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Earlier today, I gave you a taste of Band Hero, and proceeded to bare my soul to the Internet as I tried to convince everyone (and myself) that it's okay to like Maroon 5 songs. How many band games can I play in one day?

The answer, my friends, is at least two -- here we have the first ten minutes of the Harmonix/Warner Bros./MTV Games/Travelers Tales collaboration known as LEGO Rock Band. The game released this week for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS, much to the delight of fans of LEGOs and rock bands across the country.

So what are you waiting for? Watch the video to see what you'd be getting yourself into, and hit the jump for a bullet-point list of notes about the game, because I'm feeling particularly lazy right now. 

  • You'll noticed I skipped the game's intro. Why? Because we already posted it last week. It goes on for awhile, and it's pretty great, an interesting homage and take on the intros to both Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2

  • Yes, that's Korn's cover of Cameo's "Word Up!" playing at the title screen. I know, I know... Korn's horrible, dude wears a kilt and is a better porn photographer than a singer. But here's what I'm saying -- Cameo's "Word Up!" is an awesome freakin' song, and if it takes Korn's relatively faithful cover of the track to get it into Rock Band, so be it.  

  • I didn't bother to calibrate my system before playing, so if I miss any notes, that's why. Really. Okay?

  • LEGO Rock Band will also populate its track listing with most of your Rock Band downloadable content, which should be a nice bonus for those who've been dumping money into their other games. (Note: It won't add all of your tracks, only those deemed appropriate for game's "family friendly" image. Sorry, no "Hammer Smashed Face.")  

    The above is actually the second play-through after some technical difficulties, and what you don't see is the game finding and loading all of my DLC. I have a lot... and it took what seemed like forever. With that in mind, the first time you boot up the game, you might want to bring a book or a handheld along for the ride. 

  • As you can see, setting up a band/character is more or less the same as Rock Band 2. The difference here, of course, is that you can create your own little LEGO brickdude instead of a "human" rocker. Pieces can be mixed and matched, which can create some hilarious results. Because the game's clothing pieces are actually connected to the body, it's possible to have a Caucasian rocker with oddly dark hands. You will be compelled to do this, as was I.

  • After creating a band, the game launches into a pretty cute cut-scene showing some band try-outs with various LEGO figures. At one point, an octopus (a "rocktopus"!?!?) comes in and kicks out the jam on the drums, but gets turned down because there's a "no octopus" sign up on the wall. Who the hell puts a no octopus sign up on their wall?!? I'm calling shenanigans.

  • In order to save some time, I decided to play the "short" version of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'." Yes, some of the game's songs will allow you to choose a shortened version of the track in case you're short on time or have a short attention span. In the case of "Free Fallin'," the track just abruptly fades out as you hit the final note. You know what? I was done with that song anyhow. 

  • You know that octopus I mentioned earlier? SPOILER ALERT: He comes back, and he's mad. The game features "Rock Power Challenges," music video-like song instances that have you using the power of rock to do things like demolish a building or rid a haunted house of ghosts. Imagine The Beatles: Rock Band "Dreamscapes," if you will, except the Fab Four fight off an octopus attack. Also, they're LEGOs, and not The Beatles. Because that would be like, totally f*cked if that happened. That's almost as weird as making Gwen Stefani sing a Nelly Furtado song; it's just not natural.

LEGO Rock Band is out right this second for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS and you can buy it with money, not "studs." Because "studs" aren't anything, really. 

On a final note, the name of my LEGO Rock Band band is "Unicorn Brick Foetus," a take on our Rock Band band, "Unicorn Death Foetus" (only with more umlauts). What will yours be?


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18 comments | showing # 1 to 18

The Trout's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 18:31
The Trout
I've been having tons of fun with Lego Rock Band. I might actually start using it more than Rock Band 2 if I could have the full library (including the RB2 songs themselves). There's just something oddly endearing about the Lego people, and the venues in the game are just awesome.
Oncomouse's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 18:44
Oncomouse
I heard there's a level where they make you jam out as a band of terrorists at the beginning but you can skip it if it's offensive to you.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 18:58
Xzyliac
This game is an absolute blast. Seriously it feels good enough to be RB3 for all I care.

Lego Rock Band > The Beatles: Rock Band
Tiffany Martin's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 19:20
Tiffany Martin
I haven't picked this up yet--waiting to see what people think once the kool-aid wears off. The video is really great for showing the interface. I wonder if you can still do Skullcrusher Mountain?
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 19:57
Elsa
it would be nice if the ESRB ratings were included in brackets when doing reviews... especially at this time of year. I'm looking for something for my young niece and she loves the Lego bands... but that "terrorist band" comment makes me think that even the DS version might not be rated E.
Duster's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 20:13
Duster
Pretty sure that was satire on the Modern Warfare 2 leakage, Elsa. If it's got the lego branding, you can most likely be assured it will be rated E.
Tronjoy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 20:31
Tronjoy
This looks way more epic than I could have ever expected. Also, WTF with turning down the banjo player?! He rocked!
RenagadePanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 20:33
RenagadePanda
Can you punch your band manager's LEGO head off?
The Trout's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 21:04
The Trout
I made my band manager Lego Dracula - I'm not going anywhere NEAR his head.
madfigs's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 21:04
madfigs
Our band is always "Former Unicorn Bait" :)
WhiteZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 23:45
WhiteZombie
why did the song end before it was over? I hope all the songs arent like tht in rock band lego
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2009 23:59
Dexter345
Seriously, what's with the anti-octopus agenda this game is trying to put on us?
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/05/2009 00:18
Monodi
No octopuses allowed, confirmed.
Wheatspin's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/05/2009 00:33
Wheatspin
where was the rest of the song? and gratz on the FC whoever played that lol
The Trout's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/05/2009 09:08
The Trout
@WhiteZombie, Wheatspin: From the article - "In order to save some time, I decided to play the "short" version of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'." Yes, some of the game's songs will allow you to choose a shortened version of the track in case you're short on time or have a short attention span. In the case of "Free Fallin'," the track just abruptly fades out as you hit the final note. You know what? I was done with that song anyhow."

I applaud your reading ability.
GAPING MAW's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/05/2009 11:07
GAPING MAW
You've got to be kidding, our band's name has been Unicorn Death Joust since the first rock band! 2for3ZOMG
Jaffacakelover's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/05/2009 13:31
Jaffacakelover
I read that this game is pants on the wii, and they don't sell it with instruments, so no play for me :(

Also, "fu*cked"? Way to go there, champ ;)
WhiteZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 23:59
WhiteZombie
@ the trout - haha thx for the clarification - my reading skills are sub-par lol
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