My review of Rockudrama https://youtu.be/asQFFoUrHK4 My Review of Rivals Mode https://youtu.be/op3TTABzQa0 Rock Band 4 released last year to mixed reviews. While many including myself were happy to see the series return after a long hiatus, it lacked a lot of the basic features from previous game’s including online play, setlists and practice mode. Most of these modes and features have been patched in over the past year of updates. Rock Band Rivals (Rivals) represents Rock Band 4’s first major paid update with a slew of new and returning features. Rivals features two new modes: Rockudrama and Rivals Mode. Rockudrama is a new career mode whose story is told through live action cut scenes resembling VH1’s Behind The Music. Rockudrama charts your bands rise to fame by interviewing your old teachers, roadies and fellow musicians. There’s a lot of cheesy and over the top moments in the career mode and I personally loved it. There are also some references to past Rock Band games as well. This mode clocks in around 3.5 hours or so and while the gameplay itself hasn’t received any updates, it’s the window dressing that makes this mode standout. This mode features four chapters, with most of them being split up into three parts that feature multiple song setlists. You advance in the game’s story by earning fame. Certain chapters require a minimum amount of fame to unlock, but seasoned players won’t feel restricted by this. As you progress through the game’s story the narrator comments on your performances between sets and you’ll sometimes hear the same recycled line over and over again. The songs you play are mostly done through voting (similar to the Shows mode) or making custom setlists. One of the new features is the wager system that lets you bet on how well you will perform during a gig. In addition to the wager system, the game will throw challenges at you to play certain songs or gigs using brutal mode (a mode which hides the notes on the track as you play better) or to gold star certain songs. It’s decisions like these that make the Rockudrama mode nail biting and worth checking out. Rivals Mode is where the real meat of the expansion lies. Rivals Mode is a competitive multiplayer mode that lets you form a crew of up to ten players and compete against other crews. In order to be successful in the Rivals mode you need to have a good assortment of players to cover all four instruments. Each week there is a themed challenge. This week’s challenge involves playing songs with the word ͞Love͟ in the title. As you play the themed songs you’ll earn XP and contribute to your team’s score. Playing on higher difficulties and scoring well will mean more XP for you and your team. The Rivals Mode is built in such a way that even lower skilled players can make a meaningful contribution as well. Also released alongside the Rivals mode is a new IOS/Android App which lets you see the week’s challenge, track your team’s progress and chat with your crewmates. The app is free and works surprisingly well. In addition to the crew XP, you’ll earn individual XP which lets your character rank up. Regardless of what song or modes you play in Rock Band 4, you’re always levelling up. I found Rivals Mode to be incredibly addictive. During the first week Rivals was out, I was always eager to get home and contribute to my team. I’ve always been the type of Rock Band player to chase gold stars and full combos, so having a new twist on this competitiveness gave me extra incentive to go back and play some of my older songs. There’s also a great sense of community with the Rivals mode. Chatting with your crew mates and exchanging the best strategy for the week is critical to topping to leaderboards.

• published: 04 Nov 2016
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