Rock Band VR

Aug 22, 2017

Rock Band VR is definitely built around having as much fun with the experience as possible. There’s no right way or wrong way to any of it, just the sheer enjoyment of playing some classic tunes in a far more relaxed manner. Does it sometimes feel a bit much having to wear a headset, strap a guitar to you and have an Oculus Touch in the mix as well? Yes, yes it does, but quite frankly you probably won’t care when thrashing out some Bon Jovi.

May 17, 2017

In Rock Band VR, you sound like a cover band that sounds like a cover band, which isn’t nearly as satisfying unless you’re enamored enough with the VR technology and experience to not care what the song sounds like as long as you’re having fun. Score: 80/100 The beta version of Rock Band VR eleased on March 23.

Mar 23, 2017

Rock Band VR’s not exactly a must-have, but it’s up there—at least for people who haven’t burned out on the plastic instrument genre. Me? As long as Harmonix keeps supporting it with DLC I’ll probably keep checking back in, snagging a few songs, and putting on a show.

May 25, 2017

The experience is wonderful and I am excited to introduce others to it, but its lasting appeal is a hard sell, especially for those who can simply jump over to traditional Rock Band and play any other instrument.

Apr 22, 2017

Rock Band VR is the biggest evolution the franchise has ever seen. The inclusion of the keyboard in Rock Band 3 was interesting and bringing a full compliment of plastic instruments to living rooms around the world with the original was revolutionary for a generation, but now this latest entry truly makes you feel like the star of your very own group. The Classic Mode is merely a shell of its former self, but the new VR features establish a more immersive way of playing the game than ever before. It’s lacking in a few areas, but the core of it all is too fun to ignore. Rock Band VR releases March 23rd, 2017 exclusively for Oculus Rift with Touch.

Apr 17, 2017

Stepping into the shoes of the lead guitarist adds a new layer of excitement to the Rock Band formula, and the new gameplay mechanics are fun to mess around with, even if it feels completely different from the original gameplay style. Harmonix has always prided itself on giving players new ways to experience their music, and Rock Band VR succeeds in that regard. Though lacking in content, Rock Band VR is a fun, new way for the long-running series to let you live out the rockstar fantasy.

Mar 23, 2017

Most of the game would translate just fine onto a flat screen, barring a few motion control mechanics. (Although it’s published by Oculus, so don’t get your hopes up.) But virtual reality is a great place for Harmonix to try new, weird mechanics in a low-risk environment. The Oculus Rift platform has a limited audience that doesn’t expect a lot of genre-specific features, because VR genres barely exist yet. Rock Band VR is a full-fledged game, but at least for now, it’s not bearing the mantle of the entire series. Getting an Oculus Rift might be too much commitment for many Rock Band fans, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see its ideas spread beyond VR in the years to come — albeit not without some polish.