Rock Band

Rock Band, the Christmas hit of last year on all other major formats has finally made its way to the Wii.

It took seven months, but now Wii owners can fulfill their longtime dream of rocking out; and now they can rock in their living rooms with a few friends who are probably just as musically inept as they are. Immediately being promised to the Wii back in January amid the Rock Band hysteria, many fans who clamored to see this series make the Nintendo jump wondered not what aspects of the game they would enjoy the most, but rightfully so, what aspects of the game would be left out.

Well, to start and much to our pleasure, none of the peripherals have been left out. Despite rumors circulating early on about Wii Remote adapters for drumsticks and guitars, Rock Band Special Edition comes shipped with the same controllers as the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions; a wireless guitar, a microphone and the ever-popular drum set (with real wooden drumsticks). Of course to match the Wii's exterior, the entire set has been covered in a decidedly non-rocking, yet entirely aesthetic, Nintendo white.

The Guitar.

The guitar controller for Rock Band, accurately modeled after the Fender Stratocaster, may be the biggest disappointment to the game. While surely functional and more than capable of handling some serious rocking out, it just seems like a step backwards when compared to the already released Gibson Les Paul for Nintendo Wii. While guitar geeks can debate the finer points of each of the guitars the controllers were based on with no end in sight; it's clear that the Rock Band controller is slower and clunkier in the hand compared to Guitar Hero 3's Les Paul. While the added 5 frets near the base of the neck are a nice addition even if hardly ever used, the strum bar is much less responsive, making fast series of notes even more difficult. The sturdy one piece design (after some minor assembly) though means this axe isn't going to be going anywhere soon; it will handle some serious shredding.

The Microphone.

The microphone given in the game is nothing special, a standard hefty mic that feels comfortable in the hand is all anyone could ask for, and that's what we get. The long cord gives plenty of space for moving around, and the microphone is clear and sensitive. The only knock against it could be the difficult "hand clapping" that is a part of the singing track of certain songs. While it's easy to use the microphone against your hand to do this, the noise is less than desirable, and one may wonder how long the microphone will last after continued banging. However, that is nitpicking at most; the mic really does a great job.

It's not wireless like the one on the game, but you don't have to wear the poofy shirt either - a fair trade.

The Drumset.

By far the most impressive videogame controller since the defunct Powerglove, Rock Band's drumset will get any player giddy with the chance to let out their inner Dave Grohl. (Yes he was a drummer first, look it up people!). By far the most fought after controller in my house, the drums are impressive, and the Nintendo White looks great in any gaming room. The kit comes with four pads with various colors, not unlike the frets of the guitar, and the fifth color is saved for the pedal, which acts as your kickdrum. While playing the drums they are responsive and intuitively placed, making them highly addictive. Easy enough to learn for children, even under the age of 10, yet challenging to keep hardcore gamers repeating "Don't Fear the Reaper" until they get it right. As widely reported though, the noise is a bit annoying for those not partaking in the rock-n-roll, so to save complaints from a nosy neighbor, or perturbed parent, an investment in the silencing pads is a wise decision (and they work!). To put it simply, the drumset is easily the best Wii accessory. Ever.

Mmm... donuts. Oh wait, Mmm... drums.

Stay tuned to part two of the Rock Band review to find out how all these instruments come together, and see if they can be put to good use!