The Beatles: Rock Band superbly mixes fun, skill-based gameplay with a wonderfully accessible soundtrack to produce a high point in the ever-growing rhythm-action genre. An extremely high level of attention to detail has been applied to the production, along with the technical aspects of the game; all of these elements contribute to an overall package that truly delivers a quality experience for players of all types.

While The Beatles: Rock Band rarely deviates from the standard rhythm-action gameplay, the excellent addition of vocal harmonies via multiple microphones really sets the game apart on a multiplayer level. With three microphones plugged in alongside the more familiar guitar, drums and bass, up to six people can participate at the same time. The simplicity of the singing mechanic means that even the most casual of players requires no familiarity with the genre to feel like a fully contributing member of the ensemble.

Technically, the game is well put together. The graphics and sound quality are excellent and the story of The Beatles is played out in fantastically animated vignettes that give plenty of context to the songs in each setlist.

There is a true feeling of authenticity in the way the game has been presented and there are plenty of genuinely interesting pieces of information to unlock along the way. There has obviously been plenty of thought put into the correct way to present the game and a lot of care taken to protect the integrity of the licence (something that Activision could have done, with considering the Kurt Cobain debacle in Guitar Hero 5).

Added to this is a wonderful tracklist that truly deserves its own title, rather than being crammed in with a bunch of other bands. There are still some odd song choices that don’t really fit in this type of game, and some of these come at the expense of some truly classic songs, but even non-fans of The Beatles will have to admit that the band created some of the catchiest songs of all time. One of the great things about The Beatles: Rock Band is that the controls are fully cross-compatible with Guitar Hero controllers, opening up the Rock Band experience to a much larger market of people who only own Guitar Hero instruments.

The basic game is over and done with after only a couple of play sessions, but the value truly comes out in the multiplayer modes. There are competitive and cooperative online modes, and they work well, but the fun is really in playing local multiplayer. The timeless music means that the game can be played over and over. Downloadable content will soon help expand the set list and breathe even more life into the game.

Personal thoughts

I have never really been a fan of The Beatles; they were always a little too pretentious for my liking, and I never really got caught up in the whole sixties revival that came and went a few years ago, so I wasn’t expecting great things from The Beatles: Rock Band. In fact, I bought it because some of my family members are big fans and I figured that it would make it easier to convince them to play Rock Band/Guitar Hero with me.

Despite this, I can still hum along to most of The Beatles songs, and it is this familiarity which makes a huge difference to my enjoyment of this type of game. Too many of the games in this genre are too full of filler songs and obscure “classics”. The Beatles, whether you are a fan or not, have written some of the most recognisable and memorable songs in history and not having to look at the words to sing along is fantastic. And this is where being able to share vocal duties on songs is a wonderful addition and something that really makes it something that everyone wants to, and can, play.

If you are looking for an entry point into the rhythm-action genre, you cannot start at any better place than this. Even non-The Beatles fans will be able to find value in this as the songs are so recognisable that almost anyone can participate in one form or another. I love this game and it has given me a new appreciation of The Beatles as song writers and as a cultural phenomenon.