the iphone guru

After a longer than anticipated wait, Rock Band has officially been released for the iPhone, and I dare say that in some ways, it could actually be better than the console versions.

EA has managed to distil the experience of Harmonix unique rhythm game that has so captivated console audiences down to it’s basic elements and yet still keep it entertaining. The core four instruments are there, guitar, bass, drums and (sort of) vocals. You tap on the screen in time to the “notes” coming down the screen to make the music keep coming. As far as portable versions go, the iPhone Rock Band is far superior to the other offerings out there on PSP or Nintendo DS for instance. In large part this is due to the big bright iPhonee touchscreen, which solves one of my main gripes with the console versions of the game as well.

One of the main issues that I’ve always had with Rock Band is that you have to absolutely crank the volume on the game to hear the music above the clack clacking of the plastic instruments, well now with the iPhone version of Rock Band on the iPhone, you can’t hear anything but the music. Especially if you’re wearing headphones (which is the way I recommend you play, as I’m sure the guy next to you on the train doesn’t need to hear Simple Man by the Skynnrd 5 times in a row). The newest version of the Guitar Hero guitar already has a touchpad as a form of control and I think that if the franchises keep on selling, this is the way we will see all of the instruments controlled in the future. No clacking = more enjoyable.

The control schemes for all of the instruments are clean and easy to use, mimicking the console iterations almost perfectly. Even down to a small performance area up top that showcases the particular band that you’re playing at the moment. The only exception to this rule is the vocals section, which doesn’t have you actually sing, but instead tap out the phrases as the voice sings in response. I would have liked to have seen this instrument have mic support, but I can guess that they felt, probably accurately, that it was unlikely that many people were going to want to belt these tunes out loud in public. Maybe we’ll see this in an update, because it would be cool to actually sing in the band mode.

The band mode, or multiplayer mode, allows you to connect up to four iPhone or iPod touch devices via bluetooth and have each one play an instrument, creating a defacto band, which is pretty cool. You can also play a version of the multiplayer via facebook connect or open invite where you perform your instrument and then submit your best performance to the band, then each member submits theirs and you cobble together your band score that way. This is a nice twist that allows you to have some multiplayer interaction while allowing you not to depend upon other people’s schedules.

I’d have to say that my mood after playing through most of the modes and playing around with the app a bit is really postive. The app has been polished to a mirror shine by EA and is totally worth the $9.99. With the portability and lack of clacky buttons to interfere with your enjoyment of the music, I would say that the iPhone definitely has a new rhythm game king, perhaps a king that performs even better than it’s console big brothers. Grab it here. Check out a gameplay video and some screens below.

Here is a full track listing, remember more tracks will be available for purchase in packs of two for .99c:

“Attack” – 30 Seconds To Mars
“Girls Not Grey” – AFI
“Move Along” – All American Rejects
“Sabotage” – Beastie Boys
“All The Small Things” – Blink-182
“Hanging on the Telephone” – Blondie
“Learn To Fly” – Foo Fighters
“Everlong” – Foo Fighters
“Bad to The Bone” – George Thorogood & the Destroyers
“Hymn 43″ – Jethro Tull
“Bad Reputation” – Joan Jett
“Simple Man” – Lynard Skynard
“Ace of Spades ‘08″ – Motorhead
“Debaser” – Pixies
“Ladybug” – Presidents of The United States of America
“Give It All” – Rise Against
“Lazy Eye” – Silversun Pick Ups
“Cherub Rock” – Smashing Pumpkins
“Take The Money and Run” – Steve Miller Band
“We Got The Beat” – The Go Go’s