Rock revolution

Gaming goes gaga for rock legends,
Halo sequel and Jack Black

FAB 4 + U = AWESOME: The Beatles: Rock Band

SHREDDING MEETS GREEK MYTH: Brutal Legend

ANARCHY AND MASS WEAPONRY: Borderlands

by ERIK LEIJON

To show you just how far the video game industry has come in a decade, consider this: Sept. 9, 1999 marked the landmark release of the Sega Dreamcast, considered an important moment despite the fact that only hardcore gamers cared and the console sputtered out only a couple of years later. Fast forward 10 years to Sept. 9, 2009, where gamers and non-gamers alike are frothing at the mouth for what is pretty much the most important cross-media event in the history of the gaming business.

The Beatles: Rock Band (X360, PS3, Wii) is so much more than 45 of the Fab Four’s most recognizable tunes tacked on to yet another plastic instrument music game. It’s the world’s most protective brand (well, second to Catcher in the Rye) entering the world of video games before being available on iTunes, and it coincides with the CD release of the group’s remastered albums. It’s certainly a sign of the times, not to mention gaming’s muscle, considering the Liverpudlians waited 22 years before taking advantage of the now-useless CD format.

Gameplay-wise, The Beatles: Rock Band is your typical music rhythm game, as the goal is to hit the right notes on your plastic instrument or microphones as they appear on your TV screen. New to the series is the opportunity for you and two friends to sing three-part harmonies—perfect for when Abbey Road is released as the game’s first downloadable album.

If depositing more money into Paul McCartney’s bank account is your thing, you can dish out the $250 necessary to get the Limited Edition set, which includes the game, a microphone stand, replica Ringo drums and a Macca Höfner bass. Otherwise the standalone game retails for $60, and separate John and George guitars sell for $100.

MORE ROCK HISTORY

Assuming The Beatles: Rock Band will be sold-out—a likely scenario—there’s another high profile music game already in stores, Guitar Hero 5 (X360, PS3, Wii, PS2). It may not have Ringo, but the latest Guitar Hero features Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain, the latter being slightly creepy given he can perform any song in the game. In some ways, seeing a digitized Cobain rocking out to “Under Pressure” or “Lust for Life” is pretty cool. The Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire”? Not so much. If the Beatles don’t float your boat, Guitar Hero 5’s varied 85-song catalogue has something for everyone, and is probably the most impressive line-up seen in a music video game. The standalone game sells for $70.

This autumn isn’t just about music games though. Celebrate the day after autumnal equinox with Halo ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) the quasi-sequel, standalone expansion pack. If that sounds like a heap of conflicting information, it’s because ODST is like Beck’s unofficial Odelay follow-up Mutations—good enough for the Beck name, but not worthy of holding the mantle of direct sequel. I suppose the one big difference between ODST and the alternative folkster’s underrated gem is that although a fully-fledged first-person shooter, ODST doesn’t star Master Chief. Also in late September, Smash Bros. developer Game Arts will be giving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the smash ‘em up multiplayer brawler treatment in TMNT: Smash-Up (Wii, PS2).

NATHAN DRAKE & JACK BLACK

In October, acrobatic adventurer Nathan Drake will pick-up where he left off in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3), meaning he’ll be dangling from cliffs, swinging from vines and hitting on attractive women in a whole new locale. Metal-loving funny man Jack Black will be flying free tenaciously in Brutal Legend (X360, PS3), which can best be described as God of War-meets-Spinal Tap. Jealous Playstation 3 owners, forced to sit on the sidelines while their XBox 360 and PC counterparts lap up the five Fallout 3 add-ons will finally be able to hit up post-apocalyptic Pittsburgh this October in Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition.

The end of October will see the long-awaited release of Borderlands (PC, X360, PS3), a science-fiction first-person shooter taking place on a dreary planet reduced to anarchy. This game’s claim to fame? Over half a million weapons, thanks to some interesting procedural content technology (where the game’s AI randomly alters the game as you play). Also hitting stores before Halloween? Activision’s next music game experiment, the more dance and hip hop-centric DJ Hero, complete with its own turntable controller.