page that details each achievement's criteria, and marks player's progress on each. (For example, if an achievement requires getting a gold star 5 times, you will see how many you have already acquired.)
In addition to photos and behind-the-scenes commentary from the Beatles, there are a few hidden treats that will be available for the first time through The Beatles: Rock Band. Harmonix showed us one of the bonuses: a complete recording of a Christmas vinyl album distributed to early The Beatles Fan Club members. Limited to a small handful, this is the first time the recording has been digitized and made available to the wider public. For fans of The Beatles that weren't alive when the band first formed, this is a rare treat.
The improved story mode and rewards system really makes The Beatles: Rock Band a treat for fans. It's true the core gameplay hasn't been revolutionized, but the new story mode, addition of three-part harmonies, and far more rewarding achievements make The Beatles a worthwhile upgrade to the franchise. It's clear that although The Beatles: Rock Band focuses on simply one band, these features evolve the Rock Band experience even beyond Rock Band 2. September 9th can't come soon enough.
