It’s no secret that I have an issue with the casual gaming scene. But at the same time, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a few casual games here and there. I’ve always been a fan of the Rock Band series and, being a Beatles fan, I couldn’t help being pretty excited for The Beatles: Rock Band.

First of all, Harmonix has proven that they know what they’re doing when it comes to music games, with 2 Guitar Hero (and an expansion) and 2 Rock Band games under their belts. Unfortunately, you’re not going to find anything utterly revolutionary here, as there’s only so much you can do to improve upon the formula without completely rebuilding it from the ground up. However, don’t expect just a simple, Beatles-themed Rock Band update with better graphics. While it is true that there aren’t many new things here, one welcome addition to the game is the inclusion of up to six players thanks to the new 3-part harmony system, something that was common in most Beatles performance, allowing more players to take part at once.

More about the game, after the break.

A team from Harmonix spoke about the game and demonstrated a few songs, like "I Saw Her Standing There" before letting us try the game ourselves.

According to the Harmonix team that was on site, the game will have all 45 songs available from the start, meaning that those players who want to jump into the action without having to go through the career mode have everything available right from the get-go. However, the career mode itself takes players on a journey of The Beatles’ history, starting with their early start in the Cavern Club to Budokon, Shea Stadium, and Abbey Road Studios. Sessions in the Abbey Road Studios, which players will get to play through, are not played in front of a live crowd, instead showcase the new “Dreamscapes,” which evoke the genre-busting spirit and their stylistic transformation over the course of their career.

Speaking of which, the visuals in the game are really well done, especially the character models for The Beatles themselves, along with their facial expressions. In addition, the game will feature more directed cuts, where the band members will interact with each other along with desperate fans trying to rush the stage, only to be thwarted by security.

Getting my hands on the game, I was immediately stuck on the drums, which I will admit I suck at. Previous Rock Band games always had me playing either guitar, bass, and vocals and I never played the game long enough to get past medium on the drums. Still, knowing it would be horrible on hard, I gave it a try on Medium. It was fun, but definitely a challenge for me as an inexperienced Rock Band drummer.

The Gretsch Duo Jet controller, based on George Harrison's guitar.

So, when I got the chance, I got up on guitar and set it Expert. It was definitely a challenge for me, but my Rock Band experience definitely allowed me to get an 80 percent plus rating on the songs we played, as well as trying the vocals while I did so. Gotta say, doing so while on guitar is not an easy feat. Overall, the difficulty was adequate, challenging but still accessible. If you think that Beatles songs are going to be easy to get through, 1) How dare you and 2) Think again.

If you like Rock Band and you love The Beatles, The Beatles: Rock Band is definitely something to look into. Unfortunately, you can’t trade in your Rock Band 2 and transfer the DLC content to the game like was possible from the jump from Rock Band to Rock Band 2. This game was built from the ground up, rather than being just a simple expansion. It’s a stand-alone game with it’s own line-up of DLC albums planned, including Abbey Road which will be released online around the time of the game’s release.

If you tend to avoid Rock Band but love The Beatles, I would say check the game out anyway. The game will take you on an interactive journey of the Beatles career, and with Yoko Ono-Lennon, Olivia Harrison, and surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr giving input in the game’s creation, you can expect a genuine experience. Featuring never before heard audio clips from their recording sessions, it’s definitely worth checking out.

However, if Rock Band is not your thing and you just don’t find The Beatles appealing, this may be a game you should skip.

And with that, I leave you with the trailer for The Beatles: Rock Band.