Harmonix is bringing Rock Band back, and it’s quite possibly the best news of 2015. I know, it may not seem like it initially. One could look at the announcement and think it’s a means of capitalizing on a gimmicky game genre, but I really think Rock Band 4 is a great thing for anyone who loves enjoying games with friends. Yes, it means our closets will be cluttered up with fake instruments again, but it will be worth it!
Part of the reason I’m so excited about Rock Band 4 , and you should be too, is because all of our existing content isn’t going to waste. Do you still have guitar controllers? I know I still have two PS3 controllers and a microphone stuffed in one of my closets. I didn’t play the game very often, but it somehow seemed wrong to get rid of them. Especially since I had purchased one of the guitars from Goodwill for $2.99. Throw out something that was a really good deal, or let it keep taking up space? I think you know what I chose to do.
The same goes for the DLC. Rock Band DLC was always an easy impulse buy. $2 per track wasn’t too bad, considering how much entertainment you could get out of your favorite songs. I don’t even want to tell you how many I grabbed back in 2012 for Rock Band 3 . There was this sale where over 1,000 songs were 50% off. It was open season. Since Rock Band 4 is going to use all of those add-ons, it’s immediately increasing the value and potential of the game before you even buy it.
Then, there’s the most important element of all. Couch co-op games are experiencing a resurgence. The PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U are getting a surprising number of games, mostly indies, which allow people to sit in the same living room and bond over joining forces to achieve a common goal. Or, you know, trying to virtually blow everyone else up. Rock Band 4 is the ideal game for that environment. Not that it isn’t a perfectly entertaining endeavor alone, but you know it’s all about making sweet music with friends.
Most importantly, it really feels like we need a game like Rock Band 4 every generation. Yes, it relies heavily on a gimmick and array of cumbersome peripherals. We all understand that. Once you start playing, though, it’s easy to forget the hassle. The fun you have makes the effort of pulling everything together worth it. One Guitar Hero after another was too much, but that doesn’t mean plastic instrument games should be scrapped completely. It only means moderation is necessary.
Simply put, Rock Band 4 is going to end up being a good time. I’m confident enough in the property and concept to go ahead and say that now, without Harmonix even releasing any gameplay footage. We know what to expect from this developer and series. The resulting product will inevitably turn into a perfect party game, barring some devastating bug or glitch that makes it utterly unplayable.