Can Cool Game Play That



I know what you’re thinking: “I have Rock Band. I have Rock Band 2. I have The Beatles Rock Band. Do I really need another Rock Band game?” The answer, quite simply, is yes — especially if you have younger children. Let’s take a look at the newest Rock Band game and see what makes LEGO Rock Band stand apart, and what makes it a worthy addition to your collection of games.

First of all, as I said, if you have younger kids, this may be a game you would like to invest in. The LEGO version of Rock Band is definitely oriented toward a younger audience. There’s a wide range or music, and there’s also an opportunity to either let your kids or younger siblings have at it, or else play with them.

LEGO Rock Band features a difficulty level called “Super Easy.” While that may be quite a few steps down from the expert-level vocals and hard-level bass I usually play with, I decided to give it a try. LEGO Rock Band truly lets anyone and everyone have a chance to participate and be a star in their own right; the super easy vocals adjust the settings so that as long as you sing anything — whether you’re in key or not — it registers and gives you points. Super easy guitar and bass slow down the number of strums for each song, and makes it so that you get credit for playing as long as you strum at the right time — no matter if you’re pushing the right buttons, the wrong ones, or none at all. Similarly, any pads on the drum can be hit in easy mode, and the drums can be changed to “auto-bass” for those who can’t use the foot petal (or are lazy, like me). As well, it’s impossible to fail a song; instead of failing, you lose LEGO studs, which are used like money in the game; you get one stud for every point you earn in a song. Lastly, many of the songs can be switched over to a “short” version that cuts the song time in half. All of these things together are a great combination.

By now you’re probably wondering why I’m hyping all of the things that can make this game ridiculously easier than the other Rock Band games. Well, I’m thinking of two friends as I write this: one who has a two year old who likes to sing along with Elton John (there’s an Elton John in this game’s setlist!) and one who has a five year old who wants to play Rock Band with his big sister but has trouble with pushing the buttons on the guitar even in easy-mode. Other versions of Rock Band, I feel, are very “friend-oriented”; that is to say that they’re designed for you and your friends to get together and have a good time. I know I’ve thrown a few Beatles Rock Band parties and had a blast, but that’s not really what LEGO Rock Band is all about. LEGO Rock Band, unlike the others, is a more family-oriented game. If you have kids or younger siblings, this allows them to play together with you; you can still enjoy the hard and expert difficulties of all of the instruments and the vocals while your little ones can play along with you utilizing the Super Easy mode. The cut scenes between different parts of the game are also pretty fun and kid-oriented, involving building and destroying things with LEGOs.

The song list itself, which includes songs from artists such as Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Police, Jackson 5, Iggy Pop, Spinal Tap, Queen, Boys Like Girls, and others, makes this a worthwhile purchase even if you don’t actually have any little ones in your home. It also lets you play your downloaded Rock Band songs as well, which is a nice plus; I just finished playing Colbert’s “Charlene (I’m Right Behind You)” for a surprise gig!

Overall, LEGO Rock Band has a new experience for Rock Band players. It gives you the same challenge of the other games, but it also makes the game playable solely for the sake of fun rather than challenge, which is a plus for much younger kids who are still developing their Rock Band skills but don’t want to be left out. A great family fun game, I give LEGO Rock Band an 8/10.

If you have one of the many 3D DVD or Blu-ray movies released this year, why not try using the 3D glasses with Ground Effect to get a face-full of the new, enhanced action? Even without the funny glasses, you can continue to enjoy this unique racer with even smoother frame rates. Fans will also appreciate the new camera and control options which offer a whole new perspective and feel to gameplay.

Just want to chill out or check out the levels before you race? Users now also have the opportunity to explore the beautifully rendered, free-roaming landscapes on all 14 levels without having to unlock them first. Ground Effect deliberately shies away from racing game convention by offering the gamer a uniquely relaxed yet engaging experience, maximised through music rather than engine noise. Listen to the specially remastered Diefenbach soundtrack or switch it off and listen to your iPod, with or without the subtle game sound effects.

“We were lucky enough to get a lot of feedback which I’ve taken on board in order to make improvements to this title. The stereo 3D was a purely self-indulgent addition. I’ve been a huge fan since even before I added it to Bullfrog’s Magic Carpet all those years ago and I’ve always wanted to see it used in a game on a more powerful machine. Who would have believed that machine could fit in your pocket only a decade or so later? I hope people enjoy it as an option as much as I enjoyed working on it.

There are more updates planned for the New Year and an exciting new collaborative project in the works which will also be based on the Ground Effect tech. I’m hoping that having invested the time to perfect the Ground Effect engine, it can be put to use in ever more inventive ways.”

Device Requirements:
* iPhone or iPod Touch 2.2.1 or later

Pricing and Availability:
Ground Effect 1.1 is only $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Games category.

Ground Effect 1.1
Purchase and Download
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Glenn Corpes is an independent game developer who has worked in computer games for more than 20 years including stints at Bullfrog and Electronic Arts. Some of his most notable credited titles are Populous, Magic Carpet and Dungeon Keeper. Copyright (C) 2009 Glenn Corpes. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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