This review is based on the PS3 version, there may be some differences in the Wii and XBOX360 versions.
Gameplay (25/30)
What can I say, Rockband has always been an amazing game ever since the first one came out 3 years ago, and RB3 doesn't disappoint in any major way. The gameplay is spot on, calibration is extremely easy if you have one of the guitar controllers that have the automatic calibration, but I did have a little trouble calibrating when I tried to using the "timed hit" calibration with the keyboard. The menus are easy to use, just press start at almost any screen and a personal menu pops up at the bottom of the screen. from there, you can change any option, access the game modifiers, or drop out. At any time, even mid song, you can drop in/out or change your difficulty, making it so you can switch instruments in the middle of a set, or even mid song. The character/Image creator is simple to use, and it is easier than ever to customize your band . The new system of progressing no matter what mode your playing is great. If you beat a goal in quickplay, it is the same as beating it in a road tour, which is a series of 2-3 song sets. The only problem is that sometimes when you go to load a song to, play or a character in the character editor, the game crashes, meaning you have to restart, but it doesn't happen that much and may have been fixed in an update, since it hasn't happened since I updated.
Another thing is the real instrument gameplay. Pro guitar can be played on either the Mustang Guitar Controller ($149.99, out by end of year,) or the Squire Guitar Controller ($299.99, out sometime next March), both of which are rather expensive, but seem to be worth it, since it teaches you most of the things you know to actually play the song, and the Squire doubles as an actual guitar.
The Rockband keyboard costs about $80, and is worth it. It has all the markings for playing Rockband, for both normal mode, which uses the first 5 keys of any octave, and pro, which uses C3-C5 (2 octaves plus 1 key.) When you master the pro mode on expert, you're playing the righthand part of a song.
Pro drums is the easiest transition between normal/pro. The game marks certain note as cymbals, and you have a drumkit from any Rockband except the Rockband 1 one, and at least one cymbal expansion. It is of note that Rockband 3 can make Pro Drum tracks out of any song, even previously released ones.
Despite game-crashing glitches, Rockband 3 is the best Rockband experience yet, 25/30.
Graphics (10/10)
Rockband 3 has the best graphics of any Music game, the music video "dreamscapes" are amazing, and the venues are extremely detailed, although most of them were in Rockband 1/2. The character models and animations are great, you really can see your band get into the music. The only complaint that I have is that the Bassist/Keyboardist don't appear on stage at the same time, but still, graphics gets 10/10.
Sound (45/45)
This is the most important section of a review for any music game, and Rockband 3 is the best of the best. With 80-some tracks spanning 4 decades and every major existing Rockband genere, the tracklist is one of the best in any music game. "Imagine" by John Lennon, "Bohemian Rhaspody" by Queen, and "Walkin' on Sun" by Smash Mouth are right there with "The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson and "Misery Business" by Paramore. No matter what you like, there is at least one song on Rockband 3 that you will like. The sound quality is amazing, as is expected in any Rockband game. Over all, with one of the best and most varied soundtracks in any music game, Rockband 3 is well deserving of it's 45/45.
DLC (15/15)
DLC (Downloadable Content) is a major part of all music games, and Rockband 3 is no exception. All of your existing DLC and imported tracks from Rockband 1 and 2, LEGO Rockband, and most recently Green Day: Rockband, are all compatible with Rockband 3. While none of them have Keyboard or Pro tracks, I noticed that Pearl Jam's "Backspacer" Album and Green Day's 6 DLC tracks and the ones from their game all have harmony vocals.
On top of the 2000+ existing tracks, new tracks are released every week, and already include "Imagine" album by John Lennon and 12 tracks from Bon Jovi's "Greatest Hits." It seems that Harmonix is leaning towards doing larger track packs and full albums, rather than doing 3-6 songs by one artist. It is a great concept, as long as they continue to make individual songs available, unlike some songs on Guitar Hero that require you to buy the whole album. DLC has certainly earned it's perfect 15/15 this time around.
Summary (95/100)
If your looking for a realistic music game with a varies soundtrack that is the best of any music game in a long while, then you need to go buy Rockband 3 right now. Despite the game crashing glitches, and the steep price and delayed release dates of the pro instruments, Rockband 3 remains the best music game expirience in the world, and has earned it's 95/100 score.
- Guitar Pro playing Solo
- Full 4 Player band including Guitar Pro
